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According to a Pew Research Center Internet & American Life Project study, "The Mobile Difference," nearly 40 percent Americans have positive and improving attitudes about their mobile communication devices, thereby further immersing themselves into a more robust digital lifestyle.
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How will broadband affect burgeoning controversies over health care? The answers to this question and more came courtesy of a Broadband Cenus-hosted, hour-long panel discussion. View a video of the discussion.
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President Obama on Innovation and Sustainable Growth. President Barack Obama has new plans to strengthen the economy that will all favor people with hi-tech educations. View Now
Elevate Miami, a comprehensive Digital Inclusion program launched by the city of Miami, aims to serve youth, low-income families, minorities, seniors and residents facing barriers to digital inclusion. View Now
The Knight Center of Digital Excellence held its first Stimulus Webcast Session for Knight communities and program directors July 23. Watch it online now. View Now
By pushing hard on broadband, lawmakers hope to close the "digital divide" that has long separated rural America. In doing so, they hope to give rural consumers access to the same sorts of high-speed services and opportunities - think telemedicine, distance-learning and Web-based commerce - that city dwellers have enjoyed for years. View Now
The spigot is officially on. Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the first four stimulus grants for broadband deployment in four states. The initial projects will be in California, Indiana, North Carolina and Vermont, and are aimed at increasing broadband access and adoption through improved data collection and planning.
Federal officials are continuing to review applications from all remaining 46 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories.
Here’s a synopsis of the first four projects:
• California will receive $1.8 million; North Carolina, $1.6 million; Indiana, $1.3 million; and Vermont, $1.2 million, to collect data and verify the availability, speed and location of broadband across those states. The projects are to extend from now through 2011, with initial data to become available next month.
• California will also receive an additional $500,000 for broadband planning over four years. An additional $435,000 will also go to North Carolina for broadband planning over five years.
In a press release, the NTIA offered clues as to the degree of thoroughness it expects in successful applications. Specifically, the four winning applications contained the following:
• Plans for data collection from multiple sources. All four recipients will collect data from broadband providers – but each plans to delve further by tapping other sources of information as well. For example, there will be speed tests as well as online and field surveys. Recipients also plan to use third party existing data (developed for other purposes) to assist their mapping efforts.
• Plans for multiple verification methods. Once again, recipients will seek independent information on speeds and locations of broadband.
• Collaboration: Each state demonstrated commitment to build partnerships to achieve desired results with the greatest efficiency possible.
The comments from federal officials echo our thoughts at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence: The best projects are meticulously planned, draw on well-documented information from as many sources as possible and bring government and civic-minded organizations together in partnerships.
by Mark Ansboury, VP & CTO OneCommunity and Knight Center of Digital Excellence
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Tim Nulty of EC Fiber in Vermont just finished sharing his thoughts on why laying fiber is cheaper than copper was 80 years ago. He also spoke about the fact that rural communities cannot find funding and do not have the capacity to build business cases and financing. His solution: We should reconsider business models to create an open network.
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Gary Evans from Hiawatha Broadband in rural Minnesota has created a sustainable network like the network created in Cleveland by OneCommunity Hiawatha has fiber access across more than 600 square miles and are doing fiber to the premises in rural cities and expanding middle mile to connect rural communities.
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Donny Smith of Jaguar Communications definition of community based broadband: build as capital is available and achievable and take the rates penetration rates up to 90%.
While Vermont’s farming industry and rural atmosphere still plays a major part in attracting and retaining young families, Eva Sollberger, Seven Days videographer and author of the weekly online video series “Stuck in Vermont,” said she found well over 1,000 tech-savvy Vermonters at the Vermont 3.0 Creative/Tech Career Jam – where students and job seekers got connected with local high-tech companies looking to hire.
At the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, we understand that some wonder why rural areas really need the bulk of broadband stimulus funding. Keep in mind that even the most rural areas of our country have high-speed needs – besides the obvious ones. Not only are these areas looking to bolster their existing economic strengths, but they’re also trying to retain and attract talent at new, tech-based businesses that many don’t even know exist.
In an interview, Sollberger said Vermont’s job market is growing and becoming more reliant on new communications technology. People are excited about new companies, technologies and the opportunities they present.
This video highlights Vermont’s growing need for increased connectivity while also showcasing that the state has a lot more to offer besides Holstein cows and rolling hillsides:
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