This Just In: Initial BTOP Awards Announced

It was only July, but it seems like eons ago that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) issued a joint Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) regarding the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). We learned that roughly $2 billion would be available under the first NOFA to “support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, to enhance broadband capacity at public computer centers, and to encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.” We also heard that this funding would undergird the objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.

From that point, the race was on with organizations and ventures nationwide to complete their funding applications by the August deadline. Since that time, some 2,200 applicants across the nation have anxiously awaited award decisions. For some applicants the wait ended on December 17, as Vice President Joe Biden announced $182.7 million in BTOP awards that will be matched by $46 million in private capital. The Impulse Manufacturing facility in rural Dawsonville, Georgia served as the backdrop for the announcement. The technologically-advanced company, which specializes in metal fabrication, has reportedly felt stymied by a lack of true broadband.

Biden’s announcement encompassed 18 projects in 17 states, and the White House.gov Web site shows a full list of awards that were given for the following project categories:

Middle Mile Awards – $121.6 million to build and improve connections to communities lacking sufficient broadband access.

Last Mile Awards – $51.4 million to connect end users like homes, hospitals and schools to their community’s broadband infrastructure (the middle mile).

Public Computing – $7.3 million to expand computer center capacity for public use in libraries, community colleges and other public venues.

Sustainable Adoption – $2.4 million to fund innovative projects that promote broadband demand with population groups where the technology has traditionally been underutilized.

Alaska was among the initial states to receive BTOP funding for a project that will bring the first broadband services to southwestern native Alaskan communities. Other states benefitting from Biden’s announcement include: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Washington. Over the next 75 days, there will additional BTOP award announcements. So…as they say, stay tuned.

Shush! Survey Reveals State of Technology in the Nation’s Public Libraries

If you’re of a certain age, you remember the local library of old. The wooden card catalog cabinet sat in the middle of the floor and you dared not approach it without a thorough understanding of the Dewey Decimal system. Bespectacled librarians were stationed at the reference desk, ready to answer any question and they didn’t hesitate to shush you in a stern but kind way if necessary. Occasionally, you may have had to wait in line for a few minutes to check out a book or magazine. Once you got your date-stamped materials in-hand, you were on your way. There were no computer workstations and the Internet was still just a glimmer in Al Gore’s mind.

That was then. And this is now…

Today’s libraries are fundamentally the same, but patron’s needs and expectations have changed. The latest best-seller is still a draw, but broadband access is equally important – particularly for job-seekers in these tough times. In January 2009, the Wall Street Journal reported that an average of 230 people were lining up to use only 27 computers at Randolph County Public Library in Asheboro, N.C. Across the country, libraries are working to keep up with connectivity demands while facing enormous challenges. The state of technology in the nation’s libraries is articulated in a recent study from the American Library Association. The study, titled Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study, “assesses public access to computers, the Internet and Internet-related services in U.S. public libraries, as well as the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment and sustainability in FY2008-2009.” Key findings from the study include:

• More than 98 percent of public libraries offer public Internet access.
• 71.4 percent of public libraries represent the only source for free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities. In rural communities that figure is 78.6 percent.
• 81 percent of libraries do not have enough computers to consistently meet patron demand.
• 60 percent of public libraries report Internet connection speeds that regularly fail to meet patron demands.
• Roughly 23 percent of libraries report a desire to increase their current Internet speed, but cannot afford to do so.
• 35 percent of libraries offer formal technology training and 52.6 percent offer informal technology assistance.
• Rural libraries offer an average of 7.6 public access workstations versus 18.7 at urban locations.
• Over 94 percent of libraries impose time limits on public access workstations. Of those, 70 percent have time limits of 60 minutes or less.
• In 2004, 17.9 percent of libraries offered Wi-Fi access; in 2009 that number stands at 76.4 percent.

These figures underscore the everyday struggle of libraries across the U.S. Funding cuts have put a strain on technology infrastructure and some librarians have had to add IT maintenance to their workload. Unfortunately, doing more with less has become the norm. Meeting future broadband capacity needs will require continued utilization of the federal E-Rate program, collaborations, partnerships, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars, and a lot of creative thinking. Solutions may not come easily, but libraries will find a way.

Broadband Rigor in North Carolina – Mapping as an Essential First Step

You can’t know where you are going unless it’s clear where you are now and how you came to be here. As simplistic and obvious as that may sound, it captures the driving principle behind one of this organization’s primary activities. Since 2001, the e-NC Authority has acted on its legislative mandate to develop and maintain a map that depicts the status of North Carolina’s broadband availability. The map evolved over time from a static, county-based representation that was updated annually to its current interactive format. Today, this map provides users with information on the availability of DSL, cable-modem and wireless broadband service at any address in a GIS-based searchable format. Based on this map and related citizen surveys, it is easy to understand the great progress that North Carolina has made in terms of deploying broadband technology. And while we can generalize about levels of connectivity for the state as a whole, circumstances in individual communities are sometimes hazy. To add a jumbled metaphor to the mix, we can see the forest clearly, but not always the trees.

Sometimes, the “look” of any broadband map can be challenging. While advances in the technology used to develop, display and update maps have made it more generally useful, problems in the collection and verification of underlying provider-supplied information can limit its true value. Inconsistencies in type, accuracy, completeness and currency of information from some sources can make it difficult to determine with confidence the true level of broadband access in the state at the street/address range level.

The need for better information about broadband infrastructure led U.S. Congress to enact the National Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA), directing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop the first national broadband availability map. The need for precise information about where service is and isn’t available was made even more acute with the release of funding guidelines for programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (often referred to as “the stimulus”) dealing with broadband deployment. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) will target awards to applicants who can document extension or enhancement of service to regions with inadequate broadband service at the street or census-block level. With better broadband mapping information the e-NC Authority will be able to:

1) meet obligations as the state’s designated mapping entity to comply with the BDIA mandate
2) fulfill the order from the N.C. General Assembly to regularly monitor and report the status of connectivity in this state
3) facilitate more competitive North Carolina-based BTOP and BIP applications

The e-NC Authority has proposed an innovative and exciting proposal to the NTIA entitled N.C. Broadband Rigor in Mapping (N.C. BRIM), which will ensure delivery of broadband data that is complete, accurate, timely and verifiable. This will be accomplished through a research method known as triangulation. Originally used in surveying and military target applications where precision and accuracy are critical, triangulation is a powerful technique that validates data by cross-referencing more than two sources using multiple research methodologies that study the same phenomenon. The idea is that you can be more confident in the results of said research if different methods are leading to the same result. If only one method is used, it is possible that the results may be affected by inherent biases or limitations of the technique used. If two methods are used, the results may also well clash. By using three research methods, the hope is that two of the three will produce similar answers. If all three methods create clashing answers, the investigator would then understand the need for revision – be it the research questions or the methods used. The e-NC Authority is pleased to confirm that the NTIA expressed such confidence in this approach. N.C. BRIM was one of four grants awarded in the first round of mapping awards.

Triangulation, as applied in N.C. BRIM, involves capturing and comparing data from different methodologies:

1) Broadband service providers will be asked to supply data that complies with standards established the NTIA
2) Leading-edge Web-crawling techniques will deliver the same categories of information obtained independently of providers
3) Citizen-derived data will be obtained through phone surveys (landline and wireless) or Internet-based e-surveys
4) Surveys of businesses will round out the user-provided data
5) A GIS-enabled wireless propagation study will be the first-ever statewide examination of wireless access (the results of this propagation study will then be validated by field interviews and surveys)

Finally, an expert panel of independent evaluators and data management professionals will convene to analyze results and validate a strategy that will deliver the highest quality result for the state of North Carolina.

Knock knock, ARRA. Where will you invest?

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced recently that they received nearly $28 billion in grant requests for the first round broadband funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Approximately $4 billion has been allocated to be awarded in the first round of available funding – this is out of $7.2 billion total broadband grants available under ARRA.

NTIA and RUS reported that tallies indicate almost 1,500 applications for broadband infrastructure projects and over 300 applications for broadband adoption and public computer programs. Again – these requests have been made under just the first round of available funding, which gave potential grantees a mere five weeks from publication of the Notice of Funds Availability to the application’s due date.

So, it seems there are lots of ideas for how to invest in broadband infrastructure, and a lot of need to go with it. With a national broadband policy still under development, it will be interesting to see which applications are selected, how the use of these funds will shape the future of broadband policy and what changes will be realized in the telecommunications industry overall.

And while the broadband landscape changes, how will this impact other telecom industry infrastructure? According to The Economist, if landlines continue to decline at the current rate, they could be extinct by 2025. This scenario creates its own challenges – a cell phone can sometimes replace a home phone line, but could businesses easily replace landlines? And what about emergency services? Do businesses and individuals without cell phones end up paying more for a critical phone line which, while not as exciting as broadband, is nevertheless a lifeline utility? And with decreased demand, how many remaining customers are paying into the Universal Service Fund? A complementary opinion piece in The Economist calls for regulators to respond to these complex challenges.

Meanwhile, mobile networks continue to grow from investments in 3G and 4G networks. There is talk of possible scrambling to obtain or retain deals with Apple for rights to the iPhone, seen as a compelling enticement for getting customers to sign up with a particular wireless carrier.

All this is to say – you won’t have to look far to see folks waiting on the edge of their seats to see how ARRA broadband funds are invested. Not only will these investments impact broadband evolution, but they will also have a strong influence upon the changing tide telecommunications period – landlines, wireless, voice, data and video. Hopefully there are some exceptional ideas within the 2,200 applications submitted a few weeks ago and, with any luck, these ideas can be sifted through for the best investments to foster innovative broadband and telecom policies for the country.

Broadband on Jones St. & National ARRA update

As we head into July, we are likely looking at the last few weeks of the N.C. General Assembly’s legislative session. So, what’s happened? As far as broadband legislation, several bills have made it into law, primarily those supported by the telecommunications service providers.

HB135/SL 2009-80 – Broadband Service Providers
This bill allows companies that already provide broadband to expand their service areas for voice service. This was signed into law on June 11.

SB889/SL 2009-202 – Utilities/Carrier of Last Resort
This bill allows for local exchange companies to, in some cases, be granted waivers of their carrier of last resort obligations for certain subdivisions and other defined areas. This was signed into law on June 26.

HB1180/SL2009-238 – Consumer Choice and Investment Act of 2009
This bill decreases regulation on local exchange companies in their provision of voice service. This was signed into law on June 30.
SB357– Utilities/Regulation of Pole Attachments
This bill requires municipalities and membership corporations to allow the use of their poles, ducts and conduits by communications service providers and authorizes the North Carolina Business Court to resolve disputes around use. This bill was ratified July 2 and is now waiting to be signed into law.

So with the final budget still in limbo – the session is not over, but these are some of the key broadband bills that have made it into law, or are at least headed in that general direction.

So what happens now? The state budget is expected to pass in the next couple of weeks. The e-NC Authority expects to retain much of its recurring operating funds so that we may continue to keep our doors open for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Unfortunately though, the latest versions of the budget do not contain funding for broadband-related grant programs as requested by the e-NC Authority. We are still pushing for funds that could be used as match for grant applications on broadband projects forthcoming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

And in other big news…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce released the Notice of Funding Availability this week for the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

In North Carolina, the Office of Economic Recovery and Investment has been holding meetings of its Broadband Task Force (although the state does not have direct input on funds distributed by RUS and NTIA). At the next meeting of the group in July, Connected Nation’s online maps of North Carolina are to be presented.

In other big happenings, CenturyTel and EMBARQ announced this week that they have completed their merger, impacting 33 states. And last month, Verizon Communications announced the sale of its landline service in 14 states, including in North Carolina. Meanwhile, AT&T continues to focus on build-out of its mobile 3G wireless network.