Gigabit Nation

No matter how you tackle community broadband, every project becomes political at some point. Are you prepared? This past election saw the victory of two pro-municipal broadband ballot referendums, both in Colorado. These are as political as it gets. Longmont passed a bond measure 2:1 that enables the public utility to reduce their broadband buildout from 10 to three years. Centennial passed a referendum 3:1 to take back authority for its broadband infrastructure. Vince Jordan, a key player moving Longmont’s network along, joins us to offer insights on preparing your stakeholders so they minimize or avoid political challenges, and create maximum good will at the local and state political levels. He’ll describe the tactics Longmont used to leverage $5,000 to beat Comcast’s $350,000 drive in 2011 to squash that city’s ballot measure, and outline how others can do the same. Vince also comments on Comcast’s absence from this year’s referendum campaigns. Vince’s remarks were recorded at Craig Settles’ training s

Go big or go home! That's the broadband gauntlet Los Angeles threw down in a big way last week. All eyes are turning to the West Coast to see what this bold entry means in the drive for Gigabit Cities. Angelenos are looking at a potential $3 - $5 *billion* fiber network spread across the entire 470 square mile urban sprawl, 5 Mbps of free Internet access, affordable faster access for 1/3 of the city's 3.7 million people and services to businesses as well as residences. But instead of the fawning "take me, I'm yours" posture of typical Google Fiber suitors, L.A. officials expect a winning bidder to front the entire buildout investment, operate an open access infrastructure and not plan on the City to make things like permitting easy.  Sound familiar? Think 2006, muni WiFi and free service. "However, don't expect this to be deja vu all over again," says Gigabit Nation guest Steve Reneker, Los Angeles' General Mgr. of the Information Technology Agency. Reneker is the former CIO of Riverside, CA, and while ther

Across the U.S. an increasing number of public-owned electric and other utilities are building or planning to build highspeed Internet access networks. In many ways these entities are well suited for the task. Is yours? Curtis Dean, Broadband Services Coordinator for the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities joins us to discuss why public utilities are making a difference in the drive for faster, better networks. Dean, who was part of a team that built a successful public utility network in 2001, offers listeners a lot of valuable advice. We explore critical issues that help ensure a public utility leads an effective broadband initiative, including:  * determining what your public utility must do to effectively launch a broadband network; * addressing challenges and tapping the benefits utilities can deliver with broadband services; * managing time and monetary costs of operating a network infrastructure; and * effectively marketing the services after launching a network. Don't miss Craig Settles' wo

eRate, as envisioned when it was created in 1997, is a fund the FCC manages that helps public schools and libraries get discounted Internet services and computing devices. But has it done enough? Many, including FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and President Obama, believe more can be done.   Comm Rosenworcel's Legal Advisor Priscilla Argeris joins us to present an informative break down of the reforms that the FCC is pursuing. Argeris explains how these changes, enhancements, and so forth will or could have an impact on communities pushing for better broadband networks. Whether communities own their infrastructure or are building out infrastructure in partnership with private-sector companies, they need to follow these reform developments closely. Argeris leaves the audience with clear ideas about how they can participate in and influence the reform process.   

You know you have a winner when big telcos give your community network grief. UTOPIA, the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency, is a 11-city fiber network that has become a clear winner despite incumbents' worst efforts to stop them. UTOPIA rolled out a user-financing business model in which residents and businesses pay $2,750 to get fiber infrastructure built to their doorstep, either in one up-front payment or through monthly installment. UTOPIA experiences an initial take rate of over 20% with this approach, and some areas exceed over 50% over time. Learn how your community can effectively use this model to share the buildout cost of your infrastructure. How do you structure fees? How do you promote the model? Get valuable tips for how to leverage early commitments to get future subscribers.

Many cities want to replicate the success of Chattanooga's gig network. But every community wanting to drive innovation should also replicate the success of Chattanooga's GIGTANK. This summer GIGTANK turned the entire city into a test lab for the research, development AND marketing for startups from around the world. GIGTANK's director Sheldon Gizzle and the startups discuss their experiences and innovations. GIGTANK's design, structure and execution provide valuable lessons for other communities. Our guests describe: *  how GIGTANK is structured and run; *  changes from last year; *  benefits of developing apps in a gig environment;  and *  how Chattanooga individuals and businesses participated with the startups. FwdHealth uses available APIs to integrate popular wellness apps and trackers into one, simple UI to manage preventative healthcare activities. HutGrip is a cloud based SaaS that helps manufacturers reduce production downtime and improve their processes. Tidbit.co makes it easy to publi

"The silent market" is a phrase some might use to describe machine-to-machine (M2M), which is the group of technologies that enables sensors, meters and a whole range of inanimate objects to communicate with each other. While broadband project teams typically look to economic development, education and medical services applications to justify the cost of building networks, they may be overlooking M2M as one of the killer broadband apps.   Josh Broder, President of Tilson Tech gives listeners a breakdown on the importance of M2M in community broadband needs assessment and strategy planning. Tilson Tech has led several massive broadband deployment projects in the U.S., including the Maine Three-Ring Binder project. Broder addresses some of the pressing concerns about M2M, including: *  what does the "Internet of things" really means; *  the extent to which inanimate objects will be hooked up to the Net, and what this means for broadband capacity; *  what kind of wireless and wired broadband coverage is nee

Oregon has the highlest level of broadband adoption in the U.S. and the lowest percentage of unserved constituents. This did not happen by accident, but through deliberate policymaking that reach to the highest level of state government. Chris Tamarin, Telecom Strategist for the Oregon Business Development Dept., joins us to talk about how his state became the leader of the pack. Of particular interest is how Oregon has established policies that overcome barriers to greater telemedicine advancement, such as: *  encouraging and supporting the rapid deployment of telemedicine services where they currently do not exist; *  requiring health benefit plans to provide coverage of medically necessary telemedical health services; and *  requiring Oregon Health Authority to adopt uniform credentialing and privileging standards for telemedicine service providers (pending governor's signature. Tamarin also gives listeners an overview of how local communities can build more effective relationships with state governm

One antidote to corporate network TV news and brain-numbing programming may be community-owned TV that is driven by gigabit networks. Explore how the power of new video production tools, social networks and superfast Internet access can create better TV that delivers significant community benefits. Bruce Montgomery, CEO and Founder of Technology Access Television, explains for listeners the imperative and the potential benefits of taking back what used to be the "public" airwaves. Since 1999, his digital media production organization has covered tech solutions in education, business, government, community development and non-profit organizations. Montgomery presents an outline for using gigabit connectively and digital media to change how constituents do business, increase digital literacy, improve their health, pursue justice and contribute to an overall better quality of life. He includes some perspectives on urban broadband adoption that mainstream media sometimes overlooks.

As the pace of network buildouts increases, communities sooner or later must face the reality that these networks succeed or fail largely on the strength of broadband adoption, a.k.a. marketing and sales. Either you have enough subscribers (paying or otherwise) for the network, or the network is not financially sustainable. NTIA Program Director for Public Computing and Broadband Adoption Laura Breeden informs listeners about a new, detailed guide book the agency developed to help you create and implement successful adoption programs. She also presents practical tips for producing making broadband relevant for hard-to-reach constituents. Ms. Breeden addresses: *  developing the right elements of an adoption program; *  effective awareness and outreach activities; *  getting affordable computers and Internet access to constituents; and *  designing digital literacy training that works.

When Gigabit Nation launched two years ago to help organizations bring faster, better broadband to communities, Chattanooga and its first-in-the-nation gigabit network was the topic of the day. Both the network and the show have come a long way since then. Jim Ingraham, VP of Strategic Planning at EPB, the Chattanooga public utility that owns the infrastructure, highlights some of their major wins since his appearance on that initial show in July, 2011. Ingraham also talks about upcoming plans as the customer base grows and Chattanooga aggressively leverages various benefits that having the network makes possible. As more communities put gigabit Internet access into place, Chattanooga has to step up its game in order to maintain its leadership position. Some of the developments of particular interest to listeners are: how Chattanooga continues to use the network to attract a steady flow of new businesses; the city's marketing savvy positions itself as the hightech mecca of the south; K - 12 and higher e

GIGTANK 2013 is a poster child for Chattanooga's gigabit success, a three-month app development boot camp that leverages the city's network to produce exciting next-generation software and services. Gigabit Nation provides a peek behind the digital curtain to see what some of these teams are creating. Seven development teams of startup entrepreneurs plus 11 technology specialists from around the world are working furiously toward Demo Day, August 6, when they get to showcase their creativity. Three of the startups take a break to present their contenders for Killer App. Cody Bowen - Tidbit: Their application makes it easy for anyone within an organization to publish training content for employees, customers and partners via mobile devices. Detelin Yordanov - Hutgrip: This team aims to enhance product feedback and automation in manufacturing processes as well as facility management for small and medium-sized businesses. Bentley Cook - Sensevery: They are developing a wireless sensing platform for care prov

Could Silicon Valley be replaced as center of the tech universe by the only gigabit city in northern California and its surrounding communities? Lit San Leandro is a gig network launched by a local successful software entrepreneur who could not get the broadband speeds he needed, even in the Valley. The City is now energized to aggressively expand the network to usher in a new era of innovation in the region. San Leandro Chief Innovation Officer Deb Acosta shares some of the City's vision as it prepares to host a regional workshop to give communities' stakeholders hands-on training in bringing highspeed broadband to constituents. The communities on the east side of the San Francisco Bay see the Lit San Leandro initiative : cultivating a new generation of technology and bio tech entrepreneurs to take root; uniting East Bay state, local and community colleges into a major center of academic research; creating a nucleus of medical research and telemedicine advancement; and upgrading the overall quality of

The elusive Holy Grail for broadband is proof. Specifically, useful and accurate data that proves to some extent how broadband impacts local economies. But this could be changing as data-gathering efforts started several years ago in various communities are starting to bear fruit. The Minnesota Rural Intelligent Communities (MIRC) was one such project that provides valuable lessons. MIRC involved extensive research to determine if and how broadband impacted personal economic advancement, continuing education and business performance in 11 communities.  Bernadine Joselyn, Dir. of Public Policy and Engagement for the Blandin Foundation, and Robert Bell, co-founder of the Intelligent Communities Forum (ICF) present the MIRC report's key findings, and discuss what these mean for rural communities in Minnesota and throughout the U.S. The Foundation administered the project on behalf of the initiative's partners, including ICF which established measurement criteria. Listeners also get tips on effective techniques

Many discussions about improving broadband access fail urban America and low-income communities because policymakers assume the primary need is for marketing campaigns to convince individuals to get online. The real demons are poor network infrastructure, low speeds and affordability. Silicon Harlem (http://siliconharlem.net) hopes to upend some of these barriers to digital inclusion through its mission to drive technology adoption, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, and social innovation. Executive Producer Bruce Lincoln (bruce.lincoln@urbancyberspace.com), the first Ford Fellow in Educational Technology, describes the organization's blueprint for success and how communities can replicate its progress. Mr. Lincoln has spent many years as a design scientist and highspeed network developer. He calls on his experience and offers some advice for overcoming challenges such as:  disparities in eRate funding for urban schools;  inadequate infrastructure in inner city communities;  economic shortcomings; and 

A 4,000-mile broadband network represents a huge capital investment for an electric co-op - or any community organization for that matter. When done right, a comprehensive pilot project can save you a ton of money and a lot of time. Learn how Co-Mo Cooperative in central Missouri ran a year-long pilot that removed a great deal of uncertainty, and paved the way to a very confident launch of a 4-year buildout. Co-Mo determined that buildout costs could be notably less that projected, and they achieved a take rate of about 46 percent, which is considerably more than expected.  General Manager Randy Klindt offers listeners details on how to plan, establish measurement criteria for and execute pilots. He also provides community stakeholders with useful advice on  how to maximize the strengths of electric co-ops as part of an effective broadband strategy. 

Your public library may be where the promise and the reality of TV white space wireless broadband meet, thanks to the Gigabit Libraries Network (GLN). Don Means, GLN Coordinator, joins us to invite your community libraries to participate in a national pilot project to create applications for this newly available unlicensed spectrum.  For over 25 years, the public library has been the one place adults and kids in urban and rural communities can access the Internet. In fact, approximately 80 million people in the US get free wireless there, thanks to unlicensed wireless technology.  Learn how GLN is igniting a movement nationwide to turn libraries into TV White Space testbeds that show communities how to get greater broadband capacity deployed over wider areas, even in rural regions. Shouldn't your library be on this leading edge? 

Host Craig Settles returns to his childhood hometown of Johnstown, PA in rural Cambria County to take a close look at an area where terrain makes fiber prohibitively expensive, but broadband is a necessity. This county-owned wireless infrastructure is notable because 1) Cambria County played by Verizon's anti muni-net state law and were able to build and operate the network, and 2) this is a public safety network that also enlists ISPs to provide services to residents and businesses.  Steve Ettien, Dir. of the County Technology Department, explains how their 100 Mbps network accomplished both. Ettien also discusses how they implemented a wireless network that faced significant terrain challenges, and why those challenges make it highly unlikely county residents will ever experience fiber in their area. This story provides valuable lessons for other communities that need to rely on wireless to help them keep up with the digital Jones. 

The New York State Broadband Program Office is on a mission to see that all citizens and businesses in the state receive universal broadband access. At the first New York broadband summit, Program Director David Salway presents the 2012-2013 annual report on progress toward this goal. Salway gives listeners several high points of the report and describes how other states might replicate some of these successes. He explains the role the ARRA stimulus played in New York's campaign for better broadband, and what the state plans to do to keep their efforts moving forward as the grant money runs out.  This interview also addresses how the state overcame some of the challenges it faced, particularly in the areas of broadband planning and financing highspeed networks. Salway offers practical advice for others who are responsible for building infrastructure to serve diverse constituencies.  

"It is important for cities to realize that this [broadband] is the way forward and, if used correctly, it can have a lasting impact on their economic, environmental and special development," says Julia Pulidindi, National League of Cities Senior Associate in their City Solutions and Applied Research Department. Pulidindi joins Gigabit Nation to present steps that communities should take to get constituents on the same page and moving forward to getting better broadband. She highlights creative ideas that have enabled communities to build highspeed Internet infrastructure, and drive various constituents to use the networks. Pulidindi gives listeners insights to the type of national broadband policy issues that the NLC is advocating for in D.C., and invites comments from the audience on these issues. NLC also has state affiliates, we explore how these provide cities and towns with valuable access to information and communication channels that can help local broadband efforts.