Gigabit Nation

A wave of support seems to be building for appointing Susan Crawford FCC Chairman should Mr. Genachowski retire. General consensus is this will likely lead to notable changes at the agency. But would these be mostly good or bad? The answer probably depends on where you sit. Hunter Newby’s company, Allied Fiber, sits at the hub of thousands of miles of network buildouts. He has business dealings and relationships with numerous private, public and nonprofit entities involved with broadband operations. And Newby has strong feelings about how Crawford’s policy positions would impact the federal agency that has the most significant impact on broadband in the U.S. This interview examines how FCC policy changes could influence the speed and cost of broadband deployments. From a private company’s perspective, could increased regulations really be bad for business? How do we reconcile the need to protect the public’s interests with companies’ desire to make a profit? Gigabit Nation tackles these and other important

Ironically, the nation’s excitement over muni wireless networks in 2006 set Columbus well ahead of most cities on the path to highspeed fiber networks. Columbus not only brings Ohio on line with meeting the FCC’s Gigabit City Challenge of at least one citywide gig network per state, it beat over 400 cities worldwide to become one of Intelligent Community Forums' 7 Intelligent Communities. Gary Cavin, Director & CIO of the city's Dept. of Technology, explains how the city initially built a fiber network to drive wireless everywhere, and later transitioned fiber to center stage of their broadband efforts. Columbus is expanding that drive via partnerships with neighboring communities. The city qualified for its ICF award by demonstrating its ability to develop infrastructure and programs that enabled constituents and businesses to be active participants in the broadband economy. The Director presents several valuable lessons here for everyone involved with broadband projects.

Last year, the potential of US Ignite to kickstart a wave of highspeed broadband apps generated lots of excitement and anticipation. Red Wing, MN reveals potential transformed into reality with their recent progress report. Red Wing Port Authority Exec Dir Randy Olson and Division Head of Information Services Laura Blair explain to listeners how to get it right when driving broadband adoption and network financial sustainability. The Port Authority directs several initiatives, including their gig-driven state-of-the-art applications incubator, and the City is a major subscriber on the network. Though it is the smallest city in the US Ignite program, Red Wing is making pretty big strides. They offer important lessons on marshaling financial and other resources that helps their network soar. Red Wing's' accomplishments offer community broadband supporters everywhere a set of guideposts pointing to network success.

It an stunning example of ALEC-orchestrated legislative obstruction, North Carolina communities were shackled by the misguided and misnamed "Level Playing Field" law, hobbling their drive to bring true highspeed broadband to constituents. The key to unlock the cuffs? The creative use of free-market strategy to flip the script by Raleigh and other cities, the Gig.U team, and several NC colleges . Raleigh CIO Gail Roper offers communities everywhere tips to counter anti-competition state laws and incumbent shenanigans. Raleigh and nearby cities are leveraging existing fiber, stakeholder demand and Gig.U partners to secure private providers that will give communities gig services at affordable prices.   Ms. Roper explains why communities must push hard for legislation that supports true infrastructure strategies to enable economic development in NC and elsewhere. She also provides listeners with insights to the city's plans to aggressively attack the digital divide, boost the local economy, increase digital li

FCC Chairman Genachowski just announced an initiative to get a gigabit city in every state by 2015. Is this a meaningful policy objective or, as some critics claim, "empty rhetoric"? Five community broadband industry leaders tackle this question. More importantly, they detail the heavy lifting necessary to get a gig to every state. Jim Baller, President of Baller-Herbst Law Group, is a well-known telecom attorney and community broadband advocate who presents legal and policy issues that need to be overcome or leveraged. Masha Zager, Editor of Broadband Communities Magazine, brings a good 30,000-foot view of both private sector and community efforts so far in the pursuit of highspeed Internet access. Christopher Mitchell, Dir., Telecommunications as Commons Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, tracks gigabit cities across the U.S. and knows what challenges face communities pursuing this goal. Arkansas Senator Linda Chesterfield brings a state legislative perspective since so many laws and fu

Confirmed this month by the Senate for her 2nd term, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn sits down with Gigabit Nation to discuss some of the FCC's upcoming actions and her outlook for broadband in the upcoming months. Some of the issues discussed are:Mow might the 14 pilot projects identified reform Lifeline?  How might the 14 pilot projects identified reform Lifeline?How will CAF Phase II evolve as the FCC seeks recipients for the un-allocated Phase I money?When and how are the remaining billions of USF funds expected to be disbursed as they convert to CAF?How is the pool of FCC broadband funds recipients expanding to include smaller and non-traditional providers?How can individuals and communities outside of the Beltway assert a stronger voice in FCC policy and procedures?   Comm. Clyburn also discusses some of the other major issues facing the FCC, such as spectrum allocation, media consolidation and the always popular net neutrality debates.

Besides death and taxes, the other sure thing in life is that the devil is indeed in the details when it comes to broadband projects. Today's show takes us behind the scenes of the Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband (UC2B) project to look at several operations key to your community broadband success: gathering feedback from potential subscribers; pre-launch market education and sales generation; creating effective maps; and on-going research and market analysis. Our guests offer project management insight and practical advice for those working in the trenches deploying broadband networks, Listeners receive tips they can put to work right away in their projects. LaEisha Meaderds, Program Coordinator, led canvassing and outreach efforts to support construction and customer acquisition. Dr. Maryalice Wu, Director of the ATLAS survey research service, led neighborhood level data collection, identified low Internet adoption areas and tracks Internet trends in these areas. Shavion Scott, Program Specialist, with

The FCC's Connect America Fund is the current end product of reforming the Universal Service Fund. If the number and variety of people complaining about a particular government program is a measure of success, then the FCC has been wildly successful with USF reform. Today's interview with telecom attorney Fred Goldstein (partner with Interisle Consulting Group) attempts to sort out some of the wailing and gnashing of teeth. what's wrong with CAF, what's right with CAF who benefitted from this phase I of the CAF program (some argue it won't be rural communities) should we be surprised carriers refused to play in the CAF game does anyone really understand how this program works if we're having this much angst and agony over CAF phase I and II with only $300 million, what's going to happen when reform of the remaining $4 billion in former USF money comes on line? Anyone who's involved with, working for or cares about broadband in the U.S. needs to listen to this show.    

Are ROW issues crippling broadband? We, the people, own over 4 million miles of right of way (ROW) - every street in America plus 10 feet on each side. ROWs exist so essential services such as roads, utilities - and telecom services are used by and available to everyone. But is this true when it comes to broadband? According to today's guest, Rita Stull, "the telecom industry spends tens of millions of dollars annually lobbying to retain free use of rights-of-way land. And the cable industry has spent 30 years lobbying federal and state legislatures to void franchises and eliminate as many payments for using community-owned ROW as possible. Stull explains why addressing these ROW issues are key to the future of community broadband. Listeners learn why every effort to acquire better broadband must start with an analysis of who "owns" vs controls the local ROW. They also get tips for monitoring activities in the state legislature than can impact ROW.  Ms. Stull designs telecom plans for local governments, an

Want to know where your state ranks in the big broadband picture? The key author of the TechNet State-by-State Broadband Index, a report that ranks states in broadband adoption, network quality, and broadband-driven economic outcomes, breaks it down for you. John Horrigan, currently VP of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, completed this report after recently leaving TechNet. Last week he participated in a special rountable of national experts discussing research on broadband and economic development. Listeners pick up valuable insights to how leading states are using broadband to increase small business creation, job growth and tax revenues, as well as influencing social changes among constituents. Horrigan's observations help communities with their broadband planning for next year.

The FCC is one of the most pivotal federal agency in terms of implementing national policies and funding programs that impact broadband deployments and adoption. But do communities maximize the potential to influence these policies and programs, or are the challenges too great? Sharon Gillett knows FCC procedures from the inside out, and shares this valuable expertise to help listeners develop strategies for navigating the challenges. As the former Chief of the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau, she herded major agency reforms through DC.'s political and bureaucratic mazes. This interview summarizes: some of the FCC major activities affecting broadband that communities can participate in and/or influence; the typical process for moving from policy ideas to actual programs; how to work the public comment period; and ways in which communities and small or regional ISPs and telcos may partner to influence the FCC policy and programs. For more FCC-related commentary, check out this writeup of my conversati

Seattle just announced a project to add "Gigabit Network" to the list of reasons you want to live and do business in their city. In partnership with Gigabit Squared, the city soon will have 12 neighborhoods with gigabit infrastructure delivering wired and wireless services.  Seattle Acting CTO Erin Devoto and Ed Lazowska, Seattle's U. of Washington pointman on the project (Bill & Melinda Gates Chair at UW), explain the details of the deal and how they expect this project to benefit city stakeholders. Seattle represents a growing trend of cities and counties taking a more active role and using "untraditional" means to get broadband into their communities.   Listeners get a breakdown of the key elements of this initiative, details on how these elements will come together, and a list of both short- and long-term objectives for the project. Devoto and Lazowska also offer tips and recommendations for other cities that want to be a part of this movement for community-driven broadband.

Local governments' use of broadband to improve communication and operations is one of the two main pillars in the financial sustainability model of community broadband networks, wrote host Craig Settles in his first book on the subject. Stakeholders need to pay more attention to this pillar.  The Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) recently released a Public Savings Fact Sheet that spells out in dollars and sense how specific local governments in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and several other states used broadband to significantly cut costs. Christopher Mitchell, a Director with ILSR, joins us to discuss some of these projects. Mitchell provides assessments of how these various communities identified operational areas broadband could impact. He also offers pointers for listeners who want to replicate some of these successes. 

Some folks believe that building a fast broadband network automatically closes the digital divide. In reality, it is the sweat equity and creativity of individuals that closes the divide in the poorest communities. The Rosedale Ridge low-income housing development is the recipient of a three-step program that could be a model for other un-served and underserved communities. Michael Liimatta, President of the nonprofit Connecting for Good, describes how his organization became a service provider for Rosedale Ridge, delivering free 50 Mbps wireless service. He coordinated with The Sunflower Group to donate 100 laptops for residents. And finally, Connecting for Good is opening a 3000-square-foot headquarters where residents can get hands-on computer training. Listeners get important tips to help communities plan their own broadband adoption and digital inclusion programs. Liimatta also discusses a few ideas for financial sustaining the program after initial grants monies run out.

"A regulated company will always renege on promises to provide public benefits tomorrow in exchange for regulatory and financial benefits today." This philosophy by Gigabit Nation guest Bruce Kushnick makes one wonder, is a recent AT&T announcement cause for joy, or a call for community broadband advocates to circle the wagons? Last month some policymakers jumped for joy when the incumbent said it planned to spend $14 billion to upgrade its wired and wireless infrastructure. Others groaned as AT&T simultaneously began a drive to gut regulation that may be many small towns and rural communities last hope for even a hint of improved broadband services. Kushnick, Exec. Dir of New Networks Institute, explains his analysis of historical evidence that infers “AT&T is lying about the amount of money they will spend or the deployments they will accomplish.” He presents reasons communities should care that this may be a smokescreen to enable company attacks on regulations that protect consumers and local

"If you've got good people of good will on both sides who really want to get something done, you can have really good debates and then you compromise." This philosophy of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, if nothing else, should be the governing rule everywhere for state legislative action on broadband issues.  Iowa Democratic State Representative Mary Gaskill and Republican State Senator Mark Chelgren join us to discuss initiatives both legislators are pursuing to help bring better broadband to constituents. In addition, they give listeners valuable lessons for working effectively with elected representatives on both sides of the aisle.  Communities planning broadband projects are advised to include tactics for building strong working relationships with elected officials locally and at the statehouse. These relationships can be key to resolving some of the various challenges along the way to broadband deployment.   

Discussions about broadband and economic development often focus on actions taken after a community launches its network. However, even during broadband planning, right of way (ROW) issues can greatly influence a network's role as an economic engine. Galen Updike, Broadband Development Manager at the Arizona Department of Administration, is one of over 36 industry influencers attending a special roundtable in D.C. on broadband's economic impact. He describes for listeners details about Arizona's creative approach to developing ROW policies that accelerate broadband deployments.  Updike joins host Craig Settles in Washington where these ROW and other policies ideas will be compiled into a national knowledgebase to benefit communities' broadband efforts. Our Gigabit Nation audience gets a sneak preview of that knowledgebase. 

National Broadband Plan architect Blair Levin joins us to discuss the broadband implications of his new plan to accelerate growth, shrink the national debt, revolutionize the delivery of government services and help slow global warming. With former FCC Chairman (93-97 Reed Hundt, Levin recently co-authored the e-book "The Politics of Abundance: How Technology Can Fix the Budget, Revive the American Dream, and Establish Obama’s Legacy." The book advocates strongly for a four-part plan that expands the Internet and the electric power grid: Tax carbon-intensive emissions from power plants in return for reducing income tax rates;  Couple utility reform with corporate tax reform; New wave infrastructure financing to support, among other things, next-generation data networks; andAccelerate all government services to the digital platforms, Listeners get a very good policy analysis from Levin and host Craig Settles, plus a preliminary look at issues both gentlemen will explore later in the week at a Washington, DC

While some communities are benefiting from their electric or telecom co-op expanding to offer broadband services, others have created nonprofit corporations specifically for delivering broadband. Is this move right for your community? Jobs and sizeable community enhancements have come to several N.C. communities thanks to non-profit broadband operator MCNC. Listeners pick up important lessons and tips from MCNC president Joe Freddoso on how to do effective strategy planning. Joe describes some of the nonprotif's main accomplishments during the year since he was on Gigabit Nation last year, and their preperations for December's 12 Days of Broadband. Joe also shares MCNC's plans for 2013. The co-op connects K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and non-profit healthcare sites throughout the state.

Before you know it, Tennessee is going to become a 1-gig state, as Bristol becomes its latest town to begin offering 1 Gbps service to residents and businesses. Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) is a municipal-owned utility that has been doing broadband right since 1998. BTES CEO Dr. Michael Browder describes the utility's long history of using fiber to serve customers, initially by linking its substations to the main office, and most recently through its powerful upgrade of broadband services. Dr. Browder reveals a few of BTES' secrets in staying ahead of the technology curve as well as their bigger competitors.  Listeners also learn some valuable tips on planning, marketing and producing significant benefits for BTES' various constituencies. Communities laying out their 2013 broadband plans definitely want to tune in for this interview.