Author: Ann Treacy

A super quick update…

Today the Minnesota House reports that they concurred and re-passed the Minnesota Broadband bill. The Bill was re-passed as amended by the Senate. It’s on the way to the Governor’s office but I don’t have any word on when he will be looking at it.

Thanks to John Schultz for sending me the latest on the BIP Round Two applications. Sadly the new applications are not yet in the searchable directory – but I was able to pull out the Minnesota applications. At least I hope I got all of them that relate to Minnesota in some way.

Applicant: INSIDEMYCITY LLC
Application ID: 5923
Contact: SCOTT DAVID ASCHENBRENNER
(810) 3091608
[email protected]
Project Title: insideMyCityGateway
To Rural America 2010
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Texas
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $1,524,445.00
$6,531,480.00
$6,531,480.00
Status: Application Received
Description: insideMyCity, a proposed Rural CLEC, offering regulated and unregulated services to markets that have less than 1,500 homes and currently have one provider of service such as the local phone company. The funds from this Grant will be used to enhance residential and business communications as well as provide vital connectivity to remote fire, police, ambulance and public sector organizations.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: KEPS TECHNOLOGIES, INC
Application ID: 5415
Contact: KEVIN CLARK SCHOEN
(517) 9993250
[email protected]
Project Title: BerrienCass
Rural Broadband
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$7,831,829.00
$3,356,498.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Design and construct a lastmile terrestrial broadband network infrastructure connecting to but not including construction of middle and first mile fiber optic cable. It will consist of building FiberToTheHome (and businesses), plus fixed wireless equipment and towers, to provide highspeed broadband to 26,153 unserved houses, and a total of 6,104 unserved businesses, Public Safety Entities and Critical Community Facilities in the rural areas of Berrien and Cass Counties.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: LIGHTHOUSE VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS, INC.
Application ID: 5997
Contact: DONALD KORFF
(269) 8168601
[email protected]
Project Title: Marcellus Connectivity Initiative
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$504,028.00
$216,012.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Lighthouse Virtual Connections, Inc. seeks to extend the broadband network within the state of Michigan to the rural communities surrounding the village of Marcellus. Offering Internet access at highspeeds, Lighthouse wishes to provide a fiberoptic network, terminating in a dependable wireless system in order to better serve the 3,109 households, 242 businesses, and various anchor institutions included in the targeted service area.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: MASON, COUNTY TREASURER
Application ID: 7251
Contact: JOHN GERTS
(231) 8435850
[email protected]
Project Title: Mason County Municipal Fiber to the Premises Project Michigan
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$14,833,086.00
$5,077,096.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Michigan has the nation’s highest unemployment percentage. The Lake Michigan shoreline is truly an enviable place to live and work. In Mason County there is a digital divide between those with access to broadband and the underserved or unserved. This project will recitfy this inequality; allowing stay at home moms, work at home entrepreneurs and businesses to prosper in the global market.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: METRAMAX GR, LLC
Application ID: 4254
Contact: TYLER VAN HOUWELINGEN
(616) 6389057
[email protected]
Project Title: Comprehensive Community Application for Southern Michigan WiMAX
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Indiana, Michigan
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $8,793,549.00
$20,000,000.49
$20,000,000.51
Status: Application Received
Description: AzulStar, together with Clearwire, private investors and local community and public institutions are proposing the creation of a 4G wireless broadband network encompassing the rural and underserved areas within 17 counties in Southern Michigan. The network will utilize mobile WiMAX at 2.5GHz, which is a nonproprietary, 4G wireless broadband technology that outpaces all other broadband technologies in terms of both price and performance. The innovative network will use some 60MHz of licensed spectrum at 2.5GHz to deliver fixed and mobile connections of 10Mbps and beyond. The highly advanced system will have a lasting impact on the target areas by creating a platform for innovation and sustainable economic growth. Given the highly rural and sparse nature of the area being targeted, federal financial assistance is essential in order to make this vision a reality.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6472
Contact: DAVID ALLEN
(269) 4451081
[email protected]
Project Title: Midwest Energy Cooperative FibertotheHome
Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $600,000.00
$21,011,663.00
$9,004,998.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Midwest Energy Cooperative is a 501 (c) 12 organization. Midwest Energy proposes to build and operate a fibertothehome (FTTH) broadband communications network to bring broadband and provide value to its cooperative members. Midwest Energy has designed the network to ensure that community anchor institutions have access to very highbandwidth broadband to provide essential services to the community as described herein.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: PASTY NET INC
Application ID: 7226
Contact: CHARLES R HOPPER
(906) 3375979
[email protected]
Project Title: Fiber for the Keweenaw
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$7,894,179.00
$2,631,395.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Locally established wireless and dialup Internet provider Pasty.net, Inc. proposes to purchase equipment and construct 297 miles of fiber optic network to serve the historic Keweenaw Peninsula. 2,617 unserved and underserved households, businesses and anchor institutions will receive 100 Mbit service. This includes voice, IPTV, future smartgrid transport, and Internet access consistent with the FCC’s National Broadband Plan.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: SPEEDNET LLC
Application ID: 7642
Contact: JOHN OGREN
(248) 5210612
[email protected]
Project Title: SpeedNet Rural Intiative
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Illinois, Iowa
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$8,575,892.00
$3,852,937.00
Status: Application Received
Description: SpeedNet LLC, a leading provider of wireless broadband services in Michigan, is proposing to utilize licensed 2.5 GHz band spectrum and standardsbased
WiMAX 802.16e technology to bring highspeed broadband service to 18 rural counties in Iowa and Illinois where the majority of premises currently lack High Speed Access. The proposed system initially will consist of 144 base stations and ancillary facilities, and will be capable of reaching 32,651 households and 17,891 businesses in the proposed funded service area.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: WEST MICHIGAN BROADBAND, LLC
Application ID: 7784
Contact: DON NOORDYK
(231) 4142887
[email protected]
Project Title: West Michigan Broadband
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $349,212.00
$0.00
$998,000.00
Status: Application Received
Description: West Michigan Broadband seeks to expand its coverage area through the use of USDA funding to provide high speed Internet services to underserved rural areas of West Michigan.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Minnesota
Applicant: ARROWHEAD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC
Application ID: 6656
Contact: TERESA HANNAY
(616) 2935880
[email protected]
Project Title: Arrowhead Electric Cooperative FibertotheHome
Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $600,000.00
$11,296,239.00
$4,841,245.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Arrowhead Electric Cooperative proposes to build and operate a fiber optic network to the residential and commercial members of the cooperative as well to underserved safety and anchor agencies in our service area. This project is designed as an open network allowing multiple qualified vendors to offer services on the system.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: FARMERS MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY
Application ID: 5552
Contact: JOHN SCHULTZ
(651) 9677196
jschultz@urekabroadband.
com
Project Title: Farmers TelephoneLac
qui Parle County FTTP Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $33,851.00
$4,826,478.00
$4,826,478.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Farmers Mutual Telephone Company in partnership with Lac qui Parle County will provide Fiber to the Premise technology to the remaining 1561 households and 165 businesses and 12 Critical Community Facilities within the county. This network will provide highspeed data, voice and television services to areas of the County with limited access to technology choices. The entire budget for the project will be $9.686 million ($9.653 million in BIP) dollars. This deployment will make Lac qui Parle one of the leading technology counties in the state. Lac qui Parle County Economic Development Authority (EDA) will lead economic development efforts within the County in coordination with this network build to best leverage the network for education, health care, public safety and economic development.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: FEDERATED TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 7365
Contact: KEVIN BEYER
(320) 3247111
[email protected]
Project Title: Rural Morris, MN
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $107,500.00
$1,493,637.00
$1,493,637.00
Status: Application Received
Description: This project consist of building a FTTP system to deploy voice, video, and data services to the Rural Morris, MN exchange. The PFSA is primarily located in Stevens County, with a small portion in Grant County. The PFSA includes 408 residential, 20 Business and 2 anchor institutions.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: FEDERATED TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 5143
Contact: KEVIN BEYER
(320) 3247111
[email protected]
Project Title: Rural Appleton, MN
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$630,289.00
$630,289.00
Status: Application Received
Description: This project consists of building a FTTP system to deploy voice, video, and data services to the Rural Appleton, MN exchange. The PFSA is primarily located in Swift County, with small portions in Big Stone and Chippewa Counties. The PFSA includes 152 residential, 7 Business and 1 anchor institution.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: FOND DU LAC RESERVATION
Application ID: 6391
Contact: JASON ROMAN HOLLINDAY
(218) 8782625
[email protected]
Project Title: Fond du Lac Broadband Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$1,062,035.00
$354,012.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The Fond du Lac Wireless Broadband Project would create a wireless broadband/high speed Internet system on the Fond du Lac Reservation. The system would provide internet access to over 300 homes, and several community facilities. The procurement of high speed internet on the Reservation will be used as an economic tool and assist people to educate themselves, open a new marketplace for goods and services, create a more marketable workforce and open new job opportunities. The project will require the construction and installation of six towers and base station. Cost estimated for the towers and the base station is $1,416,792.00. A more detailed scope of work is located in the attachments with the “FDL Wireless Study.”
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: JAGUAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Application ID: 5788
Contact: DONNY TJELEMAN SMITH
(507) 2141001
[email protected]
Project Title: Southeastern Minnesota Open Fiber Initiative (SMOFI)
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$33,999,578.00
$15,275,173.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The Southeastern Minnesota Open Fiber Initiative (SMOFI) is an â€oeOpen Access†FibertothePremise (FTTP) project, which will connect virtually every home, business, community anchor institution and critical facility in the Southern Minnesota counties of Steele and Dodge, and parts of Rice, which are predominantly unserved or underserved. The project will deliver broadband speeds of up to 1Gbps to every premise served and sets aside 25% of earned revenues for future expansion to rural and remote areas. The project will pass 16,414 households, 1,580 businesses and 515 Community Anchor Institutions and Critical Facilities. The project will be a critical part of
the Mayo Clinic’s â€oeBEACON†rural telehealth initiative. SMOFI will implement specific and substantive programs to deliver service to, and support community anchor institutions abilities to deliver services to the public.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: KASSON \& MANTORVILLE TELEPHONE COMPANY
Application ID: 5389
Contact: MARY EHMKE
(507) 6342511
[email protected]
Project Title: Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company: FibertotheHome
Broadband Deployment Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$9,280,797.00
$3,977,484.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company FibertotheHome Broadband Deployment Project is a build out of existing infrastructure into underserved rural areas throughout the current serving company footprint. The project proposes to build fiber routes and improve network infrastructure to enable more robust high speed broadband connections to homes and businesses.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: LAKE, COUNTY OF
Application ID: 4538
Contact: GARY FIELDS
(651) 3433128
[email protected]
Project Title: Lake County Fiber Network
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $3,500,000.00
$9,955,359.00
$56,413,705.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The Lake County Fiber Network will provide fibertothepremise connectivity to all homes and businesses in Lake County and eastern Saint Louis County, MN. The network will deliver state of the art voice, video and data services at affordable prices.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: NEXTERA COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Application ID: 7493
Contact: GREG ARVIG
(218) 8186410
[email protected]
Project Title: Fort Ripley Broadband Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$2,141,250.00
$713,750.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Nextera Communications currently serves Brainerd, Baxter and Little Falls with voice and data services. Based on the proposed application Nextera will construct 7 tower sites with 4G wireless technology to serve the unserved areas surrounding Brainerd, Baxter and Little Falls. The 4G wireless system will be capable of delivering up to 5M in bandwidth to end users. Towers will be connected via a 200M backbone microwave radio system and the proposed MSED fiber system if the companion MSED grant is awarded. The proposed system will leverage existing infrastructure to create a cost effective broadband solution to unserved markets.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: NORTHEAST SERVICE COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6621
Contact: LYLE KEVIN MACVEY
(218) 7487623
[email protected]
Project Title: ArrowheadConnect Cook
County
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $8,589,223.00
$18,037,502.00
$7,730,358.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Fiber to the Home project leveraging the NESC Northeast Middle Mile Project funded in Round 1. This project will provide fiber based broadband to 6,235 households in one of the sparsest and northern most counties in MN. The project employs a new public sector management model that will engage and have strong local incumbent and cable carrier support. The model is unique in that nothing like it has been proposed before and stands to be the future model for deploying networks in sparsely populated, large rural areas. The model provides for both a “unbundled fiber to the home” carrier service and a bundled “lit” service to support low income and those that cannot afford along with connecting critical services to the regional network. It also has strong participation with the funded NESC Middle Mile Fiber Project and other ARRA funded projects in the region.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: PAUL BUNYAN RURAL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 5688
Contact: GARY JOHNSON
(218) 4441234
[email protected]
Project Title: Northern Minnesota Broadband Extension Initiative
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$20,097,748.00
$9,029,422.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The rapid growth and ensuing spread of communities in the rural landscape poses a challenge for Internet services providers. Paul Bunyan Telephone’s Northern Minnesota Broadband Extension Initiative proposes to fill this need by extending broadband services to areas lacking in those
services.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: SJOBERG\’S INC
Application ID: 5696
Contact: RICHARD J SJOBERG
(218) 6813044
[email protected]
Project Title: Northwest Minnesota Fiber Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $207,129.00
$649,544.00
$216,516.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Sjoberg’s inc proposes to build state of the art, fiber to the premises (RF over Glass) extensions to 4 unserved/ underserved areas near Thief River Falls and Roseau, MN. Sjoberg’s will provide these areas with 40 Mb/s Broadband service, cable TV and telephone service. This will provide new jobs and simulate economic activity in the local business and farm community. It will also be used in conjunction with Emergency Services and Healthcare.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: UPSALA COOPERATIVE
TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION
Application ID: 6014
Contact: TONY GEBHARD
(320) 5732122
[email protected]
Project Title: MN TriCounty
Wireless Broadband Initiative
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$22,308,234.00
$7,436,078.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Sytek Communication has a long history of being a successful and progressive telecommunications company for over 100 years. Careful analysis of the potential current unserved market shows an opportunity to fill the void of Broadband services which is either not available or substandard. The Company will be able to leverage their affiliation from their extensive industry contacts, which they have gained through industry affiliations, and other third party contacts which will all help support the rural communities. The Minnesota TriCounty Broadband Project would be an extension to the current Broadband project on which we are working. Sytek Communications would manage a wireless broadband system that would serve more than 1,600 square miles of 4G (WiMax) coverage for the counties of Todd, Morrison & Mille Lacs in central Minnesota.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: WIKSTROM TELEPHONE COMPANY, INCORPORATED
Application ID: 4806
Contact: ALAN LUNDEEN
(218) 4365214
[email protected]
Project Title: Wikstrom NW MN Broadband
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$5,179,019.00
$2,219,581.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Wikstrom Telephone’s Project will deploy 414 miles of new cables and electronics for GPON fiber to the home in 6 communities of Kittson, Marshall and Roseau County for Broadband Services over 100 megabits. Electronic enhancements will be made to existing DSL customers to increase Broadband speeds up to 48mbs, along with 74 miles of additional fiber to the node, and a 150mb microwave upgrade for service to the NW Angle. The project facilities will pass 5115 households, 1499 businesses, and 83 critical community facilities.
Public Notice Response:
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

Applicant: WOODSTOCK TELEPHONE CO INC
Application ID: 4875
Contact: KEN KNUTH
(507) 7772201
[email protected]
Project Title: WTC 2010 Broadband Initiative
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $763,200.00
$10,629,096.00
$4,555,328.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Woodstock Telephone Company will expand its fiber network into neighboring rural communities by providing FTTP for over 3600 premises in 15 communities located within 3 counties in Southwest Minnesota. This expanded fiber network will provide bandwidth of over 20Mbps for advanced voice and data services. The company will utilize experienced management professionals to lead the deployment, operation, and maintenance of this new infrastructure, contributing to project success, efficient timeframes, and reducing the overall costs of deployment and maintenance.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: QWEST CORPORATION
Application ID: 4823
Contact: MELISSA NEWMAN
(202) 4293120
[email protected]
Project Title: Qwest 14state
High Speed Access Project
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $118,170,540.00
$348,806,468.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Qwest Corporation’s project proposes deployment of High Speed Access within its current 14state ILEC footprint. Over 500,000 living units (LUs) in AZ, CO, ID, IA, MN, MT, NE, ND, NM, OR, SD, UT, WA and WY will be served with speeds ranging up to 40 Mbps downstream. About 90% of the LUs proposed for new or upgraded broadband service are in rural areas. The system design uses a combination of technologies including Ethernet, fiber and radio backhaul to reach covered LUs and varies based on the specific location and geography. The project will provide last mile infrastructure to support increasing capacity requirements and integrate new broadband
dependent applications and technologies. And, if funded, the project’s $467 M investment will create more than 23,000 jobs for local economies in the 14 states (calculated from the Atkinson formula offered in a 2009 broadband study).
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: AIM WIRELESS SOLUTIONS, INC
Application ID: 7247
Contact: AHMAD ISSAM MALKAWI
(847) 3406250
[email protected]
Project Title: Last mile for rural areas in the state of MN
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $2,107,541.00
$4,144,081.00
$2,047,071.00
Status: Application Received
Description: To deploy a WIMAX (802.16e standard) high speed broadband network in underserved and unserved areas in the state of MN. The network will offer reasonable and affordable high speed broadband data and voice over IP.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: IOWA TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC.
Application ID: 7686
Contact: DAVID PORTER
(641) 7872928
[email protected]
Project Title: Connecting Rural Iowa: HighSpeed
Broadband Expansion 2
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Iowa, Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $4,078,946.00
$12,236,836.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Iowa Telecom proposes to establish new DLC/DSL nodes to expand highspeed broadband capability to 80 proposed funded service areas throughout Iowa. Each project will consist of burying fiber transport from the serving central office to the new node location or of connecting the new node to nearby existing fiber cable or to fiber cable placed in the middlemile application that Iowa Telecom also has filed in Round 2. The last mile networks that will be created through the various projects in this application will be capable of delivering broadband speeds of 3 mbps up to 15 mbps for residential and business customers between their premises and the DLC/DSL node.
Areas that Iowa Telecom will serve with this project are primarily small outlying residential communities. We anticipate that this project will pass approximately 9,939 households and a relatively small amount of businesses
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: WINNEBAGO COOPERATIVE TELECOM ASSOCIATION
Application ID: 4975
Contact: TERRY WEGENER
(641) 5926105
[email protected]
Project Title: WCTA 2010 Broadband Initiative
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Iowa, Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$9,816,202.00
$9,816,202.00
Status: Application Received
Description: WCTA will expand the existing portions of its fiber network by providing FTTP for rural portions of about 21 communities in Iowa and Minnesota, and will provide bandwidth of over 5Mbps for advanced voice, video, and data services. The proposed service area is 100% rural and serves population in six counties. WCTA will utilize an experienced team of professionals to manage, deploy, operate, and maintain this new infrastructure, contributing to project success, efficient timeframes, and reducing the overall costs of deployment and maintenance.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: KEYON COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Application ID: 6040
Contact: JASON LAZAR
(310) 4036307
[email protected]
Project Title: KeyOn WiMAX Minnesota
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $19,366,993.00
$21,344,880.00
$9,182,141.00
Status: Application Received
Description: KeyOn will deliver fourth generation (4G), lastmile wireless broadband and digital phone service(VoIP) to 716,575 people in 361 of the most rural communities in Minnesota. Using KeyOn’s nationwide 3.65GHz license and the standards based WiMAX protocol, our network will offer Internet and digital phone service to 278,161 households and 37,828 businesses passed at speeds of up to 8Mbps download/1.5Mbps upload at a cost far lower than competing technologies. KeyOn’s existing footprint covers customers in 11 states and over 50,000 square miles. Our financial strength and management team experience will ensure that the communities and their surrounding areas in the targeted PFSAs will be afforded nextgeneration broadband access into the foreseeable future.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: RED RIVER RURAL TELEPHONE ASSN (INC)
Application ID: 4733
Contact: JEFFREY J. OLSON
(701) 5538309
[email protected]
Project Title: RRT FTTP Broadband Upgrade Rural MN, ND and SD Exchanges
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $1,009,826.00
$4,544,219.00
$4,544,219.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The Red River Telephone (RRT) Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) Broadband Upgrade of rural Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota exchanges will entail installing fiber to the premise to 1,272 unserved and underserved customer locations in 6 rural exchanges served by Red River Rural Telephone Association in Ransom, Richland, and Sargent counties of North Dakota, as well as Wilkin county in Minnesota and Roberts and Marshall counties in South Dakota. This extensive project will place approximately 690 route miles of fiber optic cable to the proposed areas, bringing broadband capabilities up to 100Mbps to customers who otherwise have relied on lesser quality services such as dialup, wireless or satellite broadband services, all of which offer speeds below the required service level.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6781
Contact: CHRIS MARTIN
(703) 7877288
[email protected]
Project Title: Mille Lacs E.C. Mille
Lacs County
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$1,060,035.00
$454,301.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) will bring affordable and reliable wireless broadband services to those rural portions of Mille Lacs County that lack highspeed broadband access. Using WiMAX technology, NRTC’s proposed network will pass 4,676 households, 1,020 businesses and 56 critical community facilities/public safety entities and will create/save 4 jobs in Mille Lacs County. With over 20 years of experience in bringing innovative telecommunications products and services to rural America, NRTC has the track record to deploy promptly, ensure financial sustainability of the project, and facilitate rural economic development.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6778
Contact: CHRIS MARTIN
(703) 7877288
[email protected]
Project Title: Mille Lacs E.C. Crow
Wing County
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$3,427,801.00
$1,469,059.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) will bring affordable and reliable
wireless broadband services to those rural portions of Crow Wing County that lack highspeed
broadband access. Using WiMAX technology, NRTC’s proposed network will pass 5,523
households, 339 businesses and 89 critical community facilities/public safety entities and will
create/save 14 jobs in Crow Wing County. With over 20 years of experience in bringing innovative
telecommunications products and services to rural America, NRTC has the track record to deploy
promptly, ensure financial sustainability of the project, and facilitate rural economic development.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6777
Contact: CHRIS MARTIN
(703) 7877288
[email protected]
Project Title: Mille Lacs E.C. Aitken
County
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$386,386.00
$165,595.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) will bring affordable and reliable wireless broadband services to those rural portions of Aitkin County that lack highspeed broadband access. Using WiMAX technology, NRTC’s proposed network will pass 355 households, 26 businesses and 11 critical community facilities/public safety entities and will create/ save 2 jobs in Aitken County. With over 20 years of experience in bringing innovative telecommunications products and services to rural America, NRTC has the track record to deploy promptly, ensure financial sustainability of the project, and facilitate rural economic development.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6761
Contact: CHRIS MARTIN
(703) 7877288
[email protected]
Project Title: McLeod C.P.A. McLeod
County
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$1,151,778.00
$493,619.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) will bring affordable and reliable wireless broadband services to those rural portions of McLeod County that lack highspeed broadband access. Using WiMAX technology, NRTC’s proposed network will pass 6,054 households, 1,382 businesses and 51 critical community facilities/public safety entities and will create/save 5 jobs in McLeod County. With over 20 years of experience in bringing innovative telecommunications products and services to rural America, NRTC has the track record to deploy promptly, ensure financial sustainability of the project, and facilitate rural economic development.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6776
Contact: CHRIS MARTIN
(703) 7877288
[email protected]
Project Title: McLeod C.P.A. Sibley
County
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$637,472.00
$273,202.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) will bring affordable and reliable wireless broadband services to those rural portions of Sibley County that lack highspeed broadband access. Using WiMAX technology, NRTC’s proposed network will pass 1,445 households, 164 businesses and 20 critical community facilities/public safety entities and will create/save 3 jobs in Sibley County. With over 20 years of experience in bringing innovative telecommunications products and services to rural America, NRTC has the track record to deploy promptly, ensure financial sustainability of the project, and facilitate rural economic development.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE
Application ID: 6762
Contact: CHRIS MARTIN
(703) 7877288
[email protected]
Project Title: McLeod C.P.A. Renville
County
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$504,600.00
$216,258.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) will bring affordable and reliable wireless broadband services to those rural portions of Renville County that lack highspeed broadband access. Using WiMAX technology, NRTC’s proposed network will pass 1,467 households, 221 businesses and 22 critical community facilities/public safety entities and will create/save 2 jobs in Renville County. With over 20 years of experience in bringing innovative telecommunications products and services to rural America, NRTC has the track record to deploy promptly, ensure financial sustainability of the project, and facilitate rural economic development.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: ARIZONA TELEPHONE COMPANY
Application ID: 5543
Contact: TIMOTHY W ULRICH
(608) 6644114
[email protected]
Project Title: Arizona Telephone Company: Broadband project to serve rural unserved establishments
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $1,338,270.00
$4,014,808.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Arizona Telephone Company, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring highspeed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory, which is comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. The network is also engineered so that it can be easily upgraded at a reasonable cost to meet future needs.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: ARVIG TELEPHONE COMPANY
Application ID: 6016
Contact: TIMOTHY W. ULRICH
(608) 6644114
[email protected]
Project Title: Arvig Telephone Company: Broadband project to serve rural unserved establishments
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $1,682,722.00
$5,048,168.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Arvig Telephone Company, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring highspeed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory, which is comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. The network is also engineered so that it can be easily upgraded at a reasonable cost to meet future needs.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: BERTRAM COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Application ID: 6628
Contact: JAMES BERTRAM
(920) 9942388
[email protected]
Project Title: Wisconsin on Wireless (WOW)
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$15,640,773.00
$36,495,136.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The Bertram Wireless project will provide the first ever 4G highspeed broadband Internet service to underserved areas in North and Eastern Wisconsin.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: DELTA COUNTY TELECOMM,
INC
Application ID: 5583
Contact: TIMOTHY W ULRICH
(608) 6644114
[email protected]
Project Title: Delta County TeleComm,
Inc.: Broadband project to serve rural unserved establishments
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $608,993.00
$1,826,979.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Delta County TeleComm,
Inc., a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring highspeed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory, which is
comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. The network is also engineered so that it can be easily upgraded at a reasonable cost to meet future needs.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: HILBERT COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Application ID: 7723
Contact: STEVEN JAMES SCHNEIDER
(920) 2022390
[email protected]
Project Title: See a Need. Fill a Need. Rural Wisconsin.
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $24,733,314.00
$37,087,522.00
$37,087,522.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Hilbert Communications intends to provide 7.214.4 Mbps broadband service throughout unserved and underserved portions of 26 counties in rural Wisconsin utilizing AlcatelLucent UMTS HSPA+ equipment and connecting these sites with a combination of Hilbert’s existing 1,200 mile fiberoptic cable system operating at 1040
GBps as well as through fiber being built through awards made to the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Middle Mile and The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System Middle Mile awarded in Round1 of the ARRA Rural Broadband Grants under open access filing. Individual homes and businesses will be connected by utilizing a product known as the “BugSurfer”(tm)which contains two Ethernet ports with tested speeds of 3.0 to 7.2 Mbps Downlink and 3.0 to 5.4 Mbps Uplink. The BugSurfer also has a built in WiFi “Hotspot” and a VoIP port for voice.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: ISLAND TELEPHONE COMPANY
Application ID: 6020
Contact: TIMOTHY W. ULRICH
(608) 6644114
[email protected]
Project Title: Island Telephone Company: Broadband project to serve rural unserved establishments
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan, Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $667,176.00
$2,001,528.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Island Telephone Company, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring highspeed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory, which is comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. The network is also engineered so that it can be easily upgraded at a reasonable cost to meet future needs.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: MARQUETTEADAMS
TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE, INC.
Application ID: 6060
Contact: JERRY LYDELL SCHNEIDER
(608) 5720106
[email protected]
Project Title: Broadband Edge Out MarquetteAdams
Telephone Cooperative
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $0.00
$13,805,175.00
$6,202,326.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Extend fiber optic service from existing Telephone Cooperative service area to unserved rural areas bordering our current territory. All customers in our current territory can get broadband serves, digital cable television and advanced voices service from us now. As a Cooperative we are committed to provide the highest grade of service at the lowest price that can insure a sustained reliable network.

Applicant: MIDSTATE
TELEPHONE CO.
Application ID: 5527
Contact: TIMOTHY W. ULRICH
(608) 6644114
[email protected]
Project Title: MidState
Telephone Company: Broadband project to serve rural unserved establishments
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Michigan, Minnesota
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $1,105,145.00
$3,315,435.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: MidState
Telephone Company, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring highspeed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory, which is comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. The network is also engineered so that it can be easily upgraded at a reasonable cost to meet future needs.
Public Notice Response:

Applicant: PIERCE, COUNTY OF
Application ID: 5191
Contact: BRAD ROY
(715) 2736747
[email protected]
Project Title: Pierce County Broadband
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $1,000,000.00
$35,335,000.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: Pierce County Broadband is a project to provide mobile broadband throughout Pierce County, WI. The project will make broadband available for every resident and business. The secure network will also improve public safety, support economic development, enhance health care and advance educational opportunities.

Applicant: WEST PENOBSCOT TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, THE
Application ID: 5548
Contact: TIMOTHY W. ULRICH
(608) 6644114
[email protected]
Project Title: West Penobscot Telephone and Telegraph Co: Broadband project to serve rural unserved
establishments
Program: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Proposed Project Area: Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Project Type: Last Mile
Funding Round: Winter 2010 Broadband Initiatives Program
Grant Request:
Loan Request:
Other Funding: $518,327.00
$1,554,981.00
$0.00
Status: Application Received
Description: The West Penobscot Telephone and Telegraph Company, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring highspeed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory, which is comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. The network is also engineered so that it can be easily upgraded at a reasonable cost to meet future needs.

I don’t write a lot about broadband caps and metered service because it’s more of a national issue and so much has been happening locally – but as Keith Thelen wrote to me, Minnesota now has a front row seat.

According to Ars Technica, Frontier Communications is piloting metered services in Mound, Minnesota. It seems as if most of the details are coming from StoptheGap, a site that works at “promoting better broadband, fighting usage caps, usage-based billing and other Internet overcharging schemes.”

According to StoptheGap…

Stop the Cap! has learned Frontier has begun measuring customers’ broadband usage, and for those in Minnesota who exceed 100GB of usage during a month, Frontier is dispatching e-mail messages telling them they’ll have to agree to pay more — much more — or their service will be cut off in 15 days.

It sounds as if about 50 people received such email messages. The most egregious bump up will be for those achieving 250GB of usage; their new monthly rate is an incredible $249.99 per month.

Again it sounds as if this is a pilot charging program and it sounds as if it’s for DSL customers at this point although representatives have alluded to potentially metered charges for FiOS service as well. (Or at least they haven’t said no to metered service for FiOS.) Unfortunately for Frontier it looks as if their letters to DSL customers preceded policy changes on their web site, that may be added to the confusion and frustration.

I’m pretty sure my invitation was lost in the mail (I’m pretty sure yours was too!) – but the good news is that we can all participate online, which is even better for those of us in Ireland who are grounded due to volcanic ash. (That’s a whole new reason to appreciate broadband and remote meetings!!)

So what’s the FiberFête? Here’s the description from the web site…

FiberFête is an invitation-only conference to bring local leaders together with a wide variety of national and international Internet experts to discuss how communities like Lafayette can realize the greatest return on investment in their networks and explore how to drive economic development and enhance their community’s quality of life.

They have a whole host of great speakers you can check out on the web site. You can watch online as FiberFete will be streamed live from 4 to 6 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 20 and from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 21. Or you can follow the FiberFete Tweets or follow all related Tweets #fiberfete.

Thanks to the Grand Forks Herald for picking up the latest cheer for broadband, especially a cheer coming from Minnesota. Here’s what they said…

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar used a committee hearing to encourage federal officials to expand high-speed broadband Internet service to more communities.

“This broadband plan will help ensure that all Americans have access to an open, affordable and high-speed internet,” the Minnesota Democrat said about a Federal Communications Commission proposal. “The FCC needs to remain an effective cop on the beat when implementing the recommendations to create jobs, long-term economic growth, connect rural schools and hospitals, and protect our public safety networks.”

Klobuchar said the plan would require states to install broadband wires at any federally funded transportation project. That is a proposal Klobuchar presented several months ago.

KSAX out of Alexandria ran a nice story on the Blandin Foundation MIRC project, helping to announce the 4.8 million of the stimulus package that will help rural communities in Minnesota use the internet.

KSAX highlighted the potential impact on farmers in the area. I’ve written about the importance of broadband to farming communities before. There was a national research report that came out last summer (Internet’s Value for Rural America) that also highlighted some specific benefits of broadband in rural area – benefits such as telemedicine.

The Blandin Foundation maintains a whole toolkit of broadband applications that benefit individuals, families, business and communities. The toolkit is divided into five categories:

• Consumers
• Business
• Education
• Government
• Health care

Each category contains a range of subcategories (such as teleradiology) that lead to a number of links to specific applications. Some applications are available online – some for free; others are descriptions of application or services that may be fee-based or not targeting single users (such as hospital systems). But browsing through the categories will give you an idea of some of the advantages the MIRC communities will be learning about and deploying over the next few years. They are applications that will help farmers – and more!

Thanks to Ann Higgins for the heads up on the FCC’s new plan for gauging actual broadband. First they posted speed testers on their web site. (According to another Telecompetitor article, over 300K broadband tests have been completed on the site! In fact, “According to this data, the average download speed was 9.27 Mbps and the average upload speed was 2.83 Mbps.”)

Now they have hired a company to help track real speeds. They have hired a UK company called SamKnows. Here’s the news from Telecompetiror…

According to the SamKnows website, they’ve “…been awarded a ground breaking contract by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to begin a new project researching and collecting data on American fixed-line broadband speeds delivered by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) – until now, something that has never been undertaken in the USA.”

The author and at least one article commenter has wondered why the FCC has gone with a company in the UK. But another commenter has added…

“SamKnows UK will be licensing its technology without charge to a new American company which will be set-up, and based in Washington, specifically for this project. This new company will create new jobs for American workers, both in the short term and in the long term.”

Regardless, it’s good to see some steps moving forward to gauge real speeds. It is one of the goals from the National Broadband Plan.

An interesting topic came up last week on the Minnesota Voices Online (MVO) list. One member was considering the value of a community coworking center.

This term or use of coworking was new to me. It’s a center where workers (consultants, remote workers, even job seekers I suspect) can go to work. Here’s the definition from Wikipedia…

Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared working environment, sometimes an office yet independent activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually not employed by the same organization. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, or people who travel frequently who end up working in relative isolation.[1] Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values,[2] and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.

To me it sounds like a hybrid micro-mini business incubator and coffee shop. Apparently there are a couple in the Twin Cities, Crema Café, which from the web site has a definite coffee shop feel and CoCo and The 3rd Place, which both have more of a business incubator feel. Here’s the welcome from The 3rd Place that sort of indicates the feel…

Not home or work, but a third place where entrepreneurs and creatives congregate and collaborate.

It also appears to be a place where the Internet connection is good, there’s a meeting room and they have occasional events. Having spent many long days in coffee shops, often drinking way too much Diet Coke just to feel like I’ve earned my space, I think this is a great idea. Like the role of the library highlighted in the recent US IMPACT research, access to good broadband would only be one reason I’d hang out in a coworking shop. A friendly-businesslike culture would be just as appealing. Add a place to buy stamps and receive the occasional fax and this could be my home-away-from-home office.

It’s an interesting take on how broadband can build local community.

It has also been interesting to follow the banter on the MVO list on the costs of setting up a community coworking center – starting with the cost of broadband. Many of us are OK with the reliability of DSL or cable for our home offices – but do we need or expect more from a coworking center – and why does fiber cost so much? (You can follow these topics too, if you’re interested.) I just wanted to introduce the idea and point out a few apparently successful coworking sites – because, as my dad says, it might be the perfect get rich slow scheme for some communities who need a way to support, promote and attract small businesses and entrepreneurs. Those of us who can work anywhere love the idea of working by the lake – on a practical basis a coworking center would helpful at least a few days a week

Near the end of March the Minnesota Broadband Bill passed in the House. It has just passed in the Senate. It may go into conference – but since it has passed in both the House and the Senate it may not. I’ll keep an eye on it.

In some ways the speeds specified (10Mbps down and 5Mbps up) is a little anti-climatic after the National Broadband Plan calls for 100Mbps down/50Mbps up – but the secondary goal saves it…

1.13(1) the proportion of Minnesota residents and businesses having access to broadband
1.14ranks among the five states in the United States and the 15 nations globally that have the
1.15highest proportion of that measure; and
1.16(2) Minnesota ranks among the five states in the United States with the highest
1.17broadband speed that is universally accessible to state residents and businesses.

The ranking goal doesn’t seem to get as much press – probably because it’s not as neat as a sound bite, but I think that’s the goal that we’ll find most useful.

I was spurred by an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune yesterday to look at the database of ARRA broadband applications. It appears as if they have updated the database to include Round Two BTOP applications. I thought I’d post the projects that came up when I did a search of Minnesota-based Round Two applications.

Here are some overview points:
Total applications: 58
Total requested: 1,106,662,534
MN-Only: about 20 seemed to be project that were based solely in Minnesota; the rest were for multiple states; a couple seemed to be wrongly tagged as involving Minnesota when it really appeared to focus on West Virginia, but I didn’t read the whole application.
Comprehensive Community Infrastructure Programs; 19
Public Computer Center: 8
Sustainable Broadband Adoption: 31

Here’s the whole list:

Applicant	CITY OF MOOSE LAKE
	MOOSE LAKE, MN
Application ID	4299
Contact	David Talbot
	[email protected]
Project title	Moose Lake Community Broadband Network Expansion
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 1,882,448
Status	Application Received
Description	The City of Moose Lake, Minnesota is upgrading the capacity of its broadband network and constructing a new public computer center to increase access, to improve public safety communications and to provide training equipment and programs for students and vulnerable individuals of all ages. The project will create 6 direct and 50 indirect jobs and position the network for sustainability.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	NATIONAL FEDERATION OF COMMUNITY BROADCASTERS INC.
	OAKLAND, CA
Application ID	4453
Contact	Traci Morris
	[email protected]
Project title	The Native Public Media Native/Rural Community Broadband Adoption and Digital Literacy Project
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, HI, IL, KY, MN, NM, NY, OR, SD, WI
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 10,524,154
Status	Application Received
Description	The Project drives broadband adoption through a comprehensive approach to introducing equipment, trainers, digital literacy, access, and a digital community to areas with severely low adoption rates. Combining hotspots at community radio stations with netbooks, digital multimedia training and certification and data-driven analysis will allow this project to become a replicable model.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	NETWORK FOUNDATION TECHNOLOGIE
	RUSTON, LA
Application ID	4458
Contact	Marcus Morton
	[email protected]
Project title	A Sustainable Online Broadcast Network Connecting High Schools to their Local Communities
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 10,392,600
Status	Application Received
Description	This project, led by Network Foundation Technologies, aims to deploy Internet broadcast technology, including camera and production / distribution equipment, nationwide to approximately 2,000 high schools over the next two years. The project incorporates an innovative, green technology enabling cost effective utilization of existing broadband infrastructure.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	COUNTY OF ANOKA
	ANOKA, MN
Application ID	4472
Contact	Eric Lampland
	[email protected]
Project title	Anoka CAN (Computer Access Now)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 2,477,548
Status	Application Received
Description	Anoka CAN’s three goals: First, ensure computer literacy for all: begin with learning basic tools. Second, ensure public access, focusing scarce resources on those most in need. Third, build off this base in three ongoing training stages and needs: to find and locate meaningful work; for business application skills; and to address advanced training to enable small business to develop and grow.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	CA TECHNOLOGY INC
	JENSEN BEACH, FL
Application ID	4630
Contact	oleg tretiakoff
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband for the Blind
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 600,000
Status	Application Received
Description	The “Broadband for the Blind” project will allow blind – or visually impaired people – to access and use broadband data. To achieve this goal, C.A.Technology will put on the market the necessary hardware (Tactile Graphic Displays developped previously with a grant of the NSF ) and the required data acquisition and analysis software.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	VIA ONE NETWORKS, LLC
	NEW YORK, NY
Application ID	4672
Contact	Asheem Aggarwal
	[email protected]
Project title	Prepaid Broadband
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	CA, MN, WI
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 43,338,835
Status	Application Received
Description	Prepaid Broadband promotes Sustainable Broadband Adoption to Americans by addressing two of the major barriers: Affordability and Fear. By the end of year 3, 48,000 under-served households will receive a simple to use internet access device and their first year of service. Thin-client cloud computing technology will deliver software applications, access to internet content and live user training.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	XW
	DALLAS, TX
Application ID	4773
Contact	Dennis Robbins
	[email protected]
Project title	Xtendwave Technology Solution for Backhaul Network Congestion
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 7,420,000
Status	Application Received
Description	XW, LLC, dba Xtendwave, will deliver initial production quantities of chipset components enabling a 2X to 6X+ improvement in throughput on the nation’s existing copper backhaul infrastructure. These components, employing Xtendwave’s patented technology, will be used by telecom equipment makers to provide a quicker, far less expensive solution to backhaul congestion than new fiber optic builds.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	MISSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, INC
	SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Application ID	4911
Contact	Jillian Spindle
	[email protected]
Project title	Latino Microenterprise Tech Net
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MD, MN, MO, NM, PA, TX
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 3,724,128
Status	Application Withdrawn
Description	The Latino Microenterprise Tech Net is a collaborative project led by the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) of San Francisco and the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) of San Antonio, Texas. LMTN will establish Public Computer Centers and a standardized bilingual training curriculum for Latino entrepreneurs at 17 locations nationwide and create 2,100 jobs.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
	SAINT PAUL, MN
Application ID	5177
Contact	Shari Olson
	[email protected]
Project title	Opportunities and Pathways to Education (OPEN) at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 8,872,576
Status	Application Received
Description	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will increase individuals’ access to and skills in using computers and broadband, eliminating a barrier to education and employment. OPEN targets populations under-represented in higher education. Strategies include providing accessible computers and broadband, conducting outreach and skills training, and indentifying and promoting successful strategies.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
	NEWARK, CA
Application ID	5335
Contact	Micheal Gifford
	[email protected]
Project title	Mobile Broadband Health Platform
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 3,858,038
Status	Application Received
Description	In partnership with the University of California and others, launch a versatile, scalable, and accessible broadband healthcare delivery technology platform to be utilized remotely by healthcare professionals, administrators, insurers, and patients; and which creates high value and permanent broadband adoption, economic growth, and “shovel ready” U.S. jobs.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1
	MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Application ID	5423
Contact	Melanie Sanco
	[email protected]
Project title	BridgIT.now: Urban Broadband Access Project
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 14,385,117
Status	Application Received
Description	The Minneapolis Public School will introduce classroom and remote-based online curricula system-wide, inclusive of vulnerable populations, to prepare students for 21st century learning and the global marketplace. BTOP funding will provide training for teachers, students and parents, leveraging the free access portals of Wireless Minneapolis, the nation’s first municipal wifi system.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	DEPRODUCTION THE DENVEREVOLUTION PRODUCTION GROUP
	DENVER, CO
Application ID	5690
Contact	Anthony Shawcross
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband Awareness Through Community Media Initiative
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AZ, CA, CO, DC, MA, MN, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, VT
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 2,463,030
Status	Application Received
Description	The Broadband Awareness Through Community Media Initiative leverages proven open-source tools to modernize Public Access TV stations, transforming them into local broadband access, training, and adoption hubs. 20 pilot stations will, for the first time, put community-generated media online, promoting broadband relevance to diverse communities via the internet and cable & satellite TV.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION LLC
	NEW YORK, NY
Application ID	5740
Contact	G. Thomas Reynolds
	[email protected]
Project title	BET Networks National Sustainable Broadband Adoption Project
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AR, CA, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 24,893,565
Status	Application Received
Description	BETN will lead a coalition of partners in driving significant incremental broadband adoption within the African American community US-wide. The approach involves (1) a 2-year targeted multimedia campaign to generate awareness and demand; (2) a targeted broadband-enabled LIFE PORTAL to increase the relevance of broadband; and (3) a community outreach effort to increase overall digital literacy.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	LEECH LAKE RESERVATION BUSINESS COMMITTEE INC
	CASS LAKE, MN
Application ID	5820
Contact	John Schultz
	[email protected]
Project title	Headwaters Tribal Computer Centers
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 1,722,371
Status	Application Received
Description	Create 7 new and expand/upgrade 10 existing public computer centers on three Indian reservations in Minnesota. The Boys and Girls Clubs will manage these centers providing public access to all and a variety of training opportunities for tribal members of all ages. A total of 224 work stations will be available and an estimated 5000 people will be served. The total project cost is $2,516,102
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	BRINKSMAN CONSULTING & TRADING GROUP
	PITTSBURGH, PA
Application ID	6081
Contact	Keith Brinksman
	[email protected]
Project title	Planning Guideline for Broadband Access Implementation
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 500,000
Status	Application Received
Description	The objective is to create a planning guideline for the small telco that has no strong technology/business planning organization. With this guide, the owner/manager can develop overall plans for the deployment of Advanced Architectures in the Access Plant area. The USDA will provide the guide to winning bidders for development of projects under the Broadband Infrastructure Applications awards.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	DUVAL & JULES LLC
	KANSAS CITY, MO
Application ID	6095
Contact	Fedy Duval
	[email protected]
Project title	NetLifeTV
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 6,500,000
Status	Application Received
Description	Giving the rural community acces to broadband broacast with out using a PC. This will solve their problem with lack of access to cable television.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
	MARSHALL, MN
Application ID	6405
Contact	Daniel Baun
	[email protected]
Project title	Regional Electronic Learning Commons
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 1,424,583
Status	Application Received
Description	This project will increase broadband adoption in rural southwestern and west central Minnesota by providing broadband-enabled educational services to public access sites and residences. Innovative broadband promotion strategies will also be implemented. The project seeks to provide educational services to 6,500 persons from vulnerable populations and add 700 new broadband subscribers.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	AMERICA 2.0, INC.
	SANTA CRUZ, CA
Application ID	6439
Contact	Mike Mathiesen
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband for TeleMedicine
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 800,000
Status	Application Received
Description	We will enroll high risk patients for Doctors, Hospitals and Clinics to provide basic health care services to patients via Broadband WebCam and other Internet Devices. Doctors need to “See more patients”. This innovative technology will allow doctors and other health practitioners to literally SEE more patients and thus alleviate the high cost of Health Care in America.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	STEEPLECHASE NETWORKS INCORPORATED
	SOUTHFIELD, MA
Application ID	6516
Contact	Edward Zyszkowski
	[email protected]
Project title	The Broadband Community Commons
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	IN, IA, MI, MN, NH, OH, TX, VA, WA, WI
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 8,419,859
Status	Application Received
Description	Steeplechase Networks’ innovative “Commons” solution enables useful and relevant broadband applications, services and social infrastructure. This stimulates higher sustained adoption rates and especially targets aged, unemployed, minority and other vulnerable people. The project will catalyze growth and directly create at least 1 local job per 1000 homes passed and more through multiplier effects.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	ASIAN MEDIA ACCESS, INCORPORATED
	MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Application ID	6552
Contact	Ange Hwang
	[email protected]
Project title	Asian Pacific American Community Network (APA ComMNet)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 804,000
Status	Application Received
Description	APA ComMNet enhances broadband services in a high-needs area for vulnerable population (limited English proficient Asian American & Pacific Islanders – AAPIs), to support job creation/training and culturally/linguistically appropriate health information through public access to computers and use of E-services for education/digital literacy, ultimately increasing demand for the broadband services.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	COMSCORE, INC.
	RESTON, VA
Application ID	6650
Contact	Maura Marcheski
	[email protected]
Project title	Developing Creative Sector Skills for the Broadband Workforce Project: Minneapolis Neighborhood Netw
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 387,792
Status	Application Received
Description	NAMAC and comScore will implement the Developing Creative Sector Skills for the Broadband Workforce Project in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By working together to target underserved creative-arts comminutes, the project will increase broadband adoption and provide greater access to cultural education and training.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
	PORTLAND, OR
Application ID	6651
Contact	Stephen Reder
	[email protected]
Project title	Learner Web Partnership: A Multi-State Support System for Broadband Adoption by Vulnerable Adults
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	CA, LA, MN, NY, OR, TX
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 3,318,031
Status	Application Received
Description	A broad coalition of community anchor institutions across the country (Minnesota, New York, Central and South Texas, New Orleans, LA and Richmond, CA) will increase broadband use by implementing Learner Web, an innovative online system of self-paced Learning Plans focused on digital literacy, education on how to be an informed consumer of broadband technology, and career pathways.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	BROADBAND ALLIANCE
	COLLINSVILLE, IL
Application ID	6672
Contact	Robert Paarlberg
	[email protected]
Project title	Software Wizard to recommend broadband service based on user needs and budget.
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 672,260
Status	Application Received
Description	Bi-Lingual Software Wizard to recommend broadband service based on user needs and budget. On-line application will match user requirements with real-time data from state, federal and private sources to recommend and build confidence in subscribers’ choice.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	XW
	DALLAS, TX
Application ID	6677
Contact	Dennis Robbins
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband Ubiquity via Adaptive Filter Bank Modulation
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 9,240,000
Status	Application Received
Description	Xtendwave technology will enable broadband service, to those most challenging to reach, more cost effectively than any other solution being considered. The technology utilizes existing networks and systems, providing unserved broadband with the same economics afforded areas with greater population density.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	A-VU MEDIA CORP.
	MINNETONKA, MN
Application ID	6698
Contact	John Goodman
	[email protected]
Project title	A-Vu Media – New bundled broadband for Older Adults, Disabled, and Healthcare Adoption
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 4,138,000
Status	Application Received
Description	A highly simplified user interface facilitates preprogrammed direct access to multiple services delivered through an integrated digital “TV/PC”. All services are remotely programmed and controlled by a 24/7 customer service operator on a secure network. This network creates new high value connections for the users and all those providing healthcare and other broadband based services.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	COMMUNICATION SERVICE FOR THE DEAF, INC.
	SIOUX FALLS, SD
Application ID	6814
Contact	Patty Kuglitsch
	[email protected]
Project title	Project Endeavor
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 14,988,657
Status	Application Received
Description	Project Endeavor goals: promote broadband adoption and educate 200,000 deaf/hard hearing consumers about benefits of having broadband through an awareness and outreach campaign; sign up 16,000 broadband users, offer discounted mini-notebooks and broadband connections to income-eligible consumers; employ 60 tiered support staff in specialized CSD contact center.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY OF ST PAUL
	SAINT PAUL, MN
Application ID	6851
Contact	Rick Jordan
	[email protected]
Project title	Public Housing Hi-Rise Computer Centers
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Public Computer Center
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 327,400
Status	Application Received
Description	The Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul (PHA) is requesting grant funding to create public computer centers in the community rooms at all sixteen, PHA-owned hi-rises. The computer centers will provide 3 PC workstations for residents’ use, broadband Wi-Fi access, and training to 2,548 low-income, vulnerable adults.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	COMMUNITYVINE, INC.
	DENVER, CO
Application ID	6883
Contact	chris roussy
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband and Computers for Seniors
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 4,218,299
Status	Application Received
Description	CommunityVine is providing wireless broadband access, individual computers, computer education, and ongoing support to approximately 9,100 underserved senior citizens in 120 public housing facilities over three years. Education components will include computer use, email and eCommerce applications, fraud prevention, and extensive training in eHealth technologies.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	GENOA SERVICES
	SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Application ID	6911
Contact	Ed Gallagher
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband Enabled Remote Guidance Systems For The Visually Impaired (“InSight Platform”)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 2,265,600
Status	Application Received
Description	In partnership with the Rotary Club of SF to launch an nationwide BB enabled web platform where home bound (e.g. physically disabled) “Remote Guides” lend their sight to the blind utilizing a 3G wireless head mount web cam and audio ensemble worn by blind persons with the resulting audio/video streamed to sight enabled Remote Guides based anywhere in the U.S. who then provide assistance as needed.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	ONE ECONOMY CORP.
	WASHINGTON, DC
Application ID	6935
Contact	Moustafa Mourad
	[email protected]
Project title	HUD Broadband Adoption Initiative
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 52,105,490
Status	Application Received
Description	One Economy will lead a consortium of Internet Service Providers, computer companies, and nonprofit partners to tackle key barriers to adoption among residents of Department of Housing and Urban Development multi-family developments by offering digital literacy training, awareness of broadband benefits, discounted broadband service, and discounted computers.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	EMPIRIX INC.
	BEDFORD, MA
Application ID	6960
Contact	Kent Johnson
	[email protected]
Project title	Assuring Quality of Service for American Broadband Consumers
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 15,000,000
Status	Application Received
Description	High quality delivery of broadband service is essential for consumers. And the American taxpayer needs to know that funds that have been usedto provide high quality service. This proposal will provide the tools and processes for operators to deploy these services successfully and for Americans to see reporting that holds recipients of funding accountable for effective allocation of these funds.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	AZTRONIX, LLC
	NASHUA, NH
Application ID	6977
Contact	Michael Russo
	[email protected]
Project title	Aztronix BTOP SBA UZAP Global Online Marketplace Project
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 2,000,000
Status	Application Received
Description	“AZTRONIX LLC is working with the New Hampshire State Library including Community Colleges working as a public private partnership in the spirit building local communities as indicated in the BTOP SBA phase 2 “communities” initiatives. We will provide the UZAP™ platform and technology to remove barriers for businesses and individuals to increase economic activity and create great jobs.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	ONE ECONOMY CORP.
	WASHINGTON, DC
Application ID	7025
Contact	Moustafa Mourad
	[email protected]
Project title	Fostering Broadband Adoption for Senior Citizens, Rural Americans and Native Americans
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MD, MN, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 35,932,606
Status	Application Received
Description	One Economy Corporation and the Broadband Opportunity Coalition will overcome barriers and increase broadband adoption rates in low-income senior, rural and Native American populations through a comprehensive and integrated digital ecosystem program that includes access, online content, technology and digital literacy training, and public education.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	COUNTY EXECUTIVES TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE
	WASHINGTON, DC
Application ID	7027
Contact	Michael Griffin
	[email protected]
Project title	County Executives Telecommunications Network (CETN), formerly County Executives Television Network.
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 14,954,765
Status	Application Received
Description	CETN promotes the use of broadband to standardize best practice training and certification around the country by empowering every county leader to provide state of the art training to police, fire, health, public works, NGO’s and others. This program will be a tool for workforce improvement and information sharing. It will bridge the gap between urban and rural and will improve skill sets.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	ASIAN MEDIA ACCESS, INCORPORATED
	MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Application ID	7073
Contact	Ange Hwang
	[email protected]
Project title	Midwest Coalition of Asian Americans (MCAA)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	IL, IN, IA, MN, OH, WI
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 837,500
Status	Application Received
Description	MCAA supports 1) broadband public education, outreach, and awareness via diverse Asian languages in the Midwest region; 2) regional training to stimulate broadband utilization of regional SDBs such as limited English proficient entrepreneurs; and 3) a communications network between Asian American & Pacific Islander agencies to support economic recovery, disaster preparation & Emergency Alerts.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	TTM OPERATING CORPORATION, INC.
	SEATTLE, WA
Application ID	4433
Contact	Mark Hamilton
	[email protected]
Project title	The Southern Minnesota Broadband Enhancement Program
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 16,572,654
Status	Application Received
Description	TTM is seeking a grant from NTIA to help fund the construction of a middle mile network covering approximately 7,000 square miles in Minnesota. TTM is partnering with a number of key institutions, including several government agencies, to deploy a high capacity fiber and microwave network which will provide necessary transport services to Community Anchor Institutions and last mile providers.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR ADVANCED INTERNET DEVELOPMENT
	ANN ARBOR, MI
Application ID	4589
Contact	Nili Tannenbaum
	[email protected]
Project title	United States Unified Community Anchor Network (U.S. UCAN)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, NA, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 62,540,162
Status	Application Received
Description	Internet2 and NLR, both non-profit organizations, propose the creation of the United States Unified Community Anchor Network (U.S. UCAN). This national-scale network will construct the middle mile essential to connect all community anchor projects funded by BTOP with each other, and with more than 66,000 other anchors, to ensure a seamless national fabric of high-performance, open networks.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	MERIT NETWORK INC
	ANN ARBOR, MI
Application ID	4658
Contact	Donald Welch
	[email protected]
Project title	REACH Michigan Middle Mile Collaborative II
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MI, MN, WI
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 69,639,291
Status	Application Received
Description	REACH-3MC II is 1172 miles of middle mile fiber lit at speeds greater than 1G. The partnership between Merit, the MI 911 Administrator and 7 commercial sub-recipients will extend BTOP-funded REACH-3MC, and serve anchors, public safety, homes and businesses in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula. Diverse paths out of the region will serve counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	ENVENTIS TELECOM, INC.
	MANKATO, MN
Application ID	4866
Contact	Gregory Flanagan
	[email protected]
Project title	Greater Minnesota Broadband Collaborative
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 16,833,617
Status	Application Received
Description	The Enventis proposal is a middle mile fiber optic network project connecting 74 community anchor institutions in rural Minnesota to an advanced high capacity Ethernet broadband network. The statewide Minnesota network leverages Enventis’ existing 2400 mile fiber network with 418 miles of new fiber construction directly connecting each community anchor institution with at least 100MB of service.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	RAMSEY, COUNTY OF
	SAINT PAUL, MN
Application ID	5397
Contact	Mary Mahoney
	[email protected]
Project title	Ramsey Broadband Coalition Community Fiber Network (RBC CFN)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 22,928,724
Status	Application Received
Description	RBC CFN will build a ‘dual conduit’ fiber network. The first ‘I-Net’ connects all levels of local government andstate, county and city; K-12 and higher education; two library agencies; and other community stakeholders. The second MFE Net is an open access, carrier neutral network which allows broadband, telecom and wireless providers to serve the business, non-profits and residential communities.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	MID-STATE EDUCATION DISTRICT 6979
	LITTLE FALLS, MN
Application ID	5428
Contact	Kay Campbell
	[email protected]
Project title	Minnesota Community Collaborative Broadband Project (MCCBP)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 25,079,949
Status	Application Received
Description	The MCCBP will deliver advanced broadband capabilities via a core fiber network which enables Community Government, MLB Ojibwe, K-12 & Higher Education, Healthcare, Law Enforcement, Community, Cultural & Arts Organizations, residents, businesses & visitors across our area to access high capacity Broadband services, decrease costs, enhance productivity & improve the economic & civic vitality.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	CARVER, COUNTY OF
	CHASKA, MN
Application ID	5538
Contact	Randy Lehs
	[email protected]
Project title	Carver County Open Fiber Initiative (CCOFI)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 5,995,600
Status	Application Received
Description	This project will create a fiber-based backbone infrastructure in Carver County Minnesota that will connect 86 entities to a fiber loop. These entities currently have low-connectivity speed coupled with high prices. Long-term planning for this project adds last-mile service providers that will promote and build fiber to the premise, enhance high-speed broadband and further economic development.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	XO COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC.
	HERNDON, VA
Application ID	5601
Contact	Kristin Shulman
	[email protected]
Project title	Northern Lights: Building Broadband Communities
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	ID, IL, IA, MN, MT, ND, WA, WI
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 206,464,795
Status	Application Received
Description	XO Communications Services, Inc. and its partners will construct a new 2,227 mile, 144 fiber cable network designed to optimize local community access and broadband opportunities in WA, ID, MT, ND, MN, WI, IL, and IA. This project will offer much needed affordable, carrier grade high bandwidth broadband services to last mile providers and community anchor institutions in hundreds of communities.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	ZAYO BANDWIDTH, LLC
	LOUISVILLE, CO
Application ID	6417
Contact	Chris Morley
	[email protected]
Project title	Connect Anoka County Community Broadband Network
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 13,382,593
Status	Application Received
Description	Zayo Bandwidth, LLC in partnership with Anoka County, seeks funding from ARRA to build Middle Mile broadband infrastructure and connect 145 Anchor Institutions with 286 miles of fiber. This network will make broadband services available to governments, businesses, other anchor institutions, carriers and Last Mile providers in Anoka County as well as parts of Isanti and Ramsey Counties.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	AIRCELL LLC
	BROOMFIELD, CO
Application ID	6529
Contact	Timothy Twohig
	[email protected]
Project title	Expansion of Inflight Broadband Communications for Public Safety
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 60,100,000
Status	Application Received
Description	Accelleration of equipment installation aboard commercial airlines to enable advanced inflight communications capabilities for public safety agencies.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	US CABLE OF MINNESOTA, INC.
	MONTVALE, NJ
Application ID	6607
Contact	James Pearson
	[email protected]
Project title	US Cable Fiber Ring Southern Minnesota
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 12,144,938
Status	Application Received
Description	US Cable of Minnesota, Inc. (“US Cable”), in a public-private partnership with the State of Minnesota, will construct a 557 Middle Mile fiber optic infrastructure in southern Minnesota that will connect 17 counties, county courthouses, community anchor institutions, public safety agencies, and Last Mile service providers to the Internet highway.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	WORLD NETWORK INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, INC
	SUNNYSIDE, NY
Application ID	7042
Contact	walter iwachiw
	[email protected]
Project title	BTOP Mega Broadband by Rail
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, NA, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 150,000,000
Status	Application Received
Description	BTOP application for a combined 45 million in awards, $33. Million in Middle Mile Awards grants to build, deploy and improve connections to communities lacking sufficient broadband access by deploying a fiber-optic ring to deliver gigabit broadband speeds with interconnection points along underground subways tracks and above ground Rail tracks with 12 million additional for Last mile connections.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	COUNTY EXECUTIVES TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE
	WASHINGTON, DC
Application ID	7108
Contact	Michael Griffin
	[email protected]
Project title	County Executives Telecommunication Network (CETN) formerly the County Executives Television Network
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 53,715,757
Status	Application Received
Description	CETN will provide the middle mile broadband connectivity for county governments. This initiative provides the broadband communications network which currently does not exist, linking anchor institutions during times of emergency. This comprehensive community infrastructure can be accessed for best practices, state of the art first responder training, information sharing and workforce improvement.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	RICE, COUNTY OF (INC)
	FARIBAULT, MN
Application ID	7250
Contact	Sherry Hiller
	[email protected]
Project title	Fiber Forward – Rice County Broadband
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 5,754,396
Status	Application Received
Description	Rice County will jump-start broadband in our area via 158 miles of county-spanning middle mile fiber inter-connecting 18 public entities. A private partner will install the system in 2010-11 and offer dark fiber and Internet backhaul to businesses. Some fiber will be dedicated for public use, allowing public partners interconnectivity and true broadband via a choice of providers.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	AMERICAN FIBER SYSTEMS, INC.
	ROCHESTER, NY
Application ID	7424
Contact	Richard Coyle
	[email protected]
Project title	Metro-INET/AFS Community Broadband Network in Anoka, Ramsey, Washington & Hennepin counties in MN
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	MN
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 12,166,927
Status	Application Received
Description	This shovel ready, CCI project with 20 city partners will offer new or substantially upgraded fiber optic connections to community anchors including community colleges, public safety entities, health care facilities & businesses in Anoka, Ramsey, Washington & Hennepin counties in MN. This project will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, provide connectivity to 77 community anchor institutions.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
	CHAMPAIGN, IL
Application ID	7502
Contact	Walter Knorr
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband Training Expansion at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute.
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, NA, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 2,541,026
Status	Application Received
Description	This grant will enable the IFSI to create and provide online services to fire departments and districts throughout the state and nation with online courses and other online training delivery methods, support during actual emergencies and connectivity with national programs to include the National Fire Academy.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	PHILADELPHIA, CITY OF
	PHILADELPHIA, PA
Application ID	7519
Contact	Andrew Buss
	[email protected]
Project title	Digital Philadelphia Broadband Initiative
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, NA, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 8,150,000
Status	Application Received
Description	Philadelphia is a major urban area that lacks sufficient Internet connectivity at a block level. To address these problems, the City proposes to leverage and further enable its wireless infrastructure to bring connectivity to anchor institutions and create a broadband strategy called the Digital Philadelphia Broadband Initiative.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Applicant	LOGICLINK, INC.
	IRVINE, CA
Application ID	7542
Contact	Kim Kao
	[email protected]
Project title	Computer Services to Justifying Sustainable Middle and Last Mile Infrastructure to Rural Areas
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 11,900,544
Status	Application Received
Description	The implementation of 500+ Community Business Centers and associated broadband infrastructure shall promote trial, adoption and sustainability of broadband services and utilization to rural underserved counties. Emphasis shall be based on social/political information community dissemination, medical/health services and job creation networking activities.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	TEV ENTERPRISES LLC
	HINSDALE, IL
Application ID	7701
Contact	Eric Bergquist
	[email protected]
Project title	Emergency Alert Broadcasts to PCs
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	AL, AK, AS, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FM, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MH, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, MP, OH, OK, OR, PW, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Project type	Comprehensive Community Infrastructure
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 1,950,000
Status	Application Received
Description	One compelling reason for a commitment to serve public safety entities that have expressed a demand or indicated a need for access or improved access to broadband service is a comprehensive communities project to provide emergency & community messages to support safety, health and welfare. We seek funding to develop and distribute software for broadband-connected PCs to receive broadcast emergenc
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)
Tribes Served	Tribes Served (pdf)
Applicant	BROADBAND ALLIANCE
	,
Application ID	5697
Contact	Robert Paarlberg
	6182236005
	[email protected]
Project title	Bi-lingual Broadband Education
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 2,299,466
Status	Application Received
Description	In support of Broadband USA, we will be developing bi-ligual education programs to identify and assist rural, senior and disadvantaged subscribers. To optimize learning we will use a variety of mediums to educate; including videos, and self paced on-line learning. This will be done with the support and cooperation of leading universities.
Applicant	MDB COMMUNICATIONS INC
	,
Application ID	6768
Contact	Cary Hatch
	2028350774
	[email protected]
Project title	American Indian/Alaska Native Broadband Outreach Awareness Program
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 25,240,000
Status	Application Received
Description	The AIAN Broadband Outreach Awareness Program will inform and educate unserved and underserved American Indian and Alaska Native populations across the U.S. about broadband accessibility options and how these tools can improve their economic standing and quality of life. This program will serve as a template for awareness campaigns for the various infrastructure projects in their communities.
Applicant	SCHENECTADY CNTY CMNTY COLLEGE
	,
Application ID	7181
Contact	David Hennessy
	15183811386
	[email protected]
Project title	Association of Regional Emergency Agencies at Schenectady County Community College (AREA@SCCC)
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	WY
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Grant request	$ 5,872,843
Status	Application Received
Description	AREA@SCCC proposes linking First Responder and private sector agencies in a ten county region through a distributive learning network organized by a community college. Cost effective training is provided through online, video-conference, and in-person sessions. The broadband component of the network is an emergency communication link to government at all levels during an all hazard event.
Applicant	IKORING LLC
	,
Application ID	7046
Contact	Steve Holland
	4192835003
	[email protected]
Project title	Broadband 4 U Express
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	WV
Project type	Sustainable Broadband Adoption
Funding Round	Round 2 – Winter 2010
Status	Application Received
Description	Providing internet education programs and increase internet adoption rates among English and non-English speaking communities (Spanish, Somali, Arabic, Polish), senior citizens and veterans by deploying 3 Mobile Computer Centers, a Multilingual Website, a multi-lingual Call Center, and multi-lingual ground campaign run by a professional campaign manager. MN,WI, MI, OH, WV, KY, NC, VI and TN.

Perhaps building on the US IMPACT Public Library Study that came out late last month, Minnesota Public Radio ran a story today on the role of libraries and librarians play in the lives of many job seekers. It’s a theme that’s been popular lately – which is a good and a bad thing. It’s great to see libraries rise to the occasion; it’s unfortunate that there’s so much need. 

The library looks like a microcosm of so many communities in Minnesota in that access to technology is necessary, but not sufficient. People are coming to learn how to use technology, get advice and find peace or add structure to their days.

There’s a quote in the story that sort of gets at the root of role of the library…

“It’s like the new normal to have social work be part of being a librarian,” said Kim Poole, a librarian at Hennepin County’s Southdale Library in Edina. “Sometimes as a librarian you feel like you’re throwing out a life preserver to a person … they are often at the edge of an abyss.”

The Southwest Minnesota Broadband Group found out that they received ARRA funding in February, but they’re still waiting for the check to arrive. At least that what it sounds like from the Jackson County Pilot (April 1, 2010 – Fiber: Coming to a Farm Near You; not currently online but kindly sent to me by John Shepard) and Cottonwood County Citizen Online.

The Cottonwood County Citizen Online reports that according to Windomnet Manager Dan Olsen parts of the project are in a holding pattern but some parts progress; specifically they have finalized the joint powers agreement and started some preliminary engineering.

So it’s kind of a bummer for the communities that are waiting. I suppose Minnesota hadn’t had such a beautiful March they might be in a holding pattern waiting for the ground to thaw. Hopefully the check will arrive soon. Waiting seems to be a recurring theme with the entire ARRA broadband funding initiative.

Late last month Eagan published a Resolution in Support of a High Speed Minnesota Broadband Policy. In short it promotes the recommendations of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force – although takes it even further in some cases. They encourage the Governor of Minnesota and State Legislature to do the following…

•  
  • Adopt a state law enacting a goal to ensure ubiquitous two-way gigabit across Minnesota by at least 2015.
  • Create and appoint a Broadband Policy Director for the State of Minnesota who will be responsible for coordinating the policies and activities necessary to achieving the state goal.
  • Establish as part of those responsibilities, that the Director would Chair a State Broadband Advisory Board charged with achieving statewide Gigabit access by at least 2015
  • Ensure that The State Broadband Advisory Board should include public and private stake holders who will:
    • Create a cohesive, comprehensive state-wide plan for the deployment of broadband services
    • Make recommendation on the policies, actions and investments necessary to achieving the state’s broadband goal.
    • Carefully preserve the option for the state, cities and counties to protest public rights of way and participate as investors in networks or as providers of telecommunications services if the private sectors is unable or unwilling to act, or if that best serves community needs.
    • Identify and recommend ways to eliminate obstacles to making broadband internet access ubiquitous in the state.
    • Identify and make recommendations to the state legislature that would support broadband goals including offering state subsidies and tax credits, and otherwise promoting broadband deployment.
    • Research innovative strategies and programs other state, countries and communities have used to provide gigabit broadband services ubiquitously and the impact it is having on communities.
    • Recommend specific action steps, assessments or legislation that will provide redundant capability to keep critical broadband infrastructure operational

A recent editorial in the Mankato Free Press applauds the Ultra High-Speed Task Force recommendations for more public and private partnerships to deploy broadband. In fact, according to the article, Mankato has been on the ball for implementing public-private partnerships…

Fortunately, some public/private collaboration has already happened in the Mankato region.

In February of this year, HickoryTech and the South Central Service Cooperative agreed to expand and develop an Internet, data and video conferencing service to 69 schools and libraries in a 12-county region of south central Minnesota.

The goal, as you might assume, is elearning.

The Mankato editorial was less optimistic at some of the other Task Force recommendations. They were skeptical of the broadband advisory committee when there will be little funding for such a venture in the Legislature although they seemed to agree that such a concerted statewide initiative is necessary.

Sometimes I wonder about rules and unintended consequences. There are a lot of rules that almost relate to broadband that seem to cost a lot of time and money – such as the Minnesota Telecommunications Bill, right of way, common carrier status, tower permission, cable franchising… OK they more than almost relate to broadband – but they are rules that were designed for another purpose that have been made to fit broadband and they don’t always fit like a glove.

Well news from Geoff Daily on Hiawatha Broadband’s status with the ARRA funding reminds me of a similar kind of rule that has been handed down for broadband. I don’t know if that’s the case but it just feels a little like it.

According to Geoff, Minnesota-based Hiawatha Broadband has been having trouble applying for ARRA funding. Geoff described the problem succinctly…

The reason Hiawatha couldn’t reapply was due to an onerous rule in the BIP program through which RUS required all applicants to share the details of all their contracts with all their suppliers. The problem Hiawatha faced is that as a provider of TV service they have a number of contracts with content providers that have strict non-disclosure rules. So by asking them to reveal the details of those contracts, RUS was basically saying that to apply to the second round of the stimulus Hiawatha had to break the law and/or risk the future of their company.

Now, you’d think a rule as onerous as this would’ve been addressed publicly, and it was. RUS was asked directly about it during a public workshop. Their response was that others had applied with no problem so it can’t be that big of a deal. Well that means they’re either being ignorant or unfair.

Gary Evans of Hiawatha Broadband has written a letter of complaint to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. It will be interesting to see what comes of it. Hiawatha has a very good reputation for bringing broadband to rural areas. They were featured in Benton Foundation web conference on broadband best practices last May and won a Blandin Minnesota Community Broadband Award in 2008.

Aaron Brown is a reporter who lives and writes on te Iron Range. I often enjoy his articles and perspective. He wrote a great wake up call to Iron Rangers the other day that I think could – maybe should – be read by other communities too. I’ll just excerpt two paragraphs (which I’ve taken out of order) here…

Maybe Google Fiber is a salvation; maybe it isn’t. Something else caught my eye. When Duluth was presented with the opportunity to pursue Google, it did so wholeheartedly and with a broad coalition that included more than the usual suspects. Duluth is pursuing Google Fiber with creativity, and yet with understanding of itself, both its limitations and potential. From YouTube to Facebook, from the Chamber of Commerce to students playing online video games, Duluth is trying something new.

We sit here waiting for Essar Steel to build a plant in Nashwauk that will not even remotely replace the jobs lost over the past 30 years. Even if the Essar project is wildly successful it won’t completely solve our problems, specifically the problems that face our local schools, cities and businesses. We need more. No one else will give us what we need unless we ask for, then demand, then create our own solutions. New industry, telecommuters and innovative ways to harness natural, renewable resources are the only way out of this anxious wilderness.

I’ve often said that I like the idea of the Google Fiber Community because it gets people talking about broadband. It gets them excited. Google is a long shot (if not lottery odds than at least carnival raffle odds, and I never win those) but once you’ve talked and committed and worked to convince Google that you’re worthy – well wouldn’t you have to believe if yourself and wouldn’t you go on to get it done? It’s a reason to make the first step. My Grandpa used to say – first you got to want to. Once you want to the rest is easy.

Aaron has gone even further with this idea – Google was an opportunity for each community to be creative, think big and make plans for the future. While the Google opportunity may be gone – the opportunity to be creative, think big and make plans for the future – and as the old saying goes, there’s no better time than a present!

Here’s the news from our latest newsletter. It’s mostly a compilation of Minnesota-related stories from the blog in the last month – but sometimes it’s nice to have it compiled.

Blandin Awarded $4.7 million
The Blandin Foundation is pleased to report that their ARRA broadband application to the NITA was successful. http://tinyurl.com/yd82d9d The NTIA awarded Blandin and their 19 partners $4.7 million for broadband adoption, focused in 11 communities but creating networks that will serve the entire state. The local and national response has been humbling. http://tinyurl.com/yfznde3  

Minnesota ARRA Broadband Funding Recipients
The following Minnesota initiatives also received ARRA funding in March:

• Mission Economic Development Agency received $3.7 million for public computer centers in several states, including Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://tinyurl.com/yg8jc69  
• Northeast Service Cooperative received a $21,749,110 loan and a $21,749,110 grant to provide middle-mile, dark fiber, wavelength services to private-sector providers. It will pass through the following counties: St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Koochiching, Carlton, Pine, Itasca and Aitkin. http://tinyurl.com/yk9baaa  
• Minnesota Valley Television Improvement Corporation received a $562,776 loan, a $562,776 grant, and $281,388 of private investment to provide a two-way broadband internet network to unserved and underserved areas of west central and south central Minnesota including the following counties: Pope, Swift, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns, Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Watonwan, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln and Yellow Medicine. http://tinyurl.com/yk9baaa  
• Halstad Telephone Company received a $3,277,500 loan and a $3,277,500 grant to provide FTTP broadband in five towns in Norman and Polk Counties using 320 miles of fiber optic cable and providing those locations with broadband capability up to 100 Mbps. http://tinyurl.com/yahokvw  

Minnesota Broadband Bill
The Minnesota Broadband Bill has been making its way through the legislature. http://tinyurl.com/yg63rxz It draws from highlights of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Task Force recommendations http://tinyurl.com/yl3zs3t. The bill has passed in the House and is expected to come up in the Senate this week.

Minnesota Telecommunications Bill
The Senate is currently discussing a bill that as introduced would have made it easier for local governments to provide telecommunications services by requiring only a simple, not super majority vote of approval from the community. http://tinyurl.com/yl3k78b The bill has been changed significantly since being introduced; stipulations have been added to the simple majority requirement. http://tinyurl.com/yfy2dof  

Klobuchar introduces Broadband Consumer Protection Bill
Senator Amy Klobuchar filed the Broadband Service Consumer Protection Act, a bill requiring Internet Service Providers to accurately advertise their delivered broadband speeds. http://tinyurl.com/yfe4jzx  

Minnesota Cable Bill
Rep. Sheldon Johnson has sponsored a bill that would make it easier for telephone companies to offer “triple-play” services — voice, video and Internet — by letting cities grant cable franchises to companies that already provide phone services. http://tinyurl.com/yh6qcjm  

National Broadband Plan
The FCC unveiled the National Broadband Plan in mid-March. It includes six major goals starting with 100 million U.S. homes with actual download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and actual upload speeds of at least 50 Mbps. http://tinyurl.com/yh3tcmj.  

Google Fiber Communities
Google invited local governments and residents to express their interest in being a part of Google’s fiber optic trial. At least ten Minnesota communities applied http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m; Duluth/Twin Ports was one of the earliest communities in the US to decide to participate and received great notoriety for their efforts. http://tinyurl.com/yhpk5sn

Libraries Help Bridge Gap
Research indicates that public libraries provide broadband services to a wide range of patrons. Patrons come even when they have broadband at home because of improved access and technical support provided at the library. http://tinyurl.com/ygxwcuc

Local Minnesota News

Apple Valley
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m  

Austin
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yfocsup  

Bemidji
Bemidji local newspaper supports the National Broadband Plan. http://tinyurl.com/yfe87tt  

Blaine
Blaine opted out of a countywide ARRA broadband application in Anoka when the City Council voted down the option to participate in the proposal. http://tinyurl.com/ylpwjzj

Burnsville
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m  

Dakota County
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m

Duluth/Twin Ports
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yhpk5sn   

Eagan
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m  

Grand Rapids
Senator Amy Klobuchar visited with Blandin Foundation staff to talk about the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) projected recently awarded $4.7 million by the NTIA. http://tinyurl.com/ykw4gm8  

Falcon Heights
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m  

North St Paul
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m  

Northfield
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m  

Ramsey County
Ramsey County made ID Insight’s Fastest 25 Broadband List, which ranks cities in the US. http://tinyurl.com/yglx6cv

Red Wing
Applies to participate in Google’s Fiber Community program. http://tinyurl.com/yj3ca4m  

St Paul
The St Paul City Council authorized the Office of Technology and Communications to submit an ARRA NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant request. http://shorl.com/dragrahistydrydo

(Many stories are gathered from local online newspaper. Unfortunately each newspaper has a different policy in regards to archive news and therefore we cannot guarantee access to all articles cited.)

Coleman’s Corner

Receiving word from NTIA that the Blandin Foundation BTOP grant had been approved was an exciting moment. As you can imagine, the reality of the commitment quickly begins to set in and you ask yourself and your team, “How are we going to implement this project so it makes a real difference now and into the future?”

Blandin Foundation’s operational theory of change is “Framing x Social Capital x Mobilization = Healthy Community.” This formula seems especially relevant to our Demonstration Community project component. We are asking:

How can we infuse the broadband discussion with local relevance? 

How can we identify and recruit the right blend of the local social capital? 

How do we mobilize the community with a bias towards action rather than excessive deliberation?

To be successful, our NTIA BTOP broadband project must spur increased broadband adoption and enable new and improved useful applications of technology that will enhance greater Minnesota as a place to live and do business.

If you’re a regular reader, you’ve heard us talk about MIRC – the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Community initiative. Blandin received $4.7 million of the ARRA broadband stimulus funds to deploy the project. Obviously we’re all excited; Bernadine Joselyn and Becky LaPlant have been posting updates on how the project is going. We have also been excited to see how the news has stimulated news and discussions in the following places….

MinnPost – Seeding ‘a culture of broadband’ in rural Minnesota – Sharon Schmickle highlights the importance of broadband – especially to rural areas and recognizes the potential of the MIRC project to get broadband to more people…

Rural residents have as many or more reasons to embrace broadband as any city dweller.

High-speed connections are a small town’s best hope for stopping the devastating drain of businesses and bright young people.

The Minnesota Daily – Broadband expansion underway in Minnesota – The University of Minnesota newspaper shone a light on the opportunities arising from the grant. (The University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality is one of the 19 MIRC partners.)

“I recently heard someone say, ‘access denied is opportunity denied,’ and I think the University is all about opportunity,” Joselyn said.

Minneapolis Star Tribune – Blandin will use stimulus for Net – The Star Tribune spoke with Blandin Foundation president Jim Hoolihan to learn more about the grant. In fact I think they did a good job os succinctly describing what the grant will entail…

The grant will be used to expand hours of rural workforce centers, distribute refurbished computers, extend small business technical assistance and training, train individuals and business leaders, and otherwise crank up community interest in high-speed Internet.

Getting business and community leaders to buy in is critical, Blandin officials say. Communities need to know how high-speed Internet can improve the quality of lives before committing to the service.

Several other new sources helped to announce the project and funding:

Minnesota Public Radio
StimulatingBroadband
Twin City Daily Planet
Alexandria Echo
… an others

The FCC just released their agenda for the open meeting planned for April 21 – a plan to discussion implementation of the National Broadband Plan. Here’s their tentative short list of topics, taken from their press release…

• USF Reform NPRM and NOI: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes common-sense reforms to the existing high-cost support mechanisms to identify funds that can be refocused toward broadband, and a Notice of Inquiry that seeks comment on the use of a model to determine efficient and targeted support levels for broadband deployment in high-cost areas.

• Mobile Roaming Order and FNPRM: An Order implementing rules to ensure the availability of reasonable automatic roaming arrangements for voice service and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on roaming arrangements for mobile broadband services.

• Network Gateway NOI: A Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on best approaches to assure the commercial availability of smart video devices and other equipment used to access the services of multi-channel video programming distributors.

• CableCARD NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes changes to the CableCARD rules for set-top boxes used with cable services, to improve the operation of that framework pending the development of a successor framework.

• Survivability NOI: A Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on the present state of survivability in broadband networks and potential measures to reduce vulnerability to network failures.

• Cybersecurity Certification NOI: A Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on whether the Commission should establish a voluntary program under which participating communications service providers would be certified by the FCC or a third party for adherence to cybersecurity objectives and/or practices.

I see a lot of broadband plans but I always think the devil is in the deployment. We can pay lip service to an awful lot – but we can only accomplish so much at a time.

On a completely unrelated note, I’m having one of those days where broadband makes or breaks me. I’m on a bus from Dublin to Belfast and I’m online – or at least I will be until I cross the border into Northern Ireland. Ironically last week I was in Minnesota and completely offline one day. I realized that proximity is no longer a factor in my job. I can work anywhere so long as I can get online. I’m like so many other small businesses. If/when I consider relocation (temporary or permanent) only those towns with broadband make the cut for me.

As an added unrelated note, I’m making my slow way to Scotland where I hope to visit Dundee, one of the top ranking Intelligent communities.