Introduction To Community Broadband

Tell us what do you want to learn today using the post-it notes!

Border to Border Broadband ConferenceNovember 18, 2015

Participants

David Russell Calix

Albert Kangas Palmer Wireless

Paul Solsrud Cooperative Network Services

Bill Coleman Community Technology Advisors

Why is broadband so important?And how do we get started?

What is broadband?Remember that broadband is a marketing term!

GOVERNMENT STANDARDS

Minnesota (2010) 10-20 Mb down 5-10 Mb up

Federal 200 kb (pre-2008) 768 kb (2008) 4 Mb/1 Mb (2010) 10 Mb/1 Mb CAF2 (2014) 25 Mb/3 Mb (2015)

THE MARKETPLACE Comcast

2005 – 4 Mb 2010 – 12 Mb 2015 – 150 Mb 2015* - 2 Gb

Gigabit Service in MN Paul Bunyan CTC US Internet CenturyLink At least four other rural

cooperatives Others coming…

Map by: Eric Miller, Metropolitan Interstate Council, a division of Arrowhead Regional Development Commission

Broadband inhibitors

High prices Low data caps

Average family uses 50 GB/month Poor reliability High latency (delay) Key business areas

Without fiber Without multiple fiber sources

How do we get organized?RESOURCES

Being here! Blandin Foundation

Community Broadband Resources w/32 TA hours

Webinars Robust Network

Feasibility Fund Office of Broadband

Development

COMMUNITY ACTION

Recruit champions Review OBD maps &

data Talk with providers Conduct surveys,

interviews & focus groups

Community meetings Use GIS mapping

tools

What is your broadband situation?Table Discussion

Dave Russell – CalixAlbert Kangas – Palmer Wireless

Infrastructure

InfrastructurePanel Discussion

Paul Solsrud – CNSBill Coleman – CTA

Making it work!

Market development to attract provider partners

Making the business case!

Goal: Cash Flow > Debt ServiceREDUCE COSTS

Google Checklist Permits Conduit Poles

Grants Long term & low

interest loans Strategic use of USF

ADD REVENUE

Anchor institution commitment

Customer identification

Innovative applications

Digital inclusion programs

Anchor institutions

Schools, health care, government, business “it is where the money is!”▪ Language alert▪ Provider aggregation = “cherry picking”▪ Community aggregation = “smart!”

Advantages▪ Dedicated fiber▪ Bigger bandwidth▪ Lower costs

Customer identification

Integrated tools Surveys Facebook & other social media GIS mapping

Moving initiatives forward!

Panel Discussion