Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Broadband Stimulus Initiative National Telecommunications & Information...
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Transcript of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Broadband Stimulus Initiative National Telecommunications & Information...
Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaBroadband Stimulus Initiative
National Telecommunications & InformationAdministration (NTIA)
Washington, DCMay 6, 2009
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Attendees
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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Naomi Wyatt, Secretary of Administration; Governor’s Office of Administration
Brenda Orth, Chief Information Officer; Governor’s Office of Administration
Rebecca Bagley, Deputy Secretary for Technology; Department of Community & Economic Development
Luc Miron, ARRA Broadband Project Manager; Governor’s Office of Administration
Pennsylvania Background
Pennsylvania Background
Most aggressive rural broadband deployment program in Nation according to United States Internet Association
$193 million in total cumulative local rate increases from 2005-2008 to fund broadband deployment
Projected rate increases in place of $98 million for 2009. Rate increases are continuing into the future
“Shovel ready” unmet aggregate demand stemming from state broadband initiatives
US Census: 3rd largest rural population behind TX and NC; 3rd largest elderly over age 65 behind FL and W Va
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Pennsylvania Chapter 30
Chapter 30 originally enacted in 1993 to achieve early deployment of universally available state-of-the-art broadband network in Pennsylvania, re-enacted in new form in November 2004 (Act 183)
Authorized several ambitious initiatives that will substantially increase the investment in Commonwealth telecommunications infrastructure
Act 183 mandate for Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to create an Inventory of Services database
Collection, compilation, and maintenance of a comprehensive listing of broadband services available from all broadband providers operating in the Commonwealth, regardless of technology used
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E-Fund
Education Technology Fund (E-Fund) of November 30, 2004 (Act 183)
Purchase or lease of telecommunications services, infrastructure, or facilities to establish and support broadband networks between, among, and within school entities (Intermediate Units and School Districts)
Purchase or lease of premises telecommunications network equipment and end-user equipment
Distance learning initiatives using the foregoing broadband networks
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Update on Activities
Responses to FCC solicitations and joint NTIA/RUS RFI
Intra-agency coordination – Governor’s Office, Office of Administration, DCED, PUC, DGS, Health, Education, others
Coordination with telecommunications carriers and interested stakeholders
Public meetings in rural PA
Development of plan / prospective NTIA application
Identification of potential ‘shovel ready’ projects
Updates to state mapping inventory
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Discussion Items
PA is poised to execute on BTOP project
State strategy in place
Availability of preexisting and documented demand for broadband services – shovel ready
Mapping inventory points to “unserved” and “underserved” priority areas
Statewide public safety tower network could help extend reach into last-mile areas
Statewide telecommunications procurement being finalized; could help direct deployment of long-haul and middle mile trunks
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Discussion Items
Prior positive action by states should be further leveraged by ARRA:
Landmark state legislation with statutorily mandated (accelerated) broadband deployment by regulated incumbent local telephone companies
Establishment of outreach & aggregation mechanism (with funding) for pre-existing unserved broadband demand
Aggregation program with statutorily mandated “business case” upon reaching threshold of committed customers
Financial assistance to schools for connectivity, equipment, content, technical assistance ($10M per year)
Statewide mapping and public inventory of services10
Discussion Items
Prior positive action by states should be considered
Pennsylvania is net contributor to the federal USF at a level of $125 - $135 million annually
Implementation of extensive intrastate carrier access charge reforms at corresponding high cost
As a net contributor to the federal USF, PA already supports deployment of broadband facilities in other states
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Discussion Items
NTIA Programmatic considerations
Requirement for state plan and mapping as condition precedent to receipt of deployment funds
Importance of State’s Role in project awards:
Endorsement or recommendation by States
Alignment with state plan
NTIA approves State plan and States approve/recommend projects that are aligned with State plan
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Discussion Items
Funding Determinations; Equitable Distributions to States
ARRA stipulates at least one project award per state
Recommend “per capita” formula for BTOP in event of “per state” distribution
Particular circumstances of states should be taken into consideration
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Discussion Items
BTOP Program Administration
Consider enlisting assistance of states to administer portions of BTOP program
NTIA approves State plan and States approve/recommend projects that are aligned with State plan
Mutually beneficial arrangement to ensure fulfillment of goals and timelines
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Discussion Items
Project match considerations
Prior financial investments by States should be given consideration, such as:
Allow statutorily approved rate increases to secure broadband deployment commitments as 20% match required under ARRA
State investment made through state towers or other related infrastructure
Award of state funds which yield aggregated demand and ‘shovel-ready’ projects (BOAF)
Award of state funds under state E-Fund for deployment of broadband networks linking school entities
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Discussion Items
Wireless broadband deployment
Discussions mostly focused on residential and commercial availability
Recognize emergence of hand-held devices and mobile applications
Important for economic development, public safety, tourism, quality of life
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Discussion Items
Project Sustainability
ARRA provides initial capital expense allowing deployment of infrastructure
Sustainability of ARRA projects is an essential component of project approvals
Identification of anchor tenants & community partnerships
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Discussion Items
Competition & Choice
Business case may not always allow for multiple providers and/or multiple broadband access technologies and services, e.g., landline telecommunications, CATV, wireless, broadband over power lines, etc.
Shared or neutral collocation facilities, common infrastructure, and potentially common carriage requirements under pre-existing and applicable federal (e.g., Telecommunications Act of 1996) and state law.
Usage of state infrastructure (towers) as a means of accelerating deployment and extending reach of network
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Discussion Items
Administrative Considerations
State Procurement & Contracting Mechanisms
Reimbursement of State planning funds
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