This document discusses connecting nonprofits in the digital age through broadband access. It defines broadband and explains its importance for education, healthcare, and commerce. Rural broadband deployment faces challenges due to higher costs and lower revenues over longer distances with fewer customers. The document recommends that rural housing providers advocate for broadband, install wired infrastructure when possible, and discuss connectivity options with local providers.

1. 11/20/2012
Connecting your Nonprofit in the
Digital Age
Jesse Ward
Manager,
Industry & Policy
Analysis
December 6, 2012
NTCA
• NTCA represents 570 small and rural
telecommunications cooperatives and locally‐owned
companies.
• NTCA’s members create, maintain, and evolve “future‐
proof” fiber broadband networks.
• NTCA’s members serve more than 40% of the nation's
land mass—but less than 5% of the nation's telephone
subscribers. They provide services in the most
sparsely populated, highest‐cost rural areas.
• NTCA members have a vested interest in their
communities.
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2. 11/20/2012
Agenda
• What is Broadband?
• Importance to Residential Customers
• Connectivity Options
• Challenges to Rural Broadband
Deployment
• What Can Rural Housing Providers Do?
What is Broadband?
The ability to transfer large amounts of
information (data) over
telecommunications networks very
quickly.
• Wired networks
• Wireless networks
But not all networks are
created equal.
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3. 11/20/2012
Broadband Drivers
• Education & Job • Locally‐based
Training national and global
• Health Care commerce
• Safety • Government
• Efficient Utility Use Services
Access Network, a.k.a.
“Local Loop” or “Last Mile” Network
Connects local businesses & local residences with
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Local Loop
Backbone Network
ISP’s Central Middle‐mile
Office (CO) Network
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4. 11/20/2012
Last‐Mile (a.k.a. Local Loop)
Broadband Access Technologies
• Wired
– Copper Wires (DSL)
– Hybrid Fiber Coax (cable company networks)
– Fiber Optics
• Wireless
– Fixed Wireless Broadband (point‐to‐multi‐
point network)
– Mobile Networks (cell phone/smartphone)
– Satellite (direct broadcast satellite (DBS))
Fixed & Mobile Wireless Technology
Throughput (bandwidth) is dependant
upon:
– User’s distance from the tower
– Number of users sharing the connection
point and available bandwidth
– Frequency of spectrum
– Obstacles to line‐of‐sight transmission
paths
– Environmental conditions
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5. 11/20/2012
Quality Determined by Four Metrics
• The connection’s speed (size of the “pipe”)
• The connection’s latency (delay)
• The connections jitter (variation in packet
delay)
• Service reliability
Broadband Access Speeds and Applications
Upstream & Applications
Downstream
Speeds
500 Kbps–1 Mbps Voice over IP, texting, basic email and Web browsing
1 Mbps–5 Mbps Complex web browsing, streaming music, file sharing,
standard definition (SD) video streaming
5 Mbps–10 Mbps Telecommuting, remote education apps, medical file
sharing, SD video streaming with multiple channels,
SD video downloads
10 Mbps–100 Mbps SD and HD video streaming such as surveillance, real‐
time interactive gaming
100 Mbps–1 Gbps Telemedicine, multiple educational services
1 Gbps–10 Gbps Research applications, telemedicine applications with
real‐time remote control of scientific/medical
instruments, HD video streaming
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6. 11/20/2012
Network Access Architectures and Speeds
Network Typical Access Speeds
Architecture
DSL over copper Speeds dependant upon distance from ISPs Central Office
twisted pair and DSL technology. Realistic max of 50 Mbps over short
loops/distances, up to 3,000 feet. Typical real‐world
speeds of 1 Mbps ‐28 Mbps. Generally more downstream
bandwidth, but moving to symmetric deployments.
Satellite Bandwidth is shared; speeds dependent upon number of
subscribers. Improvements in past year. Advertised as up
to 12 Mbps‐15 Mbps downstream, 1 Mbps‐3 Mbps
upstream. Historical issues with latency, obstacles and
interference.
Cellular and Bandwidth is shared; speeds dependent upon number of
Fixed Wireless subscribers. 4G LTE advertised as up to 5 Mbps‐12 Mbps
downstream, 2 Mbps‐5 Mbps upstream.
Fiber “Future proof” technology with greatest capacity.
75 Mbps ‐ 100 Mbps upstream and downstream, or more;
Technology is quickly advancing
Broadband Network Cost Components
• Outside plant costs
• Land & rights‐of‐way costs
• Skilled labor costs
• Spectrum licensing costs (wireless network)
• Electronics
• Middle‐mile transport costs
• Interconnection with backbone providers
• Customer premises equipment (CPE)
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7. 11/20/2012
Rural Broadband Deployment
Challenges
• Greater network expense and less
revenue in rural America.
• Longer loop lengths lead to higher
network costs.
• Very few customers over which to spread
the infrastructure costs.
• Customers also reside more distantly
spaced from one another.
• Terrain can be challenging.
Funding for Rural Broadband Networks
• Funded through:
– End‐user fees
– Private investment
– State and federal government‐administered
programs
• State and federal cost recovery programs
in flux
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8. 11/20/2012
What Can You Do?
• Advocate for rural broadband with
your local officials.
• When constructing a greenfield
housing site, install wired
infrastructure – “dig once.”
• Talk with your local broadband
providers about your connectivity
options.
Contact Information
Jesse Ward
Manager, Industry & Policy Analysis
703‐351‐2007
jward@ntca.org
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