This document discusses broadband internet services and applications. It begins by explaining the importance of broadband and differences between services. It then provides details on available broadband options from providers like satellite, cellular, and wired services. Key aspects covered include pricing, speeds, data caps, latency, and suitability for different uses. The document also explores common broadband applications for business, pleasure, education, health care, and more. It aims to help readers understand broadband technologies and choices for meeting their needs.

1. Broadband Bits and Bytes
Why do we have to have it?
What’s the difference between one service and the other?
Bill Coleman, Community Technology Advisors
Mark Zimmerman, Itasca Economic Development Corp.

2. “The slowest Internet speeds
you will tolerate are most likely
the fastest you will get.”
Milo Mendlin, CEO Google Fiber

3. For me, a day without
broadband is a day without
sunshine!

4. My Broadband Activities
Business
 Check email
 Receive broadband industry
news
 Research
 Purchase equipment
 Make travel arrangements
 Webinars
 Home videoconferencing
 Maps
Pleasure
 Check email
 Facebook
 Review newspapers
 Fact – checking –politics and
sports
 FaceTime/Skype
 Find and purchase books
 Music, movies and TV
 Fishing reports

5. Broadband
Considerations
Technology and Providers

6. Broadband Comparisons
State of the Art -
FTTH
 Up to 100 Mb/1 Gb
 Symmetrical upload and
download
 Low latency
 Generally unlimited usage
 Very expensive to deploy
Satellite
 Up to 12 Mb
 Significantly higher
download than upload
 High latency inhibits
interactive applications
 Aggressive use raises costs
 Relative low costs per user
to deploy

7. Available Broadband Price
Comparisons
Satellite - Exede
 12 Mb/3 Mb
 Use determines price
 10 Gb = $49.99 + 9.99
 15 Gb = 79.99 + 9.99
 25 Gb = 129.99 + 9.99
 Free zone downloading
after midnight
Cellular (ATT)
 For my household with 5
devices, recommended 20
Gb of data ($310) or….
 Two smartphones with
mobile hot
spot, recommended 15 Gb
of data ($240)
 Both have unlimited talk
and text; service is mobile

8. Service Provider
Comparisons
 SCI Broadband in Bovey
 Triple play services ($126)
 12 Mb Internet $49.95
 Paul Bunyan in Grand Rapids
 Triple play services ($117.95)
 10 Mb ($44.95) to 25 Mb (74.95) Internet
 CenturyLink
 Internet and phone
 Speed availability relies on location
 1.5 Mb ($40) to 7 Mb ($45)

9. Some good questions
about technology…
Thanks to Jeanne!

10. What about e-banking (and
security in general)?
 Features
 Online banking
 Mobile banking
 Paperless statements
 Security
 Generally quite safe
 Do not use public wi-fi to access!
 Cellular wireless is OK
 Make sure your own device & network are secure!

11. What about data caps?
 Wired providers
 Extremely high data caps affect few users
 Satellite
 More use = higher fees
 Excess use is throttled
 Cellular
 More use = higher fees

12. Video?
 Downloading
 Receive and store a video file for review at any time.
Video file is stored on the device hard drive. Internet
bandwidth affects time required to download but not
playback quality
 Streaming
 Receive and play and video file in real time. File is
not stored on hard drive. Internet bandwidth affects
user experience.
 Videoconference
 Interactive two-way video conversation using Skype,
Facetime or enterprise systems. Bandwidth greatly
affects experience

13. How Much Bandwidth
does streaming use?
 Netflix
 HD – 1800 Mb per hour
 10 Gb cap = 2.7 movies per month
 SD – 300 Mb per hour
 10 Gb cap = 16.2 movies per month
 Pandora
 32 Mb per hour
 10 Gb cap = 312 hours

14. How much bandwidth do I need?
Bandwidth Available Application Tech Note
500 Kb – 1 Mb Voice over IP Satellite – Latency
Web browsing and
email
1 Mb – 5 Mb Larger email
attachments
Data caps, Upload
speed
IPTV Data caps
Telecommuting Upload speed, data
caps
Streaming music Data caps
6 Mb – 10 Mb Large file sharing Data caps
Video on demand Data caps
Tele-presence Satellite Latency
Large file sharing Upload speed
important
Gaming Satellite Latency

15. National Apps
 Pandora
 www.pandora.com
 Netflix
 www.netflix.com
 Health
 www.webmd.com
 Education
 www.khanacademy.org
 https://www.edx.org/course/mit/24-
00x/introduction-philosophy-god/888

16. Local Broadband
Applications
Creating Content and Value in the Itasca Area

17. School District
Technologies
 Fiber-fed wired and wireless technologies
 One to one device initiatives
 Flipped classroom
 Instant feedback
 Wi-Fi on school buses
 School district collaboration – IASC
 Video conferencing
 Teacher sharing
 Shared tech support

18. School Districts
District 318
Grand Rapids
 www.isd318.org
 Student/Parent Portal
 Calendars
 Online Payments
 Forms and Guidelines
 Lesson plans with
assignments
 Videos of activities
District 316
Greenway of Coleraine
 www.greenwayhs.new.rsc
hooltoday.com
 Parent portal
 Calendars
 Forms and guidelines
 Lesson plans with
assignments
 Payment may be within
portal

19. Health Care Technologies
For Health Care
Providers
 Access to reports and
images
 Real-time consultations
 Continuing education
For Residents
 Patient portals
 Access to Electronic Health
Records
 Home health monitoring
 E-visits
 Patient instruction videos
 E-health web sites

20. Grand Itasca
www.granditasca.org
 Family Health Manager
 MyChart
 Multimedia Center
 Community Resources

21. Thank you!