The West Virginia Broadband Connectivity Working Team emphasizes the importance of high-speed internet as an essential tool for economic development and community well-being, especially in underserved rural areas. Despite progress, significant gaps remain in broadband access and usage between wealthier and poorer communities, hindering competitiveness and growth. The team aims to collect research, develop a statewide strategy, and promote affordable connectivity to enhance opportunities in education, health, and business.

1. West Virginia
Broadband Connectivity
Working Team
A presentation to the Joint Committee on Technology
West Virginia Legislature
June 13, 2004
Larry Malone, Malone Consulting Services
Jack Shaffer, Columbia Natural Resources LLC

2. Why Broadband?
“Fourth Utility” – Key Development Tool
• Employment/Jobs
• Business Retention & Investment
• Competitiveness
• Community Development
• Education, Health, Well-Being
• Self-Improvement and Sufficiency

3. The Challenge
Rural America already faces huge economic challenges
and is being left behind because they simply can't
compete without affordable high-speed access to the
Internet. That is where the jobs are, and that is where
businesses invest.
Competition and active participation in today’s vigorous
new economy requires not only a computer, but also high-
speed, high-capacity (broadband) access to information
and data on the Internet.
- Rural Broadband Coalition

4. Putting It Into Perspective
Despite its economic and political might, the USA is falling behind other nations in
arming consumers and small businesses with a key economic tool: high-speed
Internet access, also known as broadband. The USA ranks 11th worldwide in
broadband use, according to a recent United Nations report, behind such
places as South Korea, Hong Kong and Iceland.
For now, nations besting the USA have smaller economies and don't present an
immediate economic threat. But as other nations leap ahead in broadband, their
industries — from South Korean automakers to Canadian doctors — prosper.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of U.S. companies, waste time and money
that could otherwise help drive growth.
Spreading fast Internet access in the USA is so critical to long-term
economic might that TechNet, a group of top U.S. tech CEOs, says it's the
21st-century equivalent of landing a man on the moon.
That gap matters as the Web drives more of the global economy. The longer it
takes to do a task — from downloading forms to bidding on contracts — the more
it chips away at U.S. productivity.
Source: USAToday, 1/18/2004 http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/2004-01-19-broadband_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/2004-01-19-broadband_x.htm

5. Putting It Into Perspective
America has made great strides in providing Internet access to schools and
underserved communities. However, despite these efforts, there is still a wide gap
between communities on the cutting edge of technology and those still awaiting
their first taste of the Internet. As wealthier towns and neighborhoods connect
to broadband networks, many rural, hard-to-reach and underserved
communities fall further behind, deprived of a key developmental tool.
As knowledge of technology becomes increasingly essential, the lack of access to
advanced services will deprive some of the ability to acquire the tools necessary
to succeed. There is a tremendous need in all communities for training in the
"twenty-first century skills" to take advantage of the new opportunities
broadband can provide.
As with the Internet itself, the nation must realize the unique value of broadband
access. More than just a new vehicle for entertainment, broadband can play an
important role in providing valuable services -- such as telemedicine,
distance education, independent living, and even e-commerce solutions to
create more viable communities, particularly in underserved areas.
Alliance for Public Technology - http://apt.org/publica/broadband-world.html

6. West Virginia Broadband
Connectivity Working Team
• Business/Technology
• Telecommunications/Cable
• Government – Federal, State, County
• Economic and Community Development
• Higher Education and Education
• Non-Profits
• Foundations – Benedum
• Reps – Health care, tourism, banking

7. Mission/Purpose
To leverage the knowledge of interested
stakeholders in a collaborative effort to:
1) Collect and analyze available research and best practices
on high-speed Internet connectivity and services
2) Determine and develop a statewide strategy and
recommendations on:
a. building demand for high-speed Internet access
and expanding connectivity levels in all
communities
b. offering affordable, sustainable and simplistic
high-speed connection service throughout the state
3) Link this to improving the overall well-being and
prosperity of communities

8. Core Focus
Core areas of examination and focus:
1) Demand: Broadband Use and Applications Awareness
- Distance learning
- Telemedicine
- e-Government
- e-Commerce/e-marketing
- Home-based work
- ASP applications
2) Affordability/Rates and System Management/Operati ons
3) Issues Associated with Physical Installation and Expansion
of Infrastructure (wired/wireless/satellite)

9. Needs Perspective
Business
- Expanding, encouraging high-speed connectivity to more locations,
businesses
- Linking businesses with tech support/info on broadband and
applications; connecting ‘supply and demand’
- Sharing information about using ASP offerings to enhance productivity,
services, operations
Community
- Conducting community tech/connectivity assessments
- Fulfilling or serving economic and community development needs
- Developing, delivering local broadband strategies and high-speed benefits
(telemedicine, distance learning, etc.)
Residential
- Increasing computers in homes (tax credits?)
- Providing educational programs on computers, Internet
- Offering affordable Internet connectivity fees
- Understanding demographics (high % of older, low-income)
- Using broadband for self-help purposes (home-based jobs, living)

10. Reports – Benchmarking WV
Internet Access
• National – 75 percent of population on-line
• West Virginia – 65 percent
• 46th in computers (% of households)
• 46th w/ Internet access (% of households)
Broadband Access
• West Virginia pretty good – most counties now have either
Cable or DSL, or both
Affordability
• West Virginia (50th in median income)
Only 13 percent use broadband
Broadband Demographics/Trends
Issue: 220,000 – elderly or low-income

11. Reports – Benchmarking WV
Nearly 75 percent or 204.3 million Americans have
access to the Internet from home
• 54.03% of US home users dial in with
"narrowband" connections
• 46% - broadband connection
Income Key –
$25K-50K – 33 percent use broadband
$0-25K – only 25 percent use broadband

12. Research Data
22% of Americans 65 and older use the Internet…about
8 million Americans. (Rural seniors - 17% go online)
There has been sharp growth in the number (older
Americans) doing key Internet activities such as health
searches, e-shopping, and online banking. Email is
equally popular among Internet users age 65 or older and
their younger counterparts.
“silver tsunami”

13. Research Data
Besides email, e-shopping:
Health Info - 73 million people, 62% of Internet users, or 73
million people in the United States
E-Government - 97 million adult Americans, or 77% of
Internet users
Half of all Internet users, and 59% of online users with
broadband connections at home, say the Internet has
helped their relationship with government

14. Resources/Linkages
Federal
• ARC
• USDA RUS
• FCC
• State Delegation
State
Local
Non-Profit
Educational
Foundation

15. Timeline
Fall 2004 –
Complete recommendations and report
Possible conference
2005 Session –
Legislative agenda

16. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Broadband 101
Jack L. Shaffer, Jr.
Manager, Technology Services and Development
Columbia Natural Resources, LLC

17. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
What is “Broadband?
•High speed communications transmitting large
amounts of data over an array of networks –
including the Internet.
•Delivered through “pipes” such as cable, copper,
fiber optics, and wireless.
•FCC defined as at least 200kbps in one direction.

18. How FAST is FAST??
E-mail Basic Web Complex Five Movie Two-hour
5k Page web page minute preview movie
25k 500k Song 30Megs 500Megs
5 Megs
Dialup 1 sec 10 sec 90 sec 15 min 80 min 20 hrs
Satellite <1 sec <1 sec 15 sec 2 min 15 min 4 hrs
DSL <1 sec <1 sec 7 sec 1 min 7 min 2 hrs
Cable <1 sec <1 sec 4 sec 40 sec 4 min 70 min
Wireless <1 sec <1 sec 4 sec 40 sec 4 min 70 min
Fiber <1 sec <1 sec 2 sec 15 sec 1 min 10 min

19. How FAST is FAST??
Bits per second Time to download 33
volumes of Encyclopedia
Britannica
9.6K modem 9,600 3.5 days
56K modem 56,000 14 hours
1.544 MBPS (T1 line) 1,544,000 31 minutes
45 MBPS (T3 line) 45,000,000 1 minute
155 MBPS (fiber optic) 155,000,000 18 seconds
622 MBPS (fiber OC12) 622,000,000 4.8 seconds
2.4 GBPS (fiber OC48) 2,400,000,000 1.2 seconds

20. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
Technology is a TOOL.
Many different “tools” in our broadband
toolbox.
– No one tool will fit all circumstances.
– Many different tools may need to be used to
complete one job.
WV is fortunate to have many “world class”
broadband providers.

21. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
We must focus on the end result and avoid
“technology holy wars.”
All of our broadband tools have pros and
cons.
There is NO MAGIC BULLET!

22. Broadband Types
•Wireless –
•Wired –
•Existing -
•Existing -
•Fixed Wireless
•T1/T3
•Satellite
•Cable
•802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi
•DSL
•Emerging -
•Emerging –
•3G
•Fiber (FTTH)
•802.16 Wi-Max
•Broadband over
power lines

23. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
T1 – A 24 channel circuit that can be used over copper or fiber lines.
– 1.54Mbps
– 99% availability
– Expensive
– Typically used to connect “edge” or “last mile” technologies to the Internet
Cable – Coax or Fiber connection to the Internet.
– 2Mbps download/512Mbps upload
– Cost effective
– “shared pipe”
– Typically used to connect directly to the Internet

24. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
xDSL – Digital Subscriber Line a high speed connection that uses the
same wires as a regular telephone line.
– 1.5Mbps download/256Mbps upload
– Cost effective
– Distance limitations
– Typically used to connect directly to the Internet

25. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
Fiber – Fiber to the home (FTTH) – Internet data transmitted across fiber optic cable.
– Up to 1 Gigabit per second
– Uses cable modem standard DOCSIS
– Can be expensive and time consuming to build
– Connections can be problematic
Broadband over power lines (BPL or PLC) – Internet data transmitted across existing
power lines.
– 3Mbps (upload/download speeds are the same)
– Requires specialized equipment to bridge transformers
– Possible Radio Interference
» Cinergy & the FCC disputes this claim

26. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
Fixed Wireless – Wireless data transfer between fixed antennas (like
the Motorola Canopy system at Glenville)
– 6.2Mbps
– 10 mile radius between access points
– Basically line of site
– Interference can be problematic
– Used in “Last Mile” coverage

27. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
Satellite Broadband
– 1 Mbps download / 100 Kbps upload
– Latency can be problematic
– Can be expensive
– Primarily used where other broadband choices are not available.
Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g) – Wireless LAN
– 11 Mbps – 54 Mbps depending upon protocol
– 1000 ft radius
– Primarily used in local area networks

28. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
Mesh Point-to-Point via satellite broadband
– 50 Mbps download / 16 Mbps upload (theoretical limits)
– VSAT line of site
– Satellites will contain switching technology to reduce latency
– Will still be fairly expensive
– Primarily used where other broadband alternatives are not available
Wi-Max / Wireless Man (802.16) – long range wireless
– 70 Mbps transmission speed
– 30 mile non-line of site radius
– Still a fixed wireless solution
– Works in tandem with Wi-Fi
– Primarily used as a “last mile” connection

29. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
3G – Wireless technologies used to transmit data
– Many different standards/products
» CDMA2001x
» TD-SCDMA
» W-CDMA
» EDGE
» 1xEV-DO
– Speeds < 1 Mbps
– Availability problems
– Mainly targeted at the mobile user

30. WV Rural Broadband Committee
Technology Overview
SUMMARY
Many broadband options today – more tomorrow.
Any successful project will contain some mix of
broadband tools.
Focus on demand and the project – not the
technology.
Return on Investment and Continuous Operations
costs MUST be considered.