This document discusses four key components for community technology network vitality: fiber/copper/wireless infrastructure, available services, subscription rates, and user sophistication. It then provides an overview of various wired and wireless broadband connection types and considerations for communities in getting connected such as existing providers, collaborative activities, and strategic alternatives for traditional economic development leveraging broadband. The Blandin Foundation is identified as a resource for technical assistance and funding to support community broadband development activities.

1. Leveraging Broadband for Community and Economic Development

2. Four Components of Community Technology Network Fiber, copper, coaxial, wireless Services Availability, pricing, service quality, customer service Subscription Who and how many are buying the service? Sophistication What are users doing with the technology? All Four Are Required for Community Vitality!

3. Broadband Definitions FCC – recently changed from 200kbps to 768kbps Enough capacity to do two-way videoconferencing “Whatever capacity/speed you need to do what you want to do online.” Always on Remember that Broadband is a marketing term.

4. Wired Connections Dial up – phone line, need to connect DSL – phone line Cable modem Dedicated connection – T1 to direct fiber connection Fiber to the Node (FTTN) FTTP (Fiber to the Premise) Trend: All providers pushing fiber closer to the customer!

5. Wireless Connections Wi-Fi Fixed Wireless (a wide variety of technologies) LOS/NLOS Licensed/Unlicensed Cellular Satellite 700 MHz spectrum 800 MHz public safety networks Trend: Wireless networks drive mobility and productivity!

6. Questions to consider What do I/our community need today? How much speed/capacity? What do I plan to do with the connectivity? How much do I upload? How important is security? How important is reliability? What will I/our community need tomorrow? Ability to scale bandwidth to needs Ability to connect multiple locations

7. Getting Connected: Things to Think About In town – likely at least two sources of broadband though smallest communities may have only one. Teleco(s): DSL, T1, Dedicated connections on copper or fiber Cable provider: Cable modem on copper coax or direct fiber Wireless provider: wi-fi or fixed wireless Out of town DSL or cable modems (maybe) Wireless – fixed wireless or satellite

8. Telephone Exchange Map Dark Blue – Qwest Pink - Embarq White (west) – Federated White (east) - TDS

9. Other Area Telecommunications Providers Cable Television Appleton – Midwest Cable Benson – Charter Communications Kerkhoven – Charter Communications ISPs Bennett Office Info Link MaxMinn Wild Blue Satellite

10. Collaborative Telecom Activities Regional School Network Southwest/West Central Higher Education Network Others?

11. Community Strategy Alternatives

12. Traditional Economic Development Strategies Practiced in the Information Age Documented quality infrastructure Business retention and expansion Skilled workforce Downtown initiatives Business attraction

13. Infrastructure Inventory existing infrastructure and services Prepare the market Conduct market studies Install conduit as part of city CIP projects Regulate Require new developments to install FTTP Negotiate tough franchise agreement with CATV Investment Aggregate demand of large users Work with incumbents Form a cooperative Joint venture Municipal utility

14. Business Retention and Expansion Understand area businesses’ use of technology Provide regular technology training programs Build a vibrant technology support structure Adapt business assistance programs to support technology investments and technology companies

15. Educating the Workforce Community information portals and networks Education and training Businesses, seniors, immigrants, students Tech fairs, promotion, training sessions, community projects Community commitment through technology leadership Education Health Government

16. Downtown Initiatives Adding technology to the proven Main Street approach of Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring

17. Adapted Main Street Approach Organization Technology Tools Tech support Promotion Downtown web site Email marketing Design Connectivity Hot spots and public access sites Economic Restructuring Technology training centers/Business incubators E-commerce savvy businesses Digital media promotion

18. Business Attraction Traditional Factors Available infrastructure Quality and available workforce Capital Welcoming attitude Technology Promote a technology culture Quality of life

19. Blandin Community Broadband Resources Blandin Foundation www.blandinfoundation.org Technical Assistance – up to 32 hours Benefits Technology market development activities funded Telecommunications market studies completed Community technology vitality is increased Community technology promotion tools provided

20. Continuous improvement in all facets of technology development is required for community vitality!! This is too important to sit back and be passive!

21. For more information Blandin Foundation Bill Coleman 651-491-2551 [email_address]