Slides from webinar helping libraries use reports from Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit

1. GigabitToolkit
NextSteps
Suzanne Reymer
Montana State Library
December 2019

2. Assessing your Internet
 Comparing tested speeds to advertised speeds – Are you getting what you paid for?
 What does fiber mean to your provider?
 FTTP (Fiber to the Premises): Fiber that's laid all the way to the building.
 FTTB (Fiber to the Building/Business/Block):The same as FTTP.
 FTTC/N (Fiber to the Curb of Node): Fiber that is laid to the node but then copper
wires complete the connection inside the building.
 Direct fiber: Fiber that leaves the central office and is attached directly to one
customer.This provides the greatest bandwidth, but direct fiber is expensive.
 Shared fiber: Similar to direct fiber except that as the fiber approaches the
premises of nearby customers, it splits into other optical fibers for those users.

4. Assessing your
Internet 2
 Assessing your needs
 Speed calculator from BroadbandNow – designed for home
use but may be helpful for libraries
https://broadbandnow.com/bandwidth-calculator
 LibraryEdge
http://www.broadband4education.nm.gov/uploads/FileLinks/a
6cbda6b6c3345ecbadd0cafa50aa1ae/Edge_Benchmark_9.2_B
andwidth_Article_8.19.13.pdf
 Many noted that video streaming was difficult under current
conditions
 Find out what is available from your provider at what cost?
There may be upgrades available for DSL/Cable customers.
 Find out what equipment is necessary to take advantage of
higher speeds.You may just need to ask for a new modem from
your provider.

7. Assessing your
Internet 3
Public wifi
Does your library offer the only publicly available
wifi in town?
Is there always wifi available to people who may
need it?
Separate networks for public and staff
Toolkit has a lot of suggestions for
assessing and improving wifi in libraries

8. Planning for
upgrades
 Current FCC recommendations
 100 Mbps for libraries serving under 50K
 1 Gbps for libraries serving over 50K
 FIBER – Fiber to the premises
 Get involved with county/municipal planning to
bring fiber to anchor institutions: schools,
government, health, public safety. Libraries are
anchor institutions and need to have a seat at the
table
 E-Rate money is available for fiber buildouts

9. Planning for
Upgrades 2
 Broadband upgrades will probably require equipment
upgrades
 Knowing what you have is important in
determining what needs to be replaced.
 Modems, routers, hubs, switches, wiring may all
need to be replaced to make use of bandwidth over
100 Mbps
 E-Rate C2 money is available to help with upgrades
for wifi equipment – For FY2020, the minimum is
$11,998
 GigabitToolkit has a planning document that may be
helpful https://www.internet2.edu/media_files/3428

12. Questions
Suzanne Reymer
sreymer2@mt.gov
406-698-0503
Snips taken fromToward Gigabit LibrariesToolkit Report
https://www.internet2.edu/research-
solutions/community-projects/toward-gigabit-libraries/