A Highway 50 Reminder of How the West was Won

By Lindsey Niedzielski, Program Manager, Connect Nevada

Highway 50 shouldn’t be called the “loneliest road in America” as it’s so often referred to. In fact, once the route of the Pony Express, this road is vibrant with travelers, construction projects, and frontier communities. With a rich history in receiving information, it is no wonder residents are craving new technology and faster download speeds.

Nevada's Highway 50

In Eureka, the Opera House hosts events from concerts to quilt shows drawing residents from all across Eureka and White Pine - mostly by word of mouth. In White Pine County, only 68.65% of residents have access to 3 Mbps download Internet speed as compared to 23.57% in Eureka. In some of the more outlying areas like Baker, they have trouble making a cell phone call. What could they do with a better connection?

These communities, once the anchors of the state of Nevada, rich in copper, gold, and silver, are seeing an economic boom in mining. Now, it is only a matter of infrastructure holding the areas back from again becoming the heartbeat of Nevada. Mt. Wheeler Power is one regional broadband provider that is working with Connect Nevada to bring better broadband to the area. Connect Nevada also recently presented to the White Pine County Commissioners to begin planning for expansion in the region.

Connected Nation in Attendance at Esri International User Conference

By Ashley Littell, Manager, GIS Services

This past week in San Diego, California, a contingent of Connected Nation’s GIS Services Team was in attendance at the Esri International User Conference. This event is considered to be the premier conference for GIS, mapping, and any other geospatial needs in today’s market.

The event this year was record-breaking, as Esri President Jack Dangermond indicated at Monday’s Plenary Session that there were almost 15,000 attendees this year, making it the largest group to ever attend the annual Esri event.

A variety of technical sessions, exhibits, special interest group meetings, and map galleries were spread throughout the agenda, providing an overwhelming number of resources for GIS professionals. The conference provides an opportunity to learn more about the power of GIS through technical workshops, forthcoming features and software releases, and a chance to network with other GIS users to discuss challenges and successes in their own environments.

One particularly beneficial event, just in its second year on the agenda, was the GIS Managers’ Open Summit. This event was designed to bring together a subset of the GIS community in management, a supervisor or director role, and even C-level executives in attendance at the conference. Considered an “unconference” event, the summit provided a mix of user presentations and breakout sessions to “engage in conversations with peers on topics that relate to business efficiencies, ROI, managing data,” and other ideas presented by those in attendance.

"The User Conference was an awe-inspiring event showcasing amazing new product capabilities with technical sessions and demonstrations on virtually every topic imaginable,” said Sarah Finne, Connected Nation GIS analyst. “GIS has made so many advancements in the last couple of years, especially with public data exchange and Web mapping. It was exciting and very informative to learn from these industry leaders and developers."

Connected Nation has had staff at the conference each year since 2008.

For more information, please check out the Esri UC Blog.

Group Forms to Expand Broadband in Humboldt County, Nevada

By Jeremy Thacker, Communications Specialist, Connected Nation/Connect Nevada

Local leaders in Humboldt County are laying the groundwork to create new jobs and boost the economy across northeast Nevada. The Humboldt Development Authority (HDA) board has officially joined Connect Nevada’s statewide initiative to expand broadband adoption and use in its region. The leaders met Tuesday in Winnemucca to form a local advisory committee in support of the effort to increase technology use.

The local planning teams are organized by Connect Nevada. The nonprofit is working to accelerate the availability and use of technology throughout the state to create a better business environment, more effective community and economic development, improved healthcare, enhanced education, and more efficient government.

Connect Nevada’s program coordinator presented to the HDA board at its meeting. Lindsey Niedzielski explained the process of forming a regional planning team. The team will eventually be responsible for decisions about how to increase broadband use among all area homes and businesses through public and private partnerships.

“High-speed Internet enables access to quality jobs, information, and vital services ranging from interactive telemedicine to higher education,” says Niedzielski. “Connect Nevada, with the support of the Nevada Broadband Task Force, is undertaking the important work of grassroots regional planning to grow and expand technology use in our communities. We are thrilled that Humboldt County leaders are working with us.”

According to Connect Nevada’s latest broadband availability research from the Nevada Broadband: Preliminary Overview of Broadband Infrastructure & Adoption in Nevada report:

- Approximately 22%, or one-fifth, of households in Nevada have broadband available, but for various reasons do not subscribe. Connect Nevada is working to raise the awareness of broadband’s benefits so that more residents will get online

- In Humboldt County, 95% of households have access to the minimum 768 Kbps download speed service, while 53% of Humboldt County has 3 Mbps download speed service available

Humboldt County has approximately 5,733 households and relies heavily on fixed wireless and mobile broadband services with significantly less cable and DSL services available. There is currently no fiber service available. This puts the county slightly below the state average in broadband availability.

Percentage of Humboldt County households served by broadband technology platform:

- Cable – 63.69%

- DSL – 62.69%

- Fiber – 0%

- Fixed Wireless – 86.6%

- Mobile Wireless – 97.51%

Connect Nevada has partnered with the Governor’s Broadband Task Force and is working with broadband providers to speed up the expansion of broadband in unserved and underserved areas. The organization is pinpointing remaining gaps in Nevada’s broadband availability.

Cyber Monday Shopping is Made Easy with Broadband

Cyber Monday is upon us and many Americans are likely to be surfing and clicking for deals.

For example:

For more than half of the households surveyed in Connected Nation’s 2010 Residential Technology Assessment, Cyber Monday may be one of the many reasons residents choose to hop online to make purchases. In a survey of more than 15,600 households across the nation, 54% report that they use their broadband connection to shop for goods or services online.

This number is very likely to go up after days like today as people realize the cost benefits of saving time and money while using a high-speed connection to do their holiday shopping.

Want learn more about individual states? View specifics below:

Connect Iowa
Connect Kansas
Connect Michigan
Connect Minnesota
Connect Nevada
Connect Ohio
Connect Puerto Rico
Connect South Carolina
Connected Tennessee
Connected Texas

Source: 2010 Connected Nation Residential Technology Assessments www.connectednation.org (n=15,647 adults living across the US in states/territories served by Connected Nation)

Grassroots Efforts Bring High-Speed Internet to Rural Kentucky—One Community’s Story

In Greenup County, Kentucky, Melinda Spears and her two teenage daughters have never had an opportunity to connect to affordable high-speed Internet.

“I have a daughter in high school and, well have you tried to do anything on the computer via dialup lately?” Spears wrote to ConnectKentucky. “It's excruciatingly slow if it even works at all. Needless to say, she is unable to do any of her computer based schoolwork at home. In this day of technology, citizens are literally handicapped without the use of the Internet for everything from entertainment to information to education to contacting your representatives.”

However, thanks to grassroots efforts from public officials, private industry, local residents, and ConnectKentucky, Spears, her daughters, and her neighborhood are now benefiting from affordable high-speed Internet.

In a time where connectivity continues to be an issue in many rural areas in all states, Spears’ story is all too common. Her neighborhood is small — just 17 or so families. It’s on the border of two counties — Greenup and Boyd. Spears called her neighborhood, which runs along Brookefield Farm Road, the “Bermuda Triangle of Greenup County.”

Based on a suggestion from State Rep. Tanya Pullin (D-District 98), Spears contacted ConnectKentucky, who suggested that Spears gather a group of neighbors interested in broadband service. She did just that and, in May, Foundation Telecommunications, Inc. (FTI) started providing Spears and her neighbors with high-speed service.

Rep. Pullin was pleased.

“I have been working to expand broadband service to our area for years. Because we are largely a rural area, several different ways to deliver high-speed Internet are needed to meet the needs of the residents here. Since FTI’s technology seems to work well, it may help to provide high-speed Internet to other rural parts of our county, too,” Rep. Pullin said. “I applaud Mrs. Spears and her neighbors for taking an active role in making this solution work. I also commend ConnectKentucky for their creativity in finding this high-speed Internet solution.”

For Spears and her neighbors, the new broadband service is working beautifully and they couldn’t be more excited.

“We were at the end of our rope. Our daughter had a new computer, but she was not using it. We are really happy with the new broadband service and others I have talked with are also pleased,” Spears said. “FTI was very persistent in dealing with the weather challenges in setting up the system. It is a whole different world being able to use broadband.”

Project GOAL Aims at Getting Grandparents Online

Annie Woodsen, 91, shows off her graduation certificate which she earned from a senior computer training class sponsored by the Tennessee Community Foundation in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee.

Worrying about an aging loved one seems as American as apple pie.

Wishing grandpa had easier access to doctors and medical information;
Wishing grandma was better able to do the grocery and gift shopping that always gave her a sense of purpose;
Wishing they both could talk to their distant loved ones face-to-face more often.

These are the kind of wishes that can easily come true immediately by simply hooking up a computer to the Internet and teaching them how to use it. And now, a new organization is taking aim at accomplishing just that.

Project Get Older Adults onLine, or Project GOAL, has just been launched with its mission aimed at providing technology training resources for older adults and for organizations that serve older populations and their members. The training is meant to get senior citizens past the technology fear factor and plug them into the benefits of broadband. Project organizers point out how the Internet can reduce social isolation for seniors, help them stay connected to family members, keep their minds sharp, assist them in research on health or other information, connect them directly with doctors and medical monitoring, and help them accomplish chores like shopping without ever leaving home.

The fact is, high-speed Internet can greatly enrich the lives of older people, yet only 35 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have broadband at home. Project GOAL will work with seniors groups to match them with technology training in their area and help give them the resources they need to teach the elderly how to tap into the world of broadband.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is championing the new initiative and Project GOAL is backed by a number of technology companies like AT&T, Comcast, Facebook, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, and The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). Connected Nation is serving as an advisory member along with AARP and the American Telemedicine Association.

Staff from the Jefferson County, Tenn. Office on Aging stand with a student during a recent senior citizens technologically training course.

Related Articles:
News Article: Elderly Encouraged to Reap Benefits of Broadband (AOL News, 04/06/2010)
News Article: Tech Titans Encourage Seniors to Go Online (PC Magazine, 04/06/2010)

New Video and Research Shows that Libraries Play a Key Role in Connecting the Disconnected

Connected Nation launches New Video and Policy Brief, “Connecting America Through Broadband at the Library”

In recent research and activities, Connected Nation has found that libraries, across the country, are playing a critical role in connecting America’s disconnected. And, Americans are already speaking out about how libraries are transforming their families’ lives through broadband.

Connected Nation has captured some of these stories in a video called “Connecting America Through Broadband at the Library.” In addition, Connected Nation’s survey research--which was recently filed in a policy brief with the Federal Communications Commission—further validates the important role libraries play as a community technology hub.

Below are some of these testimonies.

Along with this anecdotal evidence, Connected Nation conducted surveys across the states of Tennessee and Ohio to better understand the role of libraries in the broadband age. The report has been filed with the FCC, encouraging the commission to consider the important role community anchor institutions—specifically libraries—play in the national broadband plan.

Key findings of this survey research include:

• Significant percentages of those who normally don't subscribe to broadband – specifically single parents, minorities and low-income residents – are relying on the local library as their sole or primary Internet resource: 25 percent of single parents, 25 percent of minorities, 18 percent of low income residents, and 11 percent of people with disabilities depend on libraries for Internet connections.

• More than one-half of library Internet users (51 percent) have children at home, suggesting that a significant portion of library Internet users are children. Of this group, 42 percent do not have a broadband connected computer at home.

• Library Internet users are significantly more likely than other Internet users (those who connect at home or elsewhere) to use a number of online applications related to workforce development and education, civic engagement and healthcare.

• Nearly half of library Internet users (46 percent) search for jobs online, compared to 29 percent of other Internet users.

• Library Internet users are significantly more likely than other Internet users to communicate online with local government officials (25 percent compared to 14 percent.)

• 28 percent of library Internet users communicate online with healthcare professionals, compared to 16 percent of other Internet users.

To view the filing, click here. To view more data from this survey, click here to view graphs.

These voices and research are already helping Connected Nation work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in a pilot program called Opportunity Online.

This initiative partners the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Connected Nation and the American Library Association to host broadband summits for librarians, public and private leaders and other influencers in six different states.

These summits help communities across each state devise a plan for greater library connectivity, especially for libraries that cannot offer broadband connected computers. Following the summits, the libraries are offered the opportunity to apply for grants to help fund their connectivity plans.

To learn more about the Opportunity Online summits, click here.

For more information, contact Jessica Ditto at jditto@connectednation.org or (202) 251-4749.

Related Links:

FCC Filing: Connecting America through Broadband at the Library:
A Connected Nation® Policy Brief

Watch Video: Connecting America Through Broadband at the Library

Small Businesses in Ohio Benefit From Expanded Broadband Access

From left, Phil Taylor demonstrates some of the facets of his small business, Taylor Made Countertops, to Gallia County Commissioners President Justin Fallon, Governor’s Office of Appalachia Director Fred Deel, AT&T Director of External Affairs B.J. Smith, and Kingsley Meyer of the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College.

Elizabeth Rigel/photo, with permission

Taylor Made Countertops sits along Ohio 141 near Patriot, Ohio in Gallia County. Owner Phil Taylor purchases solid surface, an acrylic material used to make his custom countertops, from an out-of-state manufacturer that has increasingly moved its sales online and even offers discounts for buyers who purchase over the internet, according to an article in the Gallipolis Daily Tribune.

However, Taylor openly admitted in an article in the Gallipolis Daily Tribune that using the Internet, in it current dial-up state, just isn’t worth the effort.

“Dial-up (Internet) takes so long that I don’t usually have time to do it,” Taylor told the Gallipolis Daily Tribune.

However, Taylor and others in the communities of Cheshire, Mercerville, Patriot and Vinton in Gallia County and Arabia-Waterloo in Lawrence County, won’t have to worry about slow-dial up speeds, thanks to a recent public-private partnership between the state of Ohio and AT&T, according to the article. Connect Ohio, a Connected Nation initiative, also contributed to the effort.

Thanks to this partnership, residents within three miles of central locations in Gallia and Lawrence County can now hook in to these connections. Four broadband packages are available for purchase, ranging from approximately $20 to $35 in cost per month.

This is just one example of the power of ubiquitous broadband. The work of Connected Nation and its state-based initiatives continually strives to form public-private partnerships in an effort to ensure all Americans have access to high-speed Internet for all areas their lives.

To learn more about our work, visit http://www.connectednation.org/.

Connect Colorado Launches Website to Promote Universal Broadband Access Across State

Denver, Colorado – The Governor’s Office of Information Technology has partnered with Connected Nation, a national 501(c)3, to launch a website for its comprehensive broadband mapping initiative titled Connect Colorado. The site is designed to assess current broadband availability across the state, highlighting those areas that are presently unserved by a broadband provider. The website (http://www.connectcolorado.org/) allows for consumer feedback and broadband validation.

Current broadband subscribers can test the speed of their connections and describe how broadband has impacted their lives. For those who don’t currently have broadband access, the site offers visitors the ability to add their name and address to a secure database of households that would like to subscribe if given the opportunity. The information collected on the website will validate the broadband inventory maps created with broadband provider data. The inventory maps will inform Colorado’s next steps to deliver broadband to all residents across the state. The federal stimulus bill may be a potential source for funds to enhance broadband availability.

“Colorado’s economy depends on a strong technology infrastructure in every region of our state, and this website offers Colorado citizens the opportunity to be an essential part of the data collection process,” said Michael Locatis, State Chief Information Officer. “We hope that all citizens will contribute meaningful information.”

The feedback from the website will assist in shaping the broadband inventory maps set to be released in November 2009.

Colorado is one of several states working with Connected Nation to map service availability and support a state broadband expansion. Public-private partnerships have proven to be an effective model for expanding the availability of broadband and increasing computer literacy and Internet use. Through its extensive work, Connected Nation has proven that states and communities can realize a significant economic impact if broadband is universally available and is being adopted into homes at high rates.

Broadband infrastructure investments have shown to stimulate the economy and lead to job growth and are critical for the delivery of healthcare and education, civic engagement, and a host of other important areas.

Download the press release here.

Connected Nation and ESRIs partnership to benefit state-based broadband initiatives

On Monday, ESRI issued a news release about its BroadbandStat, the company’s new Web application that provides tools for mapping broadband coverage and planning broadband initiatives. The BroadbandStat solution features a dashboard-style display that provides an interactive map and options that make it easy to combine data in different ways for viewing and analyzing.

The BroadbandStat solution is currently under development for use in Connected Nation’s state-based broadband initiatives.

To learn more about BroadbandStat, visit www.esri.com/bbstat. To view the interactive mapping tool already in use by Connected Nation, visit:

• http://www.connectedtennessee.org/


• http://www.connectohio.org/


• http://www.connectmn.org/


• http://www.connectnorthcarolina.org/


• http://www.connectkansas.org/


• http://www.connectkentucky.org/


• http://www.connectednation.org/.

Connected Nation and Tech Leaders Apply for Funding to Put Computers in U.S. Households

The top reasons non-Internet users cite for not having broadband at home are lack of relevance, price, and lack of a computer (2009 Pew Internet & American Life Project).

According to Pew research, 21% of those who cite price as a barrier to broadband adoption are African Americans, 27% are age 65 and older, and 27% live in rural areas.

Today, Connected Nation joined and a host of technology companies (Intel Corporation, Fujitsu, Velocity Micro, Inc., and ZT Systems) to apply for broadband stimulus funding for Every Citizen Online(SM).

Every Citizen Online(SM) is a public-private partnership program designed to enable computer ownership and broadband use in low-income and unconnected homes. The program will help vulnerable populations overcome top barriers to adoption: broadband awareness and training, computer ownership, and subscription affordability. Joining together technology companies and local entities, the program will provide digital literacy and help unconnected consumers purchase a new broadband-enabled computer using an instant rebate, bundled with a year of discounted broadband service.

The program will leverage federal stimulus dollars to enable low income and other unconnected consumers to purchase his/her a choice of a broad range of personal computers at a deeply reduced price, receive discounted monthly broadband service and local community support.

The initial phase of the program will target 150,000 computers introduced to households.

For more information about Every Citizen Online(SM), visit www.connectednation.org.

Mapping in the Stimulus Plan

The New York Times recently wrote an article regarding the value of a nationwide broadband inventory as described in the federal stimulus plan. The article provides various points of view and justifications for the $350 million price tag currently allocated for a “nationwide inventory map of existing broadband service capability and availability in the United States.” Connected Nation and its many state-based affiliates have long been developing and updating similar broadband efforts and these maps are valuable vehicles for change among the state broadband landscape.

However, as Connected Nation’s experience has demonstrated and as Congress and the Obama administration have so aptly laid out in the new “broadband stimulus,” the broadband service inventory is only one component of the required efforts to ensure that everyone has access to broadband and is able to realize the value of getting connected. As laid out in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (and as funded by the $350 million for state grant programs) the broadband inventory must be complimented by:

Efforts to increase awareness of broadband availability, adoption and applications;
Statewide public-private partnership that is dedicated to full broadband deployment;
Community-level demand creation program that brings together local citizens to educate them and energize the opportunity of broadband; and
Computer distribution programs to put computers in the hands of low-income households.

Simply put, these broadband inventories outline where broadband is and where it is not. Understanding the landscape of the broadband environment as well as available connectivity options develops educated consumers and entices providers to build out. Coupled with serious and comprehensive demand side activities, these inventory maps become a critical tool in addressing the challenges to digital inclusion.

As prescribed in the stimulus and as included in Public Law 100-385 (the Broadband Data Improvement Act) Connected Nation works closely with the private sector throughout all efforts to successfully improve digital inclusion in our states and local communities. During map development, we work closely with telecom providers of all types and sizes to exchange detailed versions of their coverage data. Provider information is sometimes unavailable at the start of a process, it is rarely in any standard format and it always requires special considerations on the part of the aggregator so that a certain level of confidentiality is upheld for the most sensitive data.

This engagement with the private sector at all points in the process allows for more informed decision-making for companies and more effective policy making among the public sector. It is the essence of effective public-private partnership. We commend Congress and President Obama for taking the bold step to enable this type of partnership in each and every state. America will be better for it.

Connected Nation’s Summary of the Broadband Data Improvement Act

Connected Nation applauds the bipartisan support of federal legislation dedicated to ensuring that all Americans enjoy the benefits of a broadband connection.

Passed by unanimous consent in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, S. 1492 – the Broadband Data Improvement Act – is the culmination of almost two years of work by the Commerce Committees in both chambers. Congress working in a bi-partisan manner achieved consensus on a national broadband plan that includes as a cornerstone the Connected Nation model of public-private partnerships leveraging their combined power to improve the quality-of-life for all Americans.

In the Broadband Data Improvement Act, Congress agrees that broadband deployment and adoption results in enhanced economic development, enhanced public safety, healthcare and educational opportunities, and improves quality of life. The Congress also stipulates that continued progress in deployment and adoption are vital to America’s future, that better federal data on broadband will help this progress, and that the federal government should assist in state efforts to create public-private partnerships.

S. 1492 takes action to improve the knowledge of the federal government on the status of broadband in the U.S. through directives to the FCC, the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Comptroller General, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Through new collected information from consumers and broadband providers, and studies on broadband, these provisions will help inform federal activity on broadband policy in the years to come. In addition, statewide broadband availability maps must be compiled by the Department of Commerce into a national broadband map.

The Broadband Data Improvement Act also creates a new competitive grant program to spur the creation and support of state-based broadband initiatives. In order for states to access grant funds, they must work with a nonprofit to:

• Create a statewide broadband availability map
• Increase broadband availability by working with broadband providers and the public sector
• Increase broadband adoption using grassroots demand aggregation
• Conduct research to assess the barriers to technology use
• Create a Computers4Kids™-like program that puts computers into the hands of at risk children

Statement from Connected Nation’s CEO
"By passing this bill unanimously in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, every member of Congress has promoted the importance of broadband and the related technologies that are enabled when communities and families have the ability and desire to connect to a world of opportunity. We appreciate the U.S. Congress’ support and leadership on this matter, particularly of those many Members of Congress who directly sought the input of Connected Nation as they crafted this groundbreaking legislation. Congress has demonstrated an appreciation of the need to ensure that all people, regardless of their location or socio-economic status, have the ability to realize the promises of technology. Connected Nation is heartened by both the bipartisanship demonstrated in the passage of this crucial legislation and the wide coalition of groups and interests that joined together to ensure it was passed before Congress adjourns. For the United States, this new broadband policy will mean better education, more jobs, improved healthcare, more efficient government and a better quality of life accessible for all Americans, regardless of their location or socio-economic circumstances.”

-- Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Nation, Inc.

US Chamber Calls for Passage of S1492 Broadband Legislation

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, strongly supports S. 1492, the “Broadband Data Improvement Act,” which would authorize funding to states for public-private partnerships focused on identifying gaps in broadband coverage and on increasing the supply of and demand for broadband in these areas.

A February 2008 study released by Connected Nation, a national non-profit, estimated the total annual economic impact of accelerating broadband across the U.S. to be more than $134 billion.

The Chamber believes telecommunications is the central nervous system of the U.S. economy. In particular, broadband applications and services have the power to transform the American economy by spurring investment and innovation in sectors across the economy, including e-commerce, education, healthcare, communications, entertainment, and government. A broadband connection allows businesses, no matter how small or where they are located, to sell to customers everywhere.

Fostering public-private partnerships will spur broadband deployment and adoption across the United States. Therefore, the Chamber urges you to support S. 1492.

Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten

US Senate Commerce Committee Hearing “Why Broadband Matters”

Today, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing designed to take a step back, look at the larger picture, and examine the importance of broadband in the daily lives of Americans. Chairman Daniel Inouye (HI–D) captured it well in his opening remarks – “This is why our discussion today is not about pipes and providers. It is about people; our citizens stand to gain the most from universal broadband adoption.”

Representatives of the AARP, the American Library Association, the American Telemedicine Association and the head of an Alaskan health corporation (which relies on distance medicine to effectively treat 28,000 patients in a geographic area the size of Oregon) all hammered home the point that broadband services are critical to healthcare, employment, education and quality of life for everyone in the United States. They told the stories of Americans who directly benefit from broadband.

Rey Ramsey, head of the One Economy Corporation, stressed the importance of broadband policies that focus on aggregating demand for and adoption of broadband services, reiterating a point made often by Connected Nation - local applications that have value and use in day-to-day life drive demand for broadband services. One Economy “is a global nonprofit that leverages the power of technology and information to connect low-income people to the economic mainstream.”

Larry Cohen, the President of the Communications Workers of America, pointed to Connected Nation’s initiative, Connect Ohio, as an example of successful public-private partnerships that bring together the public and private sectors to overcome broadband availability gaps, increase broadband adoption (particularly in low-income and rural populations) and deliver measurable improvements to the American quality of life. Cohen also recommended, as did other witnesses, that the Senate pass S. 1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which would speed the creation of comprehensive broadband initiatives in the states.

The need for a comprehensive broadband initiative across the country is important to many Americans. Connected Nation joined a coalition of thirty-one associations, companies, and non-profits to send a letter to both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on July 11, 2008 calling for the completion of broadband mapping and demand aggregation legislation before the close of the 110th Congress (S. 1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act; H.R. 3919, the Broadband Census of America Act; or a combination of these two bills).

With time running out before Congress adjourns in advance of the November elections, the time for action is now – a point well made during today’s hearing.

(More information on today’s hearing can be found here: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=9e474249-4555-4df9-bee2-975ea1752d97 )

Discussion of HR 3919 in House Commerce Committee

Discussion of HR 3919 in House Commerce CommitteeDiscussion of HR 3919 in House Commerce Comittee. Buzed 0 1 views 0 comments. Click here to watch the video Tags:ConnectKentucky Connected Nation Broadband policy Computers for Kids No Child Left Offline.Buzly.com - Recently Added - http://www.buzly.com/

Wall Street Journal Profiles Kentucky’s Global Economic Development Leadership

Recently, the Wall Street Journal recognized Kentucky as one of the world’s seven outstanding economic development leaders, highlighting the efforts of ConnectKentucky to bring high speed Internet (broadband) benefits to every Kentuckian. Featured in the Journal’s Special Report on economic development, the article highlights the dramatic impact that technology growth has had on the lives of millions of Kentuckians as the cooperative effort has created an innovative environment for job growth, healthcare improvements, better education and improved quality of life. The story illustrates the all-inclusive nature of ConnectKentucky’s efforts through the story of local citizens and businesses who joined together to bring broadband and jobs to rural Pendleton County.

This article comes at a time when only half of Kentucky households take advantage of the broadband made available to them. We are reminded that the work of ConnectKentucky is not yet done… until every Kentuckian realizes the potential that exists with a broadband connection.

To read the entire Wall Street Journal article, click here.

The Wall Street Journal’s special economic development report included an editor’s note mentioning that the seven places and seven ideas were creative and successful strategies for growth. For more on the editor’s note, click here.

You can find more about ConnectKentucky at www.connectkentucky.org. To read the press release, click here.

Connected Nation Accelerates Broadband Opportunities in Rural California

Just a quick post to update on Connected Nation’s efforts in California. The CETF is doing good work and we’re glad to be partnering with them. Have a great weekend.

Today at the 2008 Rural Connection Workshop in Redding, Connected Nation and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) announced a partnership to support broadband acceleration efforts in California’s rural regions. The partnership intends to leverage Connected Nation’s successful experiences working jointly with community leaders and technology companies to implement efforts that ensure rural communities can seize the promise of broadband-enabled opportunities.

Kicking off the partnership efforts at CETF’s Rural Connection Workshop, Connected Nation presented details of its broadband acceleration model and discussed relevant best practices with participants. As identified in recent broadband mapping efforts, rural areas of California typically lag behind more densely populated areas in terms of broadband availability. Community leaders in those areas are working to ensure they too can access the economic and quality of life benefits that accompany access to the technology. Key to closing this gap is identifying and increasing the demand for broadband and implementing programs that improve technology literacy and use, Connected Nation leaders told those attending the workshop.