Marking an Anniversary

By Tom Koutsky, Chief Policy Counsel, Connected Nation

Today is the first anniversary of the National Broadband Plan, and already we’re seeing debate about whether the Federal Communications Commission is “on track” or “behind” in implementing the Plan. At one level, it is somewhat refreshing for the FCC, an agency whose decision-making process often used to bear a striking resemblance to a black box, to chart its progress and list its agenda.

But that discussion misses the fundamental message of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan was to set an agenda, point a direction, and change the way that government -- at all levels -- approached broadband. After all, it is a National Broadband Plan, not an FCC Broadband Plan.

Broadband technology is truly transformative to society, and we're seeing that power most vividly this year in Tunisia, Egypt, Japan, and beyond. Yet at this moment, American society is not fully utilizing the opportunities of broadband technology. Entire industries like education and healthcare lag the rest of the economy in terms of broadband use, and one-third of Americans risk falling even further behind in terms of opportunity by not adopting broadband.

Closing the digital literacy, adoption, utilization, and availability gaps will require government and the private sector to work together and make transformative changes. And this is why judging the Plan’s success by some checklist of what the FCC has done in one year is short-sighted. Because when you step outside the FCC, it is easy to see the Plan’s results.

For example:

• even in tough economic times, the government of Puerto Rico is now funding public computing centers so its citizens can acquire digital skills and use the Internet;
• dozens of school districts have established wireless networks that allow students to take school-supplied laptops home to do homework, allowing teachers to make broadband-based assignments without worrying about which students had access at home;
• hundreds of libraries and community centers are opening their doors to Connect Ohio's Every Citizen Online digital literacy training program, showing that community anchor institutions can play a lead role in changing the digital future of their communities;
• states like Iowa, Nevada, and Alaska have established broadband task forces, public-private partnerships with the charge of reorienting state and local efforts directed at increasing broadband use and adoption.

And that list only scratches the surface and does not even consider the steps that other federal and state agencies -- from Smart Grid deployments to broadband data collection initiatives -- are taking in response to the Plan’s recommendations.

These programs will expand dramatically over the next three years. If that momentum continues, and if policy follows course by facilitating and prompting such initiatives, the Plan will be a success --regardless of what the boxes on a checklist say.

Connected Nation Applauds FCC’s Proposal to Direct Broadband Funds Using National Broadband Map

Washington, DC – The following is a statement from Connected Nation in response to today’s USF reform proposal by the FCC to use the national broadband map to determine unserved areas eligible for USF funds.

“The FCC's proposal to distribute broadband support subsidies to unserved areas identified on the national broadband map is a landmark development that will help bring broadband to all Americans.

Connected Nation has been working with states and the NTIA to make the national broadband map a comprehensive, accurate, and transparent tool for policymakers and the public. We look forward to working with the FCC, NTIA, and our states to maintain a high standard of excellence in developing and cultivating this unprecedented data resource.”

Download statement

Connected Nation Interviewed About Contribution to the National Broadband Mapping Effort

Directions Magazine recently interviewed Connected Nation’s Ashley Littell, manager of GIS services, along with Anne Neville, the state broadband data and development program director for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The interview focused on Connected Nation’s contribution to the national broadband mapping effort.

Read the interview here.

Connected Nation Touted, Testifies on Capitol Hill

Connected Nation’s efforts to expand broadband adoption and access were touted today in a Congressional hearing addressing the issue on Capitol Hill.

In testimony before a Congressional subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet Thursday, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R, OH-5), lauded the work of Connected Nation and its Connect Ohio initiative, specifically the research on broadband adoption in the state and commitment to public-private partnerships. “Connected Nation has been a key component at raising awareness (in the state),” Latta said in his opening remarks.

Connected Nation Chief Policy Officer Laura Taylor also provided testimony during the hearing, the fourth in a series the subcommittee has held to discuss the recent National Broadband Plan, explaining how Connected Nation’s efforts have helped bridge the digital divide across much of the nation.

U.S. Rep. Zack Space (D, OH-18) applauded Connected Nation’s “great work” done in overcoming the first hurdle to broadband expansion – mapping, calling Connected Nation “one of the nation’s leaders” in broadband mapping.

Taylor testified about how Connected Tennessee’s efforts have helped increase broadband adoption among minorities, who have historically lagged Caucasians in Internet use, to the point that they have now surpassed Caucasians, with 84% of minority adults in Tennessee reporting that they use the Internet.

“That says it all - that your nonprofit organization is doing that,” said U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R, FL-6) of Connected Nation’s success in reaching underserved communities.

For more on the hearing, see Laura Taylor’s full testimony.

Two Connected Nation State-Based Initiatives Receive National Recognition on Capitol Hill

Listen: Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. on ConnectKentucky
Listen: Rep. Zachary T. Space, D-Ohio on Connect Ohio

As discussion of the National Broadband Plan moves forward, Connected Nation’s state-level work continues to garner attention on the national level.

In a hearing of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet held on Wednesday on Capitol Hill, two subcommittee members pointed to the work of Connected Nation in Kentucky and Ohio as successful models of broadband adoption and deployment programs in the United States.

The hearing examined assessments in the National Broadband Plan of the availability of broadband and how most effectively to deploy broadband to areas that are unserved and underserved, so all Americans can benefit from good-quality broadband services.

Representative Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., addressed questions about the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which was passed in 2008. Markey said that Congress modeled the BDIA after Connected Nation’s ConnectKentucky program, which began in 2004. The key components of the ConnectKentucky model include grassroots-level demand stimulation, community-based technology assessment teams, and the creation of public-private partnerships.

In addition to the mention of ConnectKentucky’s model, Connect Ohio, another state-based Connected Nation program, received praise during the hearing. Representative Zachary T. Space, D-Ohio, said he had a lot of faith in the work being done at Connect Ohio and had a map of Ohio’s broadband coverage as proof.

Connect Ohio began in 2007 to help expand access to and use of broadband in Ohio. According to Connect Ohio’s June 2009 Technology Assessment, 95 percent of Ohio households have available broadband service. This figure is up from 92 percent the previous year.

To listen to the full hearing, download or stream the audio here.

Connecting America: FCC Releases National Broadband Plan

Today, the Federal Communications Commission sent its National Broadband Plan to Congress. The 376-page document outlines a national broadband imperative to get America connected, including goals to ensure every American has affordable access and a 90 percent adoption rate by 2020.

Over the past year, Connected Nation has offered rich data and insights in support of the FCC’s effort to develop an informed national broadband policy. Connected Nation’s comments are based on nearly 10 years of experience working with hundreds of communities in 30 states and territories to address the challenges of expanding broadband to all citizens, particularly those who are currently unconnected. These filings are accessible on Connected Nation’s FCC filings webpage.

Read the National Broadband Plan here: www.broadband.gov/plan/

Download Connected Nation’s NBP Summary Filing

Tell us what you think about the plan

Follow the conversation on Twitter - #bbplan

Connected Nation Applauds FCC Recommendations for Broadband Adoption

Members of the FCC's Omnibus Broadband Initiative including, (L to R) Blair Levin, Executive Director; Brian David, Program Director; and Elise Kohn, Adoption Director address questions during Tuesday’s Digital Inclusion Summit.

Connected Nation welcomes the FCC’s agenda for driving broadband adoption, particularly among certain vulnerable demographics such as the elderly, low-income Americans, adults with disabilities, minority citizens, and those residing in rural areas. We know broadband has the power to transform lives, yet millions of Americans remain unconnected. Today’s Digital Inclusion Summit marks an important step leading up to the release of the National Broadband Plan – to call attention to this imperative for our nation’s prosperity.

The Federal Communications Commission identified, in the 2009 Broadband Service Capability Survey, a significant factor in the digital inclusion equation – that non-adopters face multiple barriers to adoption. Cost relief works effectively for many non-adopters, but only when accompanied by training programs to bolster their digital skills and information about content that is relevant to their lives.

Connected Nation has proactively addressed this need by designing programs to help vulnerable populations overcome top barriers to adoption – broadband awareness and training, computer ownership, and subscription affordability.

The FCC underscores the importance of public-private partnerships to increase broadband use at the local level. We strongly agree. Through public-private partnerships, Connected Nation has completed eight comprehensive statewide broadband maps and launched development of 13 more, while donating over 6,000 computers to schools, libraries, and community centers and formed local technology teams in more than 300 counties.

"The Federal government can’t do this alone. We need to work in partnership with nonprofits and private industry," HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said during Tuesday’s Digital Inclusion Summit.

During today’s Digital Inclusion Summit, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan stressed the importance of dedicating resources to helping equip low-income communities with technology.

“You and I both know the barriers that face low income households – from the cost of buying computers to how much it costs for monthly internet service. Federally-assisted housing offers a platform to reduce these barriers through local outreach and training that educates people on specific ways that technology can improve their lives, and on how to use it. Through digital literacy training to get people comfortable with technology. And through workforce development and financial literacy training so that they can get the most out of it,” Donovan said during the summit. “The Federal government can’t do this alone. We need to work in partnership with nonprofits and private industry.”

Connected Nation, through its ConnectKentucky program, will soon establish such a project. In April, ConnectKentucky will use a Kentucky Housing Corp. grant to provide low-income residents with computers and training in the redeveloped Equestrian View neighborhood of Lexington’s East End. Lexmark is donating printers.

By establishing such a program, Equestrian View residents will be provided with the opportunity to explore the world outside of their immediate community. The benefits — from educational to economical — are tremendous and we are encouraged the FCC’s national broadband plan addresses the importance of these programs.

“We applaud the FCC’s efforts to positively impact the digital inclusion imperative in the National Broadband Plan and we will continue to collaborate with members of the nonprofit sector and the ICT industry to reduce the barriers to broadband adoption. We proudly join our partners on a letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski expressing our support for the broadband adoption recommendations proposed today,” said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation’s chief executive officer.

UPDATE: NextGenWeb to live stream FCC Field Hearing Featuring Connected Nation State-level Digital Inclusion Work

At 7 p.m. Eastern, NextGenWeb will live stream the Federal Communications Commission’s Field Hearing in Memphis. The digital inclusion work of Connected Tennessee, a Connected Nation state-level initiative, will be highlighted during the event.

Connected Tennessee’s executive director Michael Ramage will speak at one of a series of FCC’s public hearings promoting an open discussion between the commission and the public on the development of a national broadband plan.

View the live feed here.

In addition, Connected Nation has submitted a number of comments to the FCC, adding its voice to the public discussion. The filings cover a variety of topics including education, healthcare, economic opportunity and broadband adoption.

To view the filings, click here.

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.

With an Eye to America's Future Economic Prosperity Congress Unanimously Passes Historic Broadband Legislation

Today, S1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act, passed the Senate unanimously after moving through the House yesterday in the same fashion – and is now on its way to the President’s desk. As such, 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.

Whenever a broad coalition has invested greatly in successfully promoting policy that is of personal importance and relevance we are easily given to lofty praise and accolades of the highest kind. Today, that inclination is only fueled, not dampened, by the current economic crisis facing the United States.

One of the hallmarks of American fortitude is that even in the face of divisive debate our nation’s leaders are capable of working together to promote and enable a vision for a better tomorrow.

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.

Connected Nation has been but only a part of ensuring that Congress would take such a bold step to ensuring the strength of America’s leadership in a global and intensely connected economy.

To the numerous individuals and organizations who have invested so much time and energy into the process of shaping and promoting a national broadband policy we offer heartfelt gratitude. Moreover, to the Members of Congress, particularly the sponsors and the members of the committees of jurisdiction and their staff who have invested so much as well, we are indeed appreciative and humbled by your service to the country. Connected Nation will work doggedly to make certain that the return is high on this investment in progress.

Now is the time to put our shoulder into the work before us. We look forward to continuing this effort with such an esteemed and broad coalition as together we engage with communities across the nation to ensure that all of our citizens are able to access the promise of innovation and ingenuity - the promise of the American dream.

Thank You.
Brian Mefford

Need for Broadband Transcends Cities, Towns, and Communities

Mark McElroy's post on NextGenWeb today is below and at http://www.nextgenweb.org/news-and-blog-clips/the-need-for-broadband-transcends-cities-towns-and-communities

Access to broadband, and furthermore use of broadband, is imperative for U.S. citizens to maintain their competitive edge in an increasingly global economy. Broadband allows educational, employment and healthcare opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach for many. At Connected Nation, our goal is ubiquitous broadband availability and a radical increase in household and business broadband adoption, and we realize that collecting accurate data and mapping out broadband penetration is an important first step. There is good news on this front as the Congress is poised to give final approval to S.1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act.

At Connected Nation, I have personally seen communities go to great lengths to gain access to broadband. I have pictures of telecom workers using mules to run fiber in hilly rural Kentucky. I have pictures of entire towns turning out to receive their broadband matching grants. I have met Valerie Davis. Valerie has multiple sclerosis, but with broadband she can work from home, and care for her children, and maintain a sense of normalcy that before broadband was unattainable.

These stories and thousands of others show that the need for broadband transcends cities, towns, and communities. It’s not just urban areas who want and need broadband. Urban and rural areas, alike, have much to benefit and gain from broadband deployment and use. We have seen in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio that public-private partnerships can help us reach our collective goal of a connected nation, but I cannot stress enough the need for effective broadband mapping policies and the critical role of public/private partnerships. S. 1492 is a positive step forward in the right direction.

Based on what we have seen that has proven effective, four principles are necessary to create an effective broadband mapping policy. First, it must be relevant to consumers - consumers need to be able to see that they can indeed get broadband at their address. Second, it must be relevant to providers - we need to be able to demonstrate where and why providers should extend and improve their networks. Third, we need to make it relevant to policy makers - we must assure policy makers that there is suitable infrastructure throughout the country and help pinpoint rural and other areas where public resources may be necessary. Fourth, we need to incorporate digital literacy – understanding that access to broadband’s opportunities hinges not only on connectivity, but understanding how to use that foundation to lead a higher quality of life. Mapping policies that serve the needs of consumers, the public sector, the private sector, and communities, can make national broadband deployment a reality.

Connected Nation Praises the Congress for Acting on Broadband Legislation, Urges the Senate to Act Swiftly to Finalize S 1492

As Congress has worked on several pieces of “must-pass” legislation over the last several days, the Senate and House have worked to finalize a broadband bill that will provide funding for statewide initiatives that will accelerate broadband and produce a positive financial impact that Connected Nation has estimated to be $134 billion annually across the nation.

Last week the U.S. Senate passed S. 1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act. The text of S. 1965, a bill intended to protect children from cybercrime, was also included in the Senate passed version of S. 1492.

Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 1492 with a technical correction that requires the Senate to pass the new amended version. The technical correction, which pertained to the portion of the bill containing S. 1965, did not impact the Broadband Data Improvement Act’s provisions, and we are hopeful the Senate will act swiftly to pass S. 1492 and send it to the White House for the President’s signature.

A broad coalition comprised of all sectors of the telecommunications community including labor, industry, numerous interest groups and Connected Nation has worked cohesively to press the importance of this bill and the need to finalize it before Congress adjourns this year. The Broadband Data Improvement Act recognizes the value and need for public-private partnerships in a national broadband strategy, as well as the need to focus on both the supply of and demand for high-speed Internet at the community level. Passage of S1492 will create a national broadband map and will spur the creation of statewide broadband initiatives in all 50 states.