According to the FTTH Council…
A clear majority of the rural broadband stimulus projects funded thus far under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are using fiber to the home as the principal access technology, the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council said today.
In a new report summarizing all of the awards announced thus far under the recovery act’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that the 68 projects funded thus far will create 5,000 immediate and direct jobs and serve more than a half million rural households. The report is available for download here.
In its analysis, the FTTH Council noted that more than half of the 62 initiatives identified as “last-mile” projects in the BIP program will involve end-to-end fiber optic solutions, with the reminder divided over other access technologies including wireless, DSL and coaxial cable.
“Given that the goals of the recovery act include creating both new jobs and a robust network infrastructure that will serve these rural communities for many decades to come, it is no surprise that FTTH appears to be the access technology of choice for rural broadband,” said Joe Savage, President of the FTTH Council. “Studies have shown that using end-to-end fiber is the best way to create the maximum number of jobs while ‘future-proofing’ networks against ever-increasing demand for more bandwidth.”
Savage echoed the comments of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who in releasing the report noted that the BIP projects will also create new opportunities for rural prosperity, particularly by supporting improvements in education, public safety, medical diagnostic services, business development, and opportunities for farmers and agricultural producers.
“There are already more than 700 companies deploying fiber to the home networks in communities across the U.S., most of them in rural areas,” said Savage. “We feel FTTH has proven itself as the best technology for rural broadband, and we’re delighted that the decisions made thus far in awarding stimulus monies appear to be confirming that.”
by admin on June 11, 2010
Here’s the latest from the FTTH Council…
Hundreds of small independent telecoms, broadband service providers, municipalities and cable television companies have brought gigabit-enabled, all-fiber service to a total of more than 1.4 million North American homes – about a quarter of all fiber to the home connections on the continent – according to a report released today by the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council.
The study, conducted by RVA Market Research, found that all-fiber networks are now available to 16 percent of homes in North America, with 5.8 million homes now receiving television, high-speed internet and/or phone service over these networks.
While a large portion of the FTTH deployment thus far has been due to Verizon’s $23 billion dollar investment in overbuilding its wireline service in many areas, the report noted that fiber to the home is now being deployed by more than 750 service providers across North America, with most of those being small, independent telephone companies that are replacing their copper lines with end-to-end fiber in order to ensure their future competitiveness as broadband providers.
Further, the study found that more than 65 percent of small independent telephone companies that have not upgraded to FTTH said they would very likely do so in the future, with another 11 percent saying they were somewhat likely. More than 85 percent of those that have already deployed FTTH said they would be adding more direct fiber connections going forward.
Download the RVA LLC report.
by admin on April 14, 2010
Geoff Daily posited an interesting article on the troubles Hiawatha Broadband has been having applying for ARRA funding. Geoff described the problem succinctly…
The reason Hiawatha couldn’t reapply was due to an onerous rule in the BIP program through which RUS required all applicants to share the details of all their contracts with all their suppliers. The problem Hiawatha faced is that as a provider of TV service they have a number of contracts with content providers that have strict non-disclosure rules. So by asking them to reveal the details of those contracts, RUS was basically saying that to apply to the second round of the stimulus Hiawatha had to break the law and/or risk the future of their company.
Apparently this was brought up at on the of public RUS workshops and the URS minimized the consequences, saying others had applied to it must not be a problem. Well, apparently it was a problem big enough to eliminate Hiawatha as a contender for funding and to spur Hiawatha to send a letter of complaint to Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, copying several legislators.
by admin on April 8, 2010
Yesterday, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced 10 new ARRA broadband stimulus awards. The focus on these grants is to lay the groundwork to bring enhanced high-speed Internet access to thousands of households and businesses and link hundreds of schools, hospitals, libraries, and public safety offices to the information superhighway.
One Minnesota project was announced as was a project that includes Minnesota…
Minnesota – C.K. Blandin Foundation: $4.9 million sustainable broadband adoption grant with an additional $1.5 million applicant-provided match to launch the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities initiative, a multi-sector, comprehensive approach to sustainable broadband adoption targeting residents, small businesses, local governments, and critical services providers in each of Minnesota’s 80 rural counties. The project anticipates training as many as 2,500 individuals in computer literacy, online education, and workforce development, and plans to distribute 1,000 affordable refurbished computers. Funding will also support the development of institutional broadband applications for schools and healthcare facilities to help increase broadband adoption.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Texas – Mission Economic Development Agency: $3.7 million public computer center grant with an additional $2.5 million applicant-provided match to create 12 new public computer centers and expand five existing ones in Phoenix, Ariz.; Canoga Park, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Calif.; Del Norte, Colo.; Blackfoot, Idaho; Wheaton, Md.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Anthony, NM; Philadelphia, Pa.; and San Antonio and Laredo, Texas. Each center expects to operate on the project’s centrally managed network and provide computer training and adult education to a low broadband adoption, high unemployment target population through a standardized English-Spanish training curriculum.
by admin on March 26, 2010
Today the Minnesota Legislature passed the Minnesota Broadband Bill. Here are the highlights:
Universal access and high-speed goal. It is the goal of this state that, no later than 2015, all state residents and businesses have access to broadband that provides download speeds of no less than ten megabits per second and upload speeds of no less than five megabits per second.
State broadband leadership position. It is the goal of this state that by 2015, and continuing thereafter: (1) the proportion of Minnesota residents and businesses having access to broadband ranks among the five states in the United States and the 15 nations globally that have the highest proportion of that measure; and (2) Minnesota ranks among the five states in the United States with the highest broadband speed that is universally accessible to state residents and businesses.
Annual reports. By February 10, 2011, and each year thereafter, the commissioner of commerce shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees with primary jurisdiction over telecommunications policy measuring the progress made towards achieving the goals under subdivisions 1 and 2. The report must identify any barriers impeding the achievement of the goals, suggest strategies to overcome those barriers, and estimate the cost of implementing those strategies.
Advisory group. By July 1, 2010, the commissioner of commerce shall appoint and convene a broadband advisory group consisting of no more than 15 members representing suppliers and users of broadband goods and services. Members serve without compensation at the pleasure of the commissioner. The broadband advisory group shall meet at the call of the chair, and shall seek public input. The broadband advisory group shall advise the commissioner of commerce and the house of representatives and senate committees with primary jurisdiction over telecommunications policy regarding strategies to achieve the goals under subdivision 1. This subdivision expires June 30, 2015.
by admin on March 24, 2010
Here is Your Opportunity to Hear Directly from the FCC on the Newly-Released National Broadband Plan!
Key FCC Officials to be on Hand in Raleigh to Discuss the Plan and its Implications for Next Generation Broadband
March 24, 2010
Sheraton Raleigh Hotel
Raleigh, NC
Open to All! Learn more
Commission’s broadband team will be at the Fiber-to-the-Home Council’s workshop in Raleigh next week to discuss the newly-released National Broadband Plan (NBP) and its implications for next-generation broadband networks.
Open to anyone with an interest in broadband, the day-long program will include sessions devoted to the NBP, to other broadband policy issues, and to best practices and case studies on FTTH network deployment. Telecoms that have received USDA stimulus awards to build FTTH networks will also be on hand to discuss their experiences.
It’s going to be a great opportunity to hear about the National Broadband Plan from key staff members of the FCC’s Omnibus Broadband Initiative, to ask your questions, and to hear the reactions of FTTH members who are currently building the networks that will help achieve the plan’s goals of near-universal 100 megabit service.
Non-member registration is $195 and includes breakfast, lunch and networking reception.
by admin on March 18, 2010
Sharon Schmickle at MinnPost wrote a nice article this week highlighting the need for broadband leadership at a state level. She looked at the ARRA broadband grants and it seems as if Minnesota is not faring as well as some of the states that have state level leadership, such as Louisiana, Washington and Texas. Those states have received largest amounts of federal funding – and they each applied with regional applications. It seems like more than coincidence.
The good news is that the Minnesota Ultra High Speed Task Force has asked the state to create an entity to drive, measure and support broadband growth in the state. The bill is moving along the legislature and if passed it could set Minnesota up for the next federal opportunity.
by admin on March 17, 2010
The National Broadband Policy was unveiled today. It calls out five main goals and a 4-prong approach to reaching those goals.
Goal No. 1: At least 100 million U.S. homes should have affordable access to actual download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and actual upload speeds of at least 50 megabits per second.
Goal No. 2: The United States should lead the world in mobile innovation, with the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation.
Goal No. 3: Every American should have affordable access to robust broadband service, and the means and skills to subscribe if they so choose.
Goal No. 4: Every American community should have affordable access to at least 1 gigabit per second broadband service to anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals and government buildings.
Goal No. 5: To ensure the safety of the American people, every first responder should have access to a nationwide, wireless, interoperable broadband public safety network.
Goal No. 6: To ensure that America leads in the clean energy economy, every American should be able to use broadband to track and manage their real-time energy consumption
The FTTH Council issued the following statement in regards to the Plan…
The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council – a non-profit organization of 200 companies and other organizations dedicated to expanding the deployment of all-fiber, next-generation networks – issued this statement today by its president, Joe Savage, on the release of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan:
The FCC’s National Broadband Plan puts America firmly on track toward a strategy to achieve a 100 megabit nation – something the FTTH Council has long called for. We applaud the plan’s goal of near-universal connectivity of 100 megabits per second for downloading and at least 50 mbps for uploading.
America will need widely available, vastly higher broadband speeds within the next decade to ensure that our citizens and our businesses can compete in the global economy. Accordingly, we need a national strategy to expand next-generation, very high-bandwidth networks to every community in the country. The goal put forward by the FCC in the National Broadband Plan is an affirmative step in that direction.
The technology already exists to far exceed that goal. So does the willingness of many telecommunications providers to build the all-fiber networks that will get us there and beyond. Our hope for the National Broadband Plan is that it will set the stage for policies that will remove existing barriers and provide incentives for private investment, so that the deployment of this critical infrastructure can accelerate. This was the message we carried to the FCC throughout the process of developing this plan.
America’s FTTH providers, and the manufacturing and engineering companies that support them, have already shown that lightning-fast broadband can be delivered to any home in any community. Indeed, all-fiber networks are now available to more than 15 percent of American households, and nearly six million American homes are already connected. We are optimistic that this National Broadband Plan will be the blueprint for finishing the important task of extended very high-bandwidth networks to all.
by admin on March 16, 2010
Ramssey County moves one step closer with it’s ARRA broadband stimulus application last week when the St Paul City Council approved the Office of Technology and Communications to submit an ARRA NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant request.
Ramsey County is working with local Minnesota businesses on their application: UniTek Global Services and Minnesota Fiber Exchange. The plan is to connect government buildings and provide open access networks for ISPs to offer fiber services to area residents. (Learn more)
by admin on March 14, 2010
Minnesota Public Radio I American Public Media & the National Center for Media Engagement Hosts Free Google Broadband Initiative Educational Webinar
Wednesday, March 10, 2 p.m. ET I 1 p.m. CT
Please Attend For Education & Assistance with Community Applications for
Google’s Ultra-High-Speed Broadband Initiatives
WHERE: To register for the online event visit http://bit.ly/googleworkshop
WHEN: Wednesday, March 10
2 – 3:30 p.m. ET I 1 – 2:30 p.m. CT
On February 10 Google announced plans to build high-speed fiber-optic broadband networks in select communities across the U.S. later this year. The technology giant has invited communities to apply to be one of the first test locations for the project. In the test communities, Internet will run as fast as 1 gigabit per second. Currently most operate at less than 10 megabits per second. The deadline for applications is March 26, 2010.
Minnesota Public Radio | American Public Media, in partnership with the National Center for Media Engagement, will host an online workshop to educate and assist the communities we serve with their applications. MPR | APM will bring in national broadband experts: Joanne Hovis, president of Columbia Telecommunications Corporation, Marnie Webb, co-CEO of TechSoup Global, Allison Ahcan, director of communications for rural Minnesota’s Blandin Foundation, and Joaquin Alvarado, SVP of Digital Innovation for APM, to speak about the importance of broadband, the Google application process and tips for submitting a successful proposal. The webinar will be hosted by John Moe, American Public Media radio host and technology reporter.
This free online workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 10 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET (1 to 2:30 p.m. CT). To register for the event visit: http://bit.ly/googleworkshop. Following the live online workshop, discussions, material and audio will be available as a resource on thefutureofnews.org.
To learn more about how to activate, engage and nominate your community please attend the March 10 online workshop. Register here. http://bit.ly/googleworkshop
by admin on March 9, 2010
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