Posts Tagged ‘Rural Broadband’

Rural Communities Thrive with Internet Speed

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

When rural communities are connected to the rest of the world via high speed Internet, the community benefits, but so does the country. Speed Matters.org explains that because high speed Internet breaks down the barriers of distance and time, it allows residents of rural areas to participate in economic and civic life far beyond their geographic region. Communications made possible by broadband technology eliminates the logistical constraints of regionally-based business models, allowing businesses in isolated areas to compete with their big-city counterparts.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project has found that rural residents are much less likely to subscribe to broadband than their urban counterparts. Another study by Connected Nation found that 19% of rural residents say they don’t subscribe to broadband because it’s not available in their area.

Many residents aren’t aware of the enormous benefits of high speed Internet, which is why nearly half of rural residents without a home broadband connection say they don’t need it. 22 percent of rural residents say they don’t subscribe to broadband because it’s too expensive. Infrastructure investment in sparsely populated rural areas is often seen as unsustainable by telecommunications companies.

Here are some more benefits:
• Broadband brings the opportunity for direct access to education and health care for rural residents who are otherwise forced to travel long distances for college courses and medical treatment.
• Rural libraries with high speed Internet often experience a resurgence of community interest and participation.
• High speed Internet provides rural residents access to global information and cultural resources.
• Farmers gain real-time access to vital information such as crop prices or weather forecasts, and marketing opportunities through high-speed networks.

So support rural broadband initiatives and help build a better America with Internet speed!

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The Federal Broadband Stimulus Package

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

The internet scene for rural residents of the US is about to change. President Barack Obama has signed the Federal Broadband Stimulus Package in February this year. The package has allocated about $7 billion to improve the broadband connectivity of the rural areas, particularly the ones which are underserved.

This is great news for the rural residents as they can expect a giant leap in their internet connection speed. The package will predominantly focus on improving the rural broadband infrastructure, the public computing centers as well as data collection and mapping. Although dial-up connection is available in many rural homes in the US, it cannot offer the kind of fast connection speed that broadband can.

Regarding data collection, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has already commenced with data collection and online surveys to determine which pockets in the US are particularly underserved. Commenting on the purpose of the survey, PSC spokesperson Teresa Smith said, “We might have 6 pockets, we might have 25 pockets. That’s the point of all of this”. As soon as the underserved areas are identified, efforts will be underway to ensure that those areas have access to broadband with fast connection speed.

Surprisingly, only 40% of the rural homes in the US have access to fast internet connection speed. This stimulus package aims to expand the rural broadband connectivity. A faster internet connection will also result in higher business productivity and more job opportunities. In fact, this stimulus is expected to create an additional 128,000 jobs for US citizens in the next four years.

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Broadband on Tribal Lands

Monday, March 30th, 2009

As reported by Speed Matters.org , the second NTIA broadband roundtable in Las Vegas, the discussion revolved around reaching vulnerable populations, selection criteria and definitions of “broadband”, “underserved” and “unserved”.

Broadband Census.com reports that panelists used Nevada as a case study for the digital divide, as Jeff Sandstrom of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development pointed out that the majority of rural Nevada doesn’t have access to broadband Internet. Finding ways to extend broadband would play a major role in Nevada’s “economic revolution,” Sandstrom said, particularly with the state’s focus on solar and geothermal power. Additionally, Nevada’s wildlife, agriculture, e-learning, telemedicine and business communities would benefit from better broadband, he said.

Then, representing the National Tribal Telecommunication Association, Karen Twenhafel of Telecom Consulting Service said that eight American tribes already have their own telephone companies and continue to pursue “self-provision of communication services.” Others among the Indian tribal lands – at least 29 percent, she said – still do not have access to broadband technology. “For 4.3 million Americans, this type of participation is simply not available.”

Valerie Fast Horse, council member and director of information technology for the Coeur d’Alene tribe, continued with panel’s concern for broadband for tribal communities. “The communications of this nation is only as strong as its weakest link.”

She said that tribal and rural areas had been left behind in communication development. What is needed now, she said, is infrastructure “with a long shelf-life” – referring to fiber-optic technology appropriate for delivering high speed internet into rural communities.

“True communication development cannot happen if we only focus on capitalizing infrastructure and equipment, while ignoring our human spirit,” she said.

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The Feds and National Broadband

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

The Feds are getting up to internet speed with the National Broadband project!  Last week the two agencies work together in this arena, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) both began the process of getting the public’s input. That’s democracy in action.

The FCC released the agenda for their April 8th meeting, in which the National Broadband Plan topped their list.  As Ars Technica reported:  Interim FCC Chair Michael Copps said “This will be a truly inclusive process…‘all’ must mean everyone.”

The NTIA held the first of six broadband stimulus roundtables at the Department of Commerce building in Washington, DC. to get the public’s help on their homework–writing rules to implement the Broadband Technology Oppportunities grant program.

The NTIA’s website explains the basics. Here’s the breakdown:

  • The U.S. Congress has appropriated $4.7 billion to establish a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) for awards to eligible entities to develop and expand broadband services to rural and underserved areas and improve access to broadband by public safety agencies.
  • Of these funds, $250 million will be available for innovative programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services;
  • at least $200 million will be available to upgrade technology and capacity at public computing centers, including community colleges and public libraries;
  • $10 million will be a transfer to the Office of Inspector General for the purposes of BTOP audits and oversight.
    • Up to $350 million of the BTOP funding is designated for the development and maintenance of statewide broadband inventory maps.

Let’s see, that adds up to $810 million. What happens to the rest?  We’re sure it’ll go with internet speed!

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Why Rural Broadband?

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Right now, broadband and high-speed internet are only available where the infrastructure is there to support them.  But for those living outside of urban areas, they may be left with only the super-slow-motion of dial-up, or options that only the wealthier can afford. These are people who are being left behind, unable to benefit from the telecommunications and information revolution. This creates a digital divide.

According to SpeedMatters.org, “The digital divide leaves a large slice of our citizens without high speed Internet access, and some without Internet access at all. Those who ‘go without’ are left out of the potential advantages of high speed Internet access in areas as diverse as education and health, to civic participation and staying up on the news.”

Recently though, the New York Times reported that one company said they were working with rural electric cooperatives to offer high-speed Internet service, delivered over power lines. The technology has been around for several years, but hasn’t typically been able to offer enough capacity at a low enough price to beat service from cable and phone.

They began deploying Internet service last year with one rural cooperative in Alabama, and this week announced an expansion to include five more cooperatives in Alabama, Indiana, Virginia and Michigan, where 5,000 customers signed up in the first two weeks.

Wireless service is another option for rural areas, but delivery over power lines can overcome hilly terrain or other obstacles that block wireless signals.

The company charges $29.95 a month for service at 256 kilobits per second and $49.95 for 1 megabit per second. Those are far slower speeds than cable and phone companies offer at those prices generally 1 to 3 Mbps, but if those options aren’t available, it’s still much better than dial-up speeds at a maximum of 56 kilobits per second. Clock your internet speed now to see what kind of access you’re enjoying.

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