Gigabit Nation

The telehealth wave is making its mark in rural communities as well. When you live two and three hours away from the nearest doctor or healthcare facility, telehealth can be a godsend. Matt Larsen, owner of 20-year-old Wireless ISP (WISP) Vistabeam in Nebraska, says you can't just lay down some fiber and routers, and call this a broadband success. You need leading-edge applications as well. Rural areas often lack the human and tech resources necessary for broadband to thrive. So Vistabeam is designing Community Empowerment Centers to offer communities: private Telehealth Consultation rooms;full-time Digital Navigators and reception area;digital skills and telehealth training; andInventory Rooms with shared computing devices and equipment. Socia and Larsen will give our Gigabit Nation audience tips and recommendations you can use right away.

[Here are the complete interviews of Deb and Matt that were interrupted by a system crash] Two long-time broadband experts explain how to boost broadband adoption in their communities by integrating telehealth in their digital strategy. These are early pioneers of broadband-telehealth integration. first the trash is Chattanooga. This city was the first to have border-to-border gigabit service available to everyone. Now they're setting the pace with telehealth. 1,000 free telehealth appointments are coming to one of the lowest income communities in Chattanooga, TN, plus home Internet access, new Chromebooks, and training. President and CEO Deb Socia of The Enterprise Center discusses the city's digital intervention that will help residents who are susceptible to high incidences of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. Chattanooga's public gigabit network plays a key role in the telehealth delivery.

[It's a bummer when technology let you down. The BlogTalkradia system froze mis-taping. We'll alert you when the company fixes the problem. Meanwhile, enjoyed 20 minutes of a great interview.] Two long-time broadband experts explain how to boost broadband adoption in their communities by integrating telehealth in their digital strategy. These are early pioneers of broadband-telehealth integration. 1,000 free telehealth appointments are coming to one of the lowest income communities in Chattanooga, TN, plus home Internet access, new Chromebooks, and training. President and CEO Deb Socia of The Enterprise Center discusses the city's digital intervention that will help residents who are susceptible to high incidences of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. Chattanooga's public gigabit network plays a key role in the telehealth delivery. Matt Larsen, owner of 20-year-old Wireless ISP (WISP) Vistabeam in Nebraska, says you can't just lay down some fiber and routers, and call this a broadband success. Rural areas often lack the human and tech resources necessary for broadband to thrive. So Vistabeam is designing Community Empowerment Centers to offer communities: private Telehealth Consultation rooms;full-time Digital Navigators and reception area;digital skills and telehealth training; andInventory Rooms with shared computing devices and equipment. Socia and Larsen will give our Gigabit Nation audience tips and recommendations you can use right away.

Get more impact from your communities broadband planning, listen to tips for increasing Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP) adoption, and meet winners who are making a difference in their digital communities. Two digital justice warriors share with Gigabit Nation secrets of their success at getting residents connected to broadband, digital inclusion, and telehealth. Rebecca F. Kauma is Digital Equity & Inclusion Officer for the City of Long Beach, CA. She is having great success making sure that everyone has a voice in the needs assessments and planning activities. Elizabeth Ramirez is the Community Digital Navigator for ACP in Waukegan, IL. In the last 60 days she engaged 230 households. 33% completing enrollment, while another 34% are approved for ACP and choosing their ISP. Kauma uses a “collective impact approach” in which her team goes deep inside of communities, engages groups within communities, and once everyone is convened, Kauma ensures everyone has an equal voice. Ramirez and ConnectWaukegan do extensive data analysis of their outreach efforts, who they connect with, and measure time and money saved.  

Today's Gigabit Nation questions broadband marketing tactics, leading up to the question, “What does it mean to use telehealth as a marketing tool?” It's starting to dawn on people hold that broadband and telehealth are quite symbiotic technologies. Telehealth will drive broadband adoption while broadband networks offer telehealth a great marketing vehicle. Of course, communities have to look at marketing different before you can start changing the way they market. Today's digital warrior is: Kim McKinley is the Chief Marketing Officer. Day-to-day, Kim actively leads UTOPIA's marketing, sales, order fulfillment, and customer service teams. In addition to being one of the industry's most recognizable leaders, she serves as co-Chair of the Public Officials Committee of the Fiber Broadband Association in Washington, D.C.    

Today's Gigabit Nation helps you build winning partnerships for the long-haul.  Whether it's a wireless infrastructure covering miles or digital inclusion projects involving anchors institutions, communities are best served by suppliers who view the relationship has a partnership not a “get it and go” transaction. What question has you stumped? How do you find partnerships that are right for your community? Ask the right questions from the beginning. How do you know if it's time to “cut bait” and move on? Understand why a pilot project can be the best thing for communities and suppliers.  Are digital warriors for today are: JJ McGrath is CEO (“Chief Everything Officer”) of TekWav, a wireless ISP (WISP). He has has more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology. TexWav has deep roots in the community and operates under the philosophy of, offer the quality of a larger company and deliver personalized service and support of a locally-owned business. Diane Connery is Director of the Pottsboro Public Library and who's motto is, “Opportunity Out of Adversity.” Connery raised grant money to build one of the first library telehealth centers. She and the community started a community garden, got cargo bicycles so patrons could get to the grocery store and started 100 individual garden beds. -------------------- Get info about telehealth deployservices that help save lives, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of public health.

Gigabit Nation today explores how broadband can impact the Black Rural South. 38% of African Americans in this area lack broadband because the barriers to the technology are significant and deserve attention. Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies' recent report lays out opportunities and policy changes that can turned around these residents' broadband situation. And as billions flow, urban communities should scope out the tech that drives healthcare delivery! Particularly exciting are telehealth,Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home automation platforms. These technologies can make a difference for the 14 million homes that lack Internet access and digital tools, 75% of which are African Americans and people of color. Today's digital equity warriors are: Dominique Harrison, PhD, the Director of Technology Policy at the Joint Center's Technology Policy Program. She recently published “Affordability & Availability: Expanding Broadband In the Black Rural South”. Dr. Harrison details how broadband can increase economic, educational, and healthcare opportunities in these 152 rural counties with populations that are at least 35 percent Black. Brigitte Daniel CEO of Wilco Electronic Systems, had a family emergency and wasn't able to participate in today's interview . We are re-scheduling her for an interview in maybe 2-3 weeks.  -------------------- Get info about telehealth deployservices that help save lives, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of public health.

Today's episode salutes those communities that have taken the reins of their broadband or digital inclusion efforts! When leading local pols are disinterested or the state or federal governments are too restrictive, that's when unofficial leaders rise up and lead successful projects. Here's how you do it. And you don't have to be Dr. “Bones” McCoy to launch winning telehealth in support of public effort either, but you do have to be good at developing partnerships that include competent healthcare talent. Libraries, barbershops, churches or other community organizations can lay the ground work for teams. Telehealth means more than just video chats with doctors. Today's digital equity warriors are: Peter Caplan is Managing Consultant at the eHealth Systems & Solutions firm where he designs and manages telemedicine projects as well as conduct health IT and sustainable business planning for hospitals and physician group practices. Created a comprehensive telemedicine master plan for the Department of Internal Medicine at Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY A quarter of Detroit residents has no Internet through home computers, laptops or mobile devices. Joshua Edmonds is the City's Director of Digital Inclusion and creator of Connect 313 – the city's sustainable digital inclusion strategy to bridge the digital divide. Forbes, the FCC, Next Century Cities, and Government Technology have recognized Edmonds for his contributions. -------------------- Get info about telehealth deployservices that help save lives, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of public health.  

The pandemic displayed for us the genius of telehealth - but also its Achilles' Heel. As millions of workers, students, and others went into lockdown, people everywhere from the comfort of their homes were able to see doctors. But over 14 million urban and 4 million rural homes have ZERO broadband and are left out of this digital miracle. The episode of Gigabit Nation explores strategies to ensure that these billions of dollars the federal government plans to spend on broadband are used smartly, equitably, and with better accountability. We'll talk broadband planning, needs assessment, and accountability. And talk about genius, nothing says "pulse of a community" like laundromats! It's a block party, gossip fest, kids' playground and now, telehealth. Local libraries and volunteer groups are turning laundromats across the country into centers of learning and engagement. Today's digital equity warriors are: Drew Clark's day job is telecom attorney at the CommLaw Group. But his a long-standing rep in the broadband world is: Editor and Publisher of Broadband Breakfast, a digital newsletter and a weekly Webinar. His on-point analysis is bringing us through this unprecedented government funding of broadband and digital technologies Katherine Trujillo is Director of Education and Deputy Director of Libraries without Borders, a nonprofit that develops unique library services into low-income communities. She creates pop-up library and digital literacy programs internationally. In the U.S., Ms Trujillo oversees the Wash & Learn program in laundromats. She served on the White House Domestic Policy Council. ----------------------- Get info about telehealth deployment services that help save lives, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of public health.  

Another $10 billion from the Treasury Department for broadband! But will urban broadband flourish as a result? It depends. Lobbying forces tend to swing to rural, so city leaders must insist on urban equity in government's broadband funding, and community stakeholders must keep local and state politicians' feet to the fire. This Gigabit Nation session explores ways to bring accountability into the broadband buildout processes. The 800-pound gorilla in the room is accountability in rural broadband funding. For nearly a decade $5 billion a year has been spent on rural broadband, but where's the beef!? More importantly, what can communities do to bring accountability for all of these billion of dollars in both rural and urban areas? Today's digital equity warriors are: Lori Sherwood is Director of Commercial & Market Development at Render Networks, and her managerial experience covers the both the client and the vendor side. Besides managing and facilitating broadband deployments, Ms Sherwood has also worked for county government as a broadband program director and cable administrator.         Dr. Christopher Ali is an Associate Professor in Department of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. Ali's latest book, Farm Fresh Broadband: The politics of rural connectivity, examines the complicated rural broadband policies in the U. S., and analyzes the politics surrounding these policies. -------------------- Get info about telehealth deployservices that help save lives, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of public health.

NTIA's $285-million CMC pilot program provides grants to eligible Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and minority serving institutions (MSIs). NTIA is funding not only broadband for anchor institutions but digital programs that drive adoption (some agencies mostly fund network infrastructure). NTIA also is encouraging pilots to create 15-mile broadband umbrella around the institutions. Nationwide, broadband and telehealth deployments are only as good as the maps that guide them. LightBox create maps by combining granular location data with information from 2 billion Wi-Fi access points. Communities get a more detailed, accurate picture of broadband connectivity. Today's digital equity warriors are: A graduate of HBCU undergrad and law schools, Scott Woods currently leads the Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program, and serves as a principal liaison between the CMC and BroadbandUSA program. Mr. Wood's career of government service includes a 4-year stint at the US Department of Justice. At LightBox, Bill Price is responsible for providing government organizations with consulting services, valuable information, and data to plan and implement broadband programs. As a senior strategy analyst at the Georgia Technology Authority, Price was the lead architect and manager of the state's broadband plan and mapping.  ---------------- Get info about telehealth services that help save lives, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of public health.

$65 billion for broadband! Mission accomplished? Not hardly! You can't just throw money over the fence and declare victory over digital inequity. This session explores ways to make broadband legislation more effective for everyone, how to beat down anti-muni bills, and tactics for increasing community support. And should we expect even more federal money? Also, pay attention to essential infrastructure that comprises telehealth deployment. Telehealth kiosks are going to be critical when in come to deploying public health deep into communities, such as in libraries, K-12 schools, churches, public housing, even maybe laundromats. Today's digital equity warriors are: Christopher Mitchell, a leading national expert on community networks and Internet access, is the Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). His MuniNetworks.org is a clearinghouse local government policies to improve Internet acces, and his interactive map tracks 600 community networks. Andrew Flynn is General Manager of TalkBox Booth, a leading privacy pod enclosures for business and home use. His team in the last year created a HIPPA-compliant telehealth kiosk to ensure privacy and comfort by those receiving healthcare and telehealth various of settings, including libraries, medical centers and other institutions.   ------------------   Call if you want services to help your community save lives, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of public health.

Currently there are 14 million people of color who cannot get telehealth while the FCC & USDA spends nearly $5 billion dollars/year to get telehealth & broadband for 4 million rural households.  Where is the parity in funding? Where is the justice?  Francella Ochillo, our guest today on Gigabit Nation talk show, is the Executive Director of the broadband  advocacy group Next Century Cities. She is definitely ready to fight the good fight for fast, affordable and reliable broadband access for all.  Ms Ochillo lays out in real terms the costs facing urban America if we don’t get parity in broadband spending. People are marching in the streets saying how important it is that Black people have an even playing field. Maybe they can detour for a few days to bring this message to Federal agencies that fund the good health of rural communities while missing the mark in their funding of urban health.  

11,944,370 urban residents have no access to telehealth but Federal agencies earmark billions for broadband and telehealth grants targeted to 3,829,802 rural communities. Urban communities want grant parity with rural. No broadband, no telehealth! Yet FCC finances broadband through the $20 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund but no urban fund. They award $4.15 billion for broadband in schools that's weighted to rural. Their Rural Heath Care Program has over $1 billion, while the Senate wants to add another $2 billion. Where‘s the urban healthcar parity? Angela Seifer, Executive Director for the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, joins us to discuss strategies for reaching parity in broadband and telehealth spending: identifying disparity in current broadband and telehealth  new funding coming from US House and Senate  expected benefits from funding parity 

Learn how Partners Healthcare, the City of Boston, and the state of Massachusetts created Boston Hope, a 1,000-bed field hospital with a telehealth-driven hybrid wired/wireless infrastructure – in just seven days! Listen to best practices for transforming your local healthcare capabilities with telehealth and community broadband, regardless of your city’s or county’s size. Our guest, John Campbell, serves as the Chief Information Officer for C, a division of not-for-profit Partner’s Healthcare. Campbell describes how the team: implemented a fully technology-enabled hospital, including a testing lab and pharmacy;deployed broadband, regular computers, and mobile devices; andthe massive push to get 10,000 physicians set up to do telehealth in just a few weeks; andsuccessfully herded cats. Boston Hope was created to treat patients on the road to recovery, while easing pressure on the others hospitalsproviding acute, ICU treatment for COVID-19 patients. Boston Hope likely will close when Boston has “flatten the curve.”                                              ***************************************** Gigabit Nation is sponsored this month by Ready.net. Ready.net helps community broadband networks add subscribers and increase revenue through the premium telehealth services Ready.net makes possible by connecting home to hospital.       

TECHNICAL GLITCH! Show start at 2 min, 30 sec. Free telehealth service until the pandemic is over, thanks to the power of broadband and cloud computing. Doug Tate, CEO of Alpha Technologies, realized that his data center technology for businesses is capable of linking indivuals with healthcare providers regardless of the computing device in either end. The key is a HIPAA-compliant cloud connection. He'll describe how it all works on my show today. Dr. R. Michael Greiwe is an broadband-savvy orthopedic surgeon and also CEO for telehealth firm OrthoLive. During this Coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Greiwe is making healthcare specialists, general practitioners and folks in general aware of benefit telehealth. In addition to their major projects, we will discuss: deployment challenges iPhones, Androids; deploying platforms that support provider-to-provider communication; andtools of the Telehealth trade.  Gigabit Nation is sponsored this month by Ready.net. Ready.net helps community broadband networks add subscribers and increase revenue through the premium telehealth services Ready.net makes possible by connecting home to hospital.     

The Feds threw off the handcuff that cripple telehealth. Patients now can be treated in hotels, dormitories, and other alternative facilities using telehealth. But there’s not much time for celebrating. Communities slammed hard by COVID-19 foresee treating non-COVID patients using in telehealth in alternate facilities. Is your community ready?  Rena Brewer coaches our audience with tips to prepare their communities for a telehealth world, including site selection and and training local healthcare workers. Brewer is CEO of nonprofit telehealth vendor, Global Partnership for Telehealth, and oversees the Southeast Telehealth Resource Center. Creating alternative healthcare facilities demands quality broadband to power the telehealth. Ron Deus, CEO of wireless IPS (WISP) NetX Internet, helps our audience prepare a strategy for broadband coverage in underserved urban and rural communities.  Gigabit Nation is sponsored this month by Ready.net. Ready.net helps community broadband networks add subscribers and increase revenue through the premium telehealth services Ready.net makes possible by connecting home to hospital.Thanks 

Telehealth is important for monitoring coronavirus patients' condition while minimizing healthcare workers' exposure to the disease. But today's show discusses the greater value of using telehealth to offload a sizeable share of non-COVID-19 patients from hospitals and doctors: accidentsmental health treatmentstraumas - strokes & heart attacks  post-surgery monitoringelderly care COVID-19 also exposed the faultlines that is inherent in this country's broadband infrastructure. It has made networks groan under the stress of quickly shifting business, schools, and healthcare data to homes. What's the short- and long-term impact of this shift, especially as it pertains to telehealth? Kim Almkuist, the nurse practitioner overseeing telehealth initialives for the Wilson County [NC] Department of Health, describes how telehealth is improving healthcare. She also explains potential impacts on home healthcare of the feds relaxing restrictions on telehealth. Almkuist has the Wilson Greenlight public broadband nerwork backing her up.  Chrisopher Mitchell, Director of Community Broadband Network at ILSR, advises how to deal short-term with our broadband faultlines. But also, what can we do in the long-term to address broadband infrastructure? Many grass-roots activities have sprung up after the pandemic hit. Are groups such as these and the Institute of Local Self Reliance the greatest chance for resolving these shortcoming?     

Last year, the Tennessee governor and legislature freed co-ops of restrictions on delivering broadband to its members. Last month, the first co-op out of the gate announced its partnership with a local ISP to provide gigabit service to its members. Smart grid, public safety, and consumer and business services are some of the benefits middle Tennesseans will reap from the partnership. Chris Jones, President and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric Member Corporation, William Bradford, president and CEO of United Communications and Fire Lieutenant Fritz Haimberger of the Peytonsville Volunteer Fire Department lay out the details.  There are several important lessons that co-ops nationwide as well as municipalities can learn from our guests.  Craig Settles hosts Gigabit Nation. He also assists communities with the business and marketing planning of their broadband networks.                

Arkansas used to lead the US in stroke deaths. Less then 1% of stroke patients statewide received the de-clotting drug alteplase (TPA).  Renee Joiner, (BSN, RN) Director of Arkansas SAVES Stroke Telemedicine Program and Tina Benton, (BSN, RN) Oversight Director of the Center for Distance Health explain how telehealth turned around the state's stroke recovery in the state. Arkansas's state healthcare broadband network, the Center for Distance Health at the UAMS and the Arkansas Department of Human Services formed Arkansas Stroke Assistance through Virtual Emergency Support (ARSAVES). This telehealth service connects 54 of the state’s 80 hospital. Now 33% of the patients in those hospitals who qualify for the stroke program to receive TPA. The state’s healthcare fiber ring supports several additional health and telehealth programs throughout the Arkansas hospital systems, including a huge trauma care program. You can read this about this and other stories in the report, “Broadband and Telehealth: In Sickness and In Health. Craig Settles hosts Gigabit Nation. He also assists communities with the business and marketing planning of their broadband networks.  

Chattanooga soon will reach 100,000 subscribers for its public broadband network. And the telco/cable incumbents  would love nothing better than to crush the life out of the city’s network. Telehealth could keep EPB, the city public network, a step or two ahead of competitors. Dr. Laurie Davis and her medical practice (In Good Health) were part of a pilot test for a telehealth product and service and conducted by EPB. She recounts her experiences with telemedicine and how it has improve the healthcare her practice delivers. But the product also enables her doctors to do house calls for elderly patients who can't easily get from their homes to the office because of difficult travel logistics.    Chattanooga’s gig network and EPB are incredibly popular, and their commitment to telehealth reflects the their devotion to innovation on behalf of subscribers.  Dr. Davis and her staff use EPB broadband in their homes as well as in the office. In Good Health started in 2006 and built its reputation on the long-term patients relationships. They expect telehealth to bring additional value to those relationships.   Craig Settles hosts Gigabit Nation. He also assists communities with the business and marketing planning of their broadband networks.  

We could lower the nation’s collective healthcare bill if we leveraged telehealth. The FCC apparently got the message and plans to launch the Connected Care $100 million grant program. But some worry that the grant will become one more taxpayer-financed giveaway to giant telco/cableco. Former Commissioner Mignon Clyburn discusses the importance of community broadband to telehealth delivery. People who are the most vulnerable economically are affected most by FCC broadband and telehealth policy. Will decisions of the FCC majority - especially regarding Lifeline - widen the digital divide? Ms Clyburn lays out steps that broadband stakeholders can take to encourage effective FCC telehealth policy. John Windhausen, Excutive Director of the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband coalition, simplifies for listeners the FCC's public comment process for the telehealth grant. He explains: the FCC's broadband funding mechanisms; the Noticice of Inquiry process and how regular citizens can participate; and how community broadband networks can participate in the grant. Craig Settles hosts Gigabit Nation. He also assists communities with the business and marketing planning of their broadband networks.  

Just up the highway from Silicon Valley, the Bay Area’s first gigabit city is transforming a former manufacturing powerhouse into a test bed of technology and other innovations. San Leandro joins Chattanooga and Kansas City with broadband-inspired economic development, government efficiency, education and telemedicine. City Hall, the Police Department, and all City facilities are connected to a 10-gigabit port via Lit San Leandro, which has increased the facilities City Hall bandwidth by 2,500% while lowering monthly Internet access costs;the San Leandro School District connected all the schools to Lit San Leandro over a 10-gig backbone, and modernized all IT infrastructure (including WiFi) to help students have virtually unlimited bandwidth for school projects; anda public private partnership installed of a microgrid on the network in the San Leandro Tech Campus that will be the heart of an ecosystem of small businesses to help area cities meet the demand for advanced renewable energy systems. San Leandro Chief Innovation Officer Deb Acosta and San Leandro IT Director Tony Batalla explain details on current and future broadband projects.

The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition developed not one but 10 policy proposals to address broadband. Called the “Connecting Anchor Institutions: A Broadband Action Plan”, these documents provide ideas and actionable policy recommendations for government leaders at the federal, state, and local levels to address the broadband needs of anchor institutions. John Windhausen, SHLB Executive Director, explains our audience how these policy directives are part of the organization’s bigger Grow2Gig+: Anchors Advance Communities Campaign. This far-reaching drive hopes to make gigabit speeds the standard for anchor institutions a national priority.   SHLB’s policy actions, combined with grassroots efforts of community stakeholders working in the trenches, create the best broadband adoption solutions that shrink the digital divide.

Digital inclusion – bridging the divide between the technology haves and have-nots. 15% and 30% of our urban citizens are shut out of the digital economy, while that and maybe more in our rural lack Internet access. Input and participation must come from the communities themselves for digital inclusion to work. Executive Vice President Brigitte Daniel at Wilco Electronic Systems, Inc. in Philadelphia and Bruce Montgomery, CEO of Chicago-based Technology Access Television gives listeners some insights to how to execute plans that leverage broadband for personal economic development. This interview tackles several digital inclusion challenges that face community advocates and stakeholders: How do we strengthen ISP competition in urban areasIs there enough broadband infrastructure in Tier 1 and 2 citiesWhat type of assistance bridges the digital divideHow do we build a self-sustaining digital economy low income neighborhoods This is a moral imperative and an economic necessity. 

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently turned down big telecom companies’ efforts to derail the FCC “net-neutrality” rules. It took 14 years of fighting, wrangling, enduring short-term defeats and a certain amount of uncertainty, but led by a former lobbyists the FCC prevailed prevailed in the public interest. But after the sounds of popping champagne corks have faded, we have to ask “What’s next?” Was this a victory over corporate lobbies?Are there any implications for community broadband, specifically muni networks?What does the net neutrality ruling say about public activism?With the threat of incumbents becoming gatekeepers of the Internet removed, what will lobbyists do next?What will/should “We the People” do with our new found freedom? Harold Feld, Senior Vice President at Public Knowledge joins us to help sort out these and other questions. Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open Internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works.  

One of the fading myths of our time is that large metro areas don’t need a gig, and another myth is that you can’t make a business case for delivering a gig to low-income communities, even if they need it. A wireless ISP (WISP) located in Cleveland, Ohio has been providing homes and businesses there with a gig wirelessly, and is getting ready to extend services to New York City. Ron Deus, CEO of regional WISP NetX, describes his formula for success. It starts with an understanding that a lot of people don’t care what the infrastructure is that delivers their Internet access as long as it is fast, reliable and affordable. Deus also believes technology, including wireless, is rapidly evolving and providers that keep pace with the evolution will have business success. NetX has always treated Cleveland's low-income communities as a market on par with every other market: 1) build them an infrastructure that delivers and 2) give them a variety of service packages suited to their needs, the market will reward you. NetX is now ready to test its formula in the Big Apple – New York, New York.

People say, “broadband is just like electricity in the 1920s. That’s why electric co-ops were formed, and why they need to build community broadband.” But why not build a co-op specifically for broadband? In Minnesota several communities recently started a broadband co-op. Are more on the way? Chris Mitchell, Director of Community Broadband Networks at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), makes the case that more rural communities need to create broadband co-ops to address the lack of sufficient highspeed Internet access. ILSR and Next Century Cities just released a report that examines Minnesota’s broadband co-op, “RS Fiber: Fertile Fields for New Rural Internet Cooperative.” Mitchell delves into why: The co-op model makes sense for communities;Hybrid wired and wireless infrastructure makes financial sense;Broadband co-ops blends the best of public and private worlds;We should expect more broadband co-op to form.

It could be time for communities to re-think the feasibility study process. They can spend up to $150,000 to complete a study, but are communities really resolving the questions they need to pursue? Some feel that a process with its roots in the 1970s needs an upgrade to keep pace with 21st-Century infrastructure. Richard Frank created custom GIS and other technologies to streamline the engineering-planning and design phase. He feels the typical feasibility study for a public network adds costs and time to address questions already answered, while failing in other areas because “communities don’t know what they don’t know.” Frank explains how to use available data to get many of the answers needed to do appropriate engineering design, better use existing technology assets, use best business practices to plan the network and address the common good. Communities need to understand better the applications and databases that can improve network planning, think more like a business and adopt sound marketing principles.

With all the hype about fiber, we sometimes forget wireless still has an important role to play. Fairlawn, Ohio supports over 22,000 people every day in addition to its 7,400 residents, so they had to have guaranteed super-fast, reliable and flexible Internet access. Their infrastructure solution made them one of the highlights of the recent Broadband Communities Summit. Ernie Staten, Dep. Director of Fairlawn’s Public Service Department, and Mitch Drake, Fujitsu Network Communications’ Executive Engagement Leader, throw back some covers and show off best practices that made their network leading edge. Fujitsu is the lead private sector partner in this public-private partnership. Fairlawn set an ambitious agenda to meet a number of goals including: promote commercial and residential growth;stimulate economic development in the City;provide a carrier-grade wireless network;draw in entrepreneurs and high tech ventures; andimprove City services and public safety communications.    

Many people think broadband benefits local governments by making PCs, apps and systems run faster. But what happens when the process of governing accelerates into gig speed? In two months, Next Century Cities expects to find out. At the Broadband Communities Summit, cities were offered a $30,000 prize as a reward for creative thinking on using broadband to tackle local challenges. Next Century Cities announced their “Next Generation Engagement Awards” for three cities (up to $30,000 each) that propose projects or partnerships that enhance government operations. Next Century Cities’ Executive Director Deb Socia and Deputy Director Todd O’Boyle joined us to explain their program and what they hope to achieve. Beside cash, winning communities will also receive hands-on technical assistance from Next Century Cities to implement their plans and peer-to-peer connections with other innovative municipalities. Communities applying will be expected to demonstrate how, in addition to the award funding, they will contribute funds or use in-kind support, partner support, or a combination to ensure the project’s success. Applications will be accepted through June 15, 2016 and winners will be announced in late summer. Apply here.

We are at the point where we have scores of public highspeed networks delivering an array of benefits for businesses and consumers. Kansas City, the original Google Fiber network, weighs in their accomplishments and challenges as they push the gig envelope. Our Gigabit Nation guest is Aaron Deacon, Managing Director of KC Digital Drive, and a panelist on one of the Broadband Communities Summit sessions entitled “What can you do with a gig?” He believes many cities have answered this question with an array of applications and uses for highspeed Internet access, which leads to maybe a better question of "What are we going to do with a gig next?" Deacon delineates the difference between gigabit speed and gigabit capacity, a difference many communities need to understand early in there broadband planning. It’s also important that planners understand how to encourage a “highspeed environment” that enables community networks to transform the delivery of healthcare, energy, city services and more.  (Photo credit: Rachel Ellner, courtesy of Broadband Communities magazine)

With this week’s modernization of the FCC’s Lifeline, the impact of libraries in this program is a crucial discussion, though I’m still trying to understand how community broadband can be used in the program. Don Means, Director of the library advocacy group Gigabit Libraries Network, explains how libraries can facilitate broadband planning, financing and the marketing of the networks once they are build. Looking at the public networks that have been built, some communities could have improved the impact of some of these investments if they had utilized the existing network of libraries. Libraries and their staff probably are one of the most under-appreciated and underused resources in the community broadband movement. Libraries reach out and touch virtually everyone in their communities across the entire economic spectrum, they know a lot about planning community projects and quite a few have overseen the buildouts of the fastest broadband infrastructure in their communities. 

Healthcare and medical service delivery are the future killer apps of the community broadband networks. Possibly even than economic development, the potential to use these networks to impact practically every injured, sick and even healthy constituent is mind-boggling. Nizan Friedman, Ph.D., President of Flint Rehabilitation Devices, manufactures and markets technology that helps people affected by strokes, injuries and surgeries progress faster through the rehabilitation process. Internet access is a key element for patients, doctors and rehab specialists that use Flint’s products. Dr. Friedman discusses the various ways in which broadband and telemedicine enables healthcare professionals, caregivers and patients themselves contribute to communities getting and staying healthy. In rural areas in particular, the lack of access to these technologies poses grave dangers, and is a great motivator behind public officials’ and co-ops’ efforts to build community broadband infrastructure.

National Community Development Services (NCDS) leads multimillion-dollar economic development fundraising drives, and the firm is partnering with Craig Settles to bring NCDS’ success to broadband. Both believe that there are more people and organizations than communities realize that are able and willing to financially support broadband deployments to their communities. NCDS President Tom DiFiore presents highlights of the firm’s methodology that has raised over $1.6 billons for 500 communities in 46 states. Mr. Settles consulting expertise, philosophy and thought leadership in broadband strategy dovetails with NDCS in a four-step service that opens broadband funding opportunities as well as helps networks’ long-term financial successes. Many communities let the “lack” of money stymie their broadband dreams. Mr. Settles’ and NCDS’ lead communities through a creation orientation to produce an asset that boosts the economy, increases local government efficiency, improves healthcare delivery and transforms education. In addition, NCDS leaves a system in place to facilitate other community economic development fundraising projects. These combined services draw their origins from “Show Me the (Hidden) Money for Community Broadband,” Mr. Settles’ recent Community Broadband Snapshot Report.  

The Obama Administration was deadly serious in September when they called for all Federal hands on deck to meet the challenges of deploying broadband everywhere. The EPA – yes, that EPA – along with the USDA’s Rural Utilities Services is rolling out a pilot program to offer communities broadband strategy planning assistance. Ed Fendley lays out plans for Cool & Connected, the service he heads for the EPA. The program targets communities interested in using broadband to help revitalize small-town promote economic development. Cool & Connected is recruiting experts to assist communities with network buildouts and tactics that enable networks to deliver their promised benefits. In today’s interview, Fendley provides details on eligibility requirements, rules and due dates. Participants also are encouraged to bring partnership to the table. With the heavy focus on helping communities afford the cost of building broadband networks, we sometimes forget about the cost of planning for networks, particularly in small and midsize towns. The EPA believes its resources can be best brought to bear by pursuing this planning role. 

In the 1860s, the progressive thinkers of the time felt that giving newly freed people their own land and leading edge technology – in this case, a mule – would jump start the poor on a journey to a better life. 150 years later, we are dealing with similar issues as we try to bridge the economic gap with the leading edge technology of our time – broadband. Will we find our way this time? Colin Rhinesmith, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at University of Oklahoma, and Brian Whitacre, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University conducted excessive research on how to get better broadband adoption rates within low-income, seniors and youth populations. They join us to discuss their findings and explore options for getting these populations on board with broadband. Rhinesmith and Whitacre describe one category of people who don’t use broadband as the Un-Adopters, and present why policymakers and federal agencies that fund broadband must develop strategies for addressing Un-Adopters. They address this category in the context of non-adopters, and the country overall. We also will explore the downside of leaving Un-Adopters un-served. Could the cost of getting these constituents on board with broadband be better spent in other ways given how small the segments is? Given the effort of getting un-adopters and non- doctors to use broadband, what are some of the downsides and upsides if we are successful? Our guests present compelling reasons why policymakers must not leave these constituents out in the cold.

There is a huge need to put our urban broadband house in order. ConnectHome is the Obama administration’s latest salvo to narrow the gap between the digital have’s and the have not’s, particularly in urban areas. Michael Liimatta, newly appointed Manager of ConnectHome by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, lays out the goals and strategies for the agency in the upcoming months. ConnectHome works with ISPs, non-profits and the private sector to offer broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programs, and devices for residents in assisted housing units in 28 communities across the nation. The media focuses coverage on rural broadband network issues, but there is an equal need in urban areas for improved broadband infrastructure and aggressive broadband adoption activities. Liimatta brings valuable some of the lessons from his broadband adoption experience in Kansas City as co-founder and CEO of Connecting for Good. Our discussion will include suggestions for how communities can partner with HUD so that ConnectHome gets the most impact possible for its broadband efforts. Liimatta also highlights state and federal grant programs, foundations and communities’ broadband efforts can facilitate urban broadband deployment. I have sent you, in order, the title, pitch and the description

  If there ever was a sign that the floodgates on community broadband have fully opened, it's this Election Day as 46 Colorado communities vote on taking back their right to build public networks. Get election results here on Gigabit Nation's special in 90-minute broadcast. Is this going to be a clean sweep? Ken Fellman, general counsel with the Colorado Communications and Utility Alliance, joins us with summary analysis of how the communities voted and what do these results mean for broadband in the state. Fellman and host Craig Settles also will call on some of the towns and counties to get first-hand observations, and thoughts on how the communities will proceed. Another topic of discussion is the impact that the election results will have on the competitive landscape of the state. The day after last year's election, Comcast announced a statewide increase of their broadband speed. What might incumbents do this year in the face of what is expected to be an unanimous consensus for public broadband by the electorate? Will the winds of change blow over into other states with restrictions on municipal broadband? My latest book on broadband strategy goes into depth about how to deal with states that have restrictions on public broadband.  

[Tech glitch zapped the last 25 min. We're going to have a do-over and record that part again.] There’s a lot going on in broadband in Oregon. Communities such as Sandy are upgrading their infrastructure significantly, or planning their initial networks. Co-op are energized and several of them are planning to launch broadband initiatives. The rural telephone companies are providing creative solutions that are getting communities connected. Joseph Franell, General Manager and CEO of Eastern Oregon Telecom, discusses some of the opportunities and the challenges that communities face here in the state. Gigabit Nation is broadcasting live from the Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference, which draws statewide attendees to share ideas, experiences and knowledge about telecommunications. Franell and Gigabit Nation host Craig Settles highlight: some of the challenges with bridging the broadband divide in education;addressing the urban/rural divide;what is the "right" model to deploy gigabit networks in rural markets;how has the USF/ICC reform impacted rural carriers and how are they moving forward;what are the pluses and minuses of the Google Fiber model. Sandy, OR’s move to gigabit broadband is one of the many case stories in Settles’ new book, Building the Gigabit City, Vol. 2.  

“We might push a gig, but we have plans to heavily promote 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps services,” states Bob Hance, President and CEO of Midwest Energy Cooperative. He has learned that communities’ diverse needs benefit from flexible approaches to technology. Despite the hype and political pressure to deliver a gig everywhere, co-ops have to be realistic with the technology they invest in because members expect the their management teams to spend customers’ money wisely. Co-ops are finding that flexibility is the watchword when determining broadband tech strategy. Several members of Midwest’s management team met with Gigabit Nation to talk about the team’s various perspectives on the broadband lessons they have learned. For now, being just being connected to faster broadband is members’ biggest reward;As the co-op upgrades to smart grid, businesses and residents are learning they need online energy management capabilities;Some municipalities are hesitant to get onboard with broadband and will wait for co-ops to take the lead; andCo-ops give communities a path around Michigan’s muni broadband restrictions. Craig Settles new book, Building the Gigabit City, Vol. 2, focuses attention to the role of co-ops in the broadband movement. Midwest is interveiwed in the book.

Are we entering a digital arms race? First Salisbury, NC announces its 10-gigabit network last month. Then Chattanooga announced its 10-gigabit network last week. Should the dozens of communities planning or starting to build gig infrastructure just go ahead and launch 10-gig networks instead? 20 gigs? John Pless, a spokesperson for the public utility (EPB) that operates the Chattanooga network, joins us to discuss this latest broadband infrastructure development. EPB’s10-gig service is available to every home and business in its 600 square mile service area for $299 per month, and comes with free installation, no contracts and no cancellation fees. People have a lot of questions for Chattanooga: How big of a deal is it to move from 1 gigabit to 10 gigabits?What kind of pressure does a 10-gig network put on your competitors?What type of businesses will be enticed by 10-gig nets to move to Chattanooga?  Will medical facilities and professionals in particular find this new super-highspeed capability the reason for coming to town?How will low-income communities keep pace with these gigabit announcements? It’s a good thing Craig Settles’ new book, Building the Gigabit City, Vol 2, has the flexibility of a digital format. 

The connecting of communities with gigabit networks is only half the battle. The full value of this technology will not be reached until we develop applications that harness the power of the networks. 15 gigabit cities or cities with gigabit-equiped facilities will participate in a three-year project to develop some of the best and most innovative applications that exploit the capabilities of super highspeed networks. Under the guidance US Ignite, a nonprofit organization that facilitates next-generation Internet creations, these products and services will impact how some Americans work, live, learn and play. US Ignite’s COO Joe Kochan discusses the various features and the goals of the program. Kochan expects the respective projects to have their own objectives, but these 15 communities represent an experiment in national gigabit collaboration in which the outcomes are greater in the sum of each community’s efforts. Communities participating include: Burlington, VT; Chattanooga, TN; Cleveland, OH; Flint, MI; Kansas City, KS MO; Madison, WI; the North Carolina Next Generation Network (NCNGN); Richardson, TX; Utah Wasatch Front cities including Salt Lake City and Provo, UT; Lafayette, LA; Urbana-Champaign, IL; and Austin, TX. Their projects involve an array of software, hardware and services.  

In 2014, the leadership of Salisbury decided that it was time to expand marketing of their Fibrant fiber network up a few notches, that there were still lots of local businesses and individuals yet to take advantage of the network. These marketing efforts culminated with September's national announcement of their 10-gigabit municipal fiber-to-the-premise network. Kent Winrich, Director of Broadband Infrastructure for Fibrant, describes the rollout of the network and the expected impact within the community. Though the City may not expect a groundswell of subscribers for the 10-gig service, Winrich expects their current customers will appreciates the digital security blanket of knowing they have long term security against Technology obsolescence. More importantly, the new service gives Salisbury a powerful leg up as it market's itself as both a business hub and an education computing center within the state and beyond. Winrich discuss: challenges of upgrading the network to this new capacity;aligning current and future customer needs with broadband technology;maintaining competitive advantage; andmarketing Fibrant as a community asset versus a high tech toy. Salisbury is one of the many communities highlighted in my new book, Building the Gigabit City, Vol. 2. If you missed our interview with Salisbury's Mayor and Mayor pro tem discussing the cities marketing efforts, you can listen to the archive.

Some creative thinking saved the broadband dreams of 10 cities in two Minnesota counties. Could cooperatives (co-ops) provide the magic bullet for municipalities encumbered with funding and political hurdles? Communities in Renville and Sibley Counties created the RS Fiber Cooperative to address rural communication needs. Recently the communities decided to lend the co-op funds they need to build a fiber and wireless infrastructure to cover the towns and farmlands in the co-op's service area. The arrangement resolves several challenges that a number of communities face: it was easier for cities to pass a bond to pay the co-op to build the network rather then have the cities build it;co-ops’ existing community relationships translate into faster network take rates;Minnesota is one of the 21 states with a law restricting public broadband. Mark Erickson, Winthrop, MN EDA Director and a key contributor to the project joins us to talk us through the complexities of the financial arrangement and the benefits of having the co-op take the lead on the network buildout. He also discusses the role of co-ops in the bigger broadband picture as they take aggressive action in deploying networks. My new book, Building the Gigabit City, Vol 2, devotes significant coverage to co-ops and their increasing impact on broadband.   

It's full steam ahead as dozens of Colorado communities prepare to pass referenda to take back their rights to build public broadband networks. Top of the planning list is determining how to finance these infrastructure projects. Virgil Turner, Director of Innovation and Citizen Engagement for the City of Montrose, joins us to discuss "Show Me the (Hidden) Money for Community Broadband." This new report from host Craig Settles instructs communities how to use different and effective ways to raise money that are triggered by the needs assessment process, a process that every community should be doing. Listeners will get great advice about: sound financial planningdeveloping partnerships with state agenciesthe role of local businesses in broadband fundraising effortsenlisting co-ops to enable region wide broadband fundinglocal bipartisanship's impact on raising funds While it is great to have a single source of funding, communities need financing options because broadband projects are complex and can be expensive. Now is the time for creative communities that believe in thinking outside of the box. This newest Community Broadban Snapshot Report is sponsored by Corning and SiFi Network. Some of the tips and advice presented in this broadcast are you just in more detail in Settles' new book, Building the Gigabit City, Vol 2.  

It’s good to take a step back, gauge the ways broadband has advanced as a community asset, and get a sense how these networks are moving cities forward. As Gigabit Nation celebrates its 4th anniversary, this is a good opportunity to hear from some people working in the trenches and take stock of where we are headed. A panel of doers from across they nation, including the mayor of Chattanooga, weigh in on several important issues. Broadband is improving and enhancing local governments of all sizes. Communities have discovered the art of marketing as broadband defines 21th century cities. Medical and healthcare delivery it is becoming the “sleeper” killer app. A different type of planning needs to take over as communities grapple with broadband adoption challenges. Our guests today are: Andy Berke – Mayor, Chattanooga, TN Aaron Deacon – Managing Director, KC Digital Drive Mark Erickson – City Winthrop, MN EDA Director Anne Schwieger – City planner and member City of Cambridge (MA) Broadband Task Force

From a regulatory perspective, the FCC is the lead agency shaping this Administration’s broadband legacy, both for its aggressive policymaking and its program funding. This interview looks at how far the FCC has come, and how much further some feel the agency should go to facilitate broadband advancement in the U.S. Gigi Sohn, Counselor to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, gives listeners insights to the agency’s efforts to promote fast, fair and open broadband networks.  She’ll discuss issues such as community broadband, Lifeline and E-Rate modernization, net neutrality and the FCC’s role as a consumer protection agency.  As broadband networks become ever more essential to full participation in our society and our economy, the FCC's role will become even more critical.           Among Sohn’s roles at the FCC is ensuring that the public has an opportunity to participate in FCC’s proceedings that will determine the future of broadband networks.  Sohn discusses how consumers and small businesses can make their voice heard at the Commission.  As former CEO of the public advocacy group Public Knowledge, Sohn is well-positioned to give listeners a perspective on what it is like to go from outside advocate to inside bureaucrat.

A sure bet for recouping you broadband investment? Follow Columbus, Ohio’s game plan of marrying wired and wireless broadband so your local government’s Internet of Things and their Internet of People to form a truly smart city. Columbus uses broadband and information technology to innovate, collaborate, attract investment, improve government services delivery and raise the quality of life for its citizens, winning it the 2015 Intelligent Community of the Year award. The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) gives this award to highlight communities’ best practices for adapting to the demands of the broadband economy. Gary Cavin, City of Columbus, decribe some of the projects that contributed to his city’s winning its prestigious honor. Researchers at Ohio State University won a two-year $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create a safe and resilient network architecture dubbed the “Science DMZ.” New gigabit networking and application support tools are being developed that will foster broadband adoption. High-definition video supporting public safety, law enforcement and first responders. The city’s Comprehensive Traffic Signaling System (CTSS) program is building a backbone of fiber optic cable and wireless communications technologies. Cavin informs listeners how other cities can use the power of the gigabit to transform government services and create new applications. Several of Columbus’ best practices will be included in the new version Craig Settles’ book, Building the Gigabit City. 

Look at every successful Community network and you will find good marketing that begins months before a network actually launches. Longmont, CO has marketed its network for several years, and has the take-rates (new subscribers) many communities hope to achieve. Tom Roiniotis, General Manager of Longmont Power & Communications, shares some of public utility’s secrets for success, including: built bi-partisan support among local elected officialscreated consensus among the various constituenciesmanaged expectationsbuilt strong word of mouth supportlaunched creative and effective marketing communicationsuse success to build greater success Roiniotis has explains how their nextLight network has how a lot of local enthusiasm that translates into sales, and excellent customer support that keeps subscribers loyal. He envisions in an endless series of applications and new innovations enabled by nextLight as a marketing advantage that will keep it ahead of competitors.

Developing relationships with elected officials and city government staff is critical to any muni network marketing plan, both locally and at the state level. For many communities, public networks are bipartisan efforts. At the state level, however, getting both sides of the aisle to come together behind these networks produces mixed results. The city of Sandy Oregon has a very stellar relationship between City staff, elected officials and constituents. City IT Director Joe Knapp and Sandy Council President Jeremy Peitzold tell us what works for them while offering other communities some perspectives to consider. how do city staff and city council form consensus defining the goals, getting funding and planning marketing;everybody wants the network built in their area first, and but political tensions can build because somebody has to be last;what do you do when one or two opponents of the network are one city council;is public networks’ role in economic development the key to legislative good will.