Comments on: Talking to Connected Nation

By: Mapping debates on Connected Nation continue « Blandin on Broadband

Mapping debates on Connected Nation continue « Blandin on Broadband — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:29:51 +0000

[...] smaller carriers off its maps.” I spoke to CN last winter and they told me that there were about 100 providers in Kentucky. So, 300 seems strange. I remember the number because they were expecting to talk to 225 providers [...]

By: Connect Minnesota - the Broadband Maps are Here « Blandin on Broadband

Connect Minnesota - the Broadband Maps are Here « Blandin on Broadband — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:22:37 +0000

[...] participation by providers was not mandated by the State, CN heard from 98 providers of the estimated 225 providers in Minnesota, however it sounds as if they had heard from the largest providers. That being said they are [...]

By: A Chicken in every pot, Broadband in every home. « JC Shepard

A Chicken in every pot, Broadband in every home. « JC Shepard — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:07:18 +0000

[...] that broadband for 19 of 20 they say? Blandin Foundation is tracking a broadband mapping project that the State of Minnesota is contracting to complete. Results are due out 2 Feb 09. It will be [...]

By: Connected Nation in North Carolina « Blandin on Broadband

Connected Nation in North Carolina « Blandin on Broadband — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:42:46 +0000

[...] Connected Nation are the folks who have been hired by the state to map broadband access and use in Minnesota to help the Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force make recommendations on the future of broadband in Minnesota. They have recently been hired by telephone and cable industry associations in North Carolina to do a similar mapping project. [...]

By: Ann Treacy

Ann Treacy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:43:56 +0000

Jodie,

Good questions. I went to the sources (Brent at CN) for the answers below…

How is “broadband” defined for the mapping project? In other words, what upload and what download speeds do the address need to be getting to be considered “broadband.”

Broadband is defined by the FCC at a minimum download speed of 768kbps, so our maps won’t reflect anything below that. There is no specific criterion for upload speed, however. It should also be noted that we will be producing a speed map for the state that shows the average upload and download speeds by county–identical to the maps we have produced for Tennessee (found here: http://www.connectedtn.org/broadband_landscape/speed_maps.php) which show the average download speed statewide to be 3.6 mbps down and 692 kbps up. We’ll be using real speed test data from speedtest.net and speedmatters.org to produce these maps.

And are there any other requirements in the definition besides speed?

Every broadband platform (DSL, cable, fixed wireless, mobile wireless, etc.) will be depicted on the maps, with the exception of Satellite broadband service.

And finally, will both businesses and homes be included on the maps?

All consumer grade broadband service will be included on the maps, so the maps will mostly depict residential service. However, some businesses utilize DSL and cable connections that are available to anyone, so those connections will be depicted on the maps.

By: Jodie Miller

Jodie Miller — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:43:16 +0000

Thank you for this article, Ann. How is “broadband” defined for the mapping project? In other words, what upload and what download speeds do the address need to be getting to be considered “broadband.” And are there any other requirements in the definition besides speed? And finally, will both businesses and homes be included on the maps?

By: Ann Treacy

Ann Treacy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:15:27 +0000

I think their ability to market has served them well – without a doubt. I’m a little torn because on the one hand their marketing has raised awareness of a solution – any solution – to the legislators. I think while there was a problem without a solution that broadband didn’t get much attention. On the other hand their marketing has raised awareness of one solution; so now they have become the one solution.

So what’s better – no solution or one solution? (I know there are other solutions but none that has had caught the eye of the Legislators.)

All things being equal I wish that we had a Minnesota business doing the mapping – but I understand that the Legislature had to go with a known entity. Also I kind of flip flop on whether we need the mapping – but if it’s a step to get us going then it’s a good step.

By: Christopher Mitchell

Christopher Mitchell — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:17:24 +0000

Successful? I have looked at their materials and been underwhelmed. I hope you are using successful in the sense of as marketing because I think they have used a lot of smoke and mirrors and a number of people in Kentucky and outside have raised doubts regarding their claims.

I’ll be interested to see if their maps are worth much here – they say they want to get granular, but I have yet to see it. And we should be mapping actual experienced speeds, not marketed speeds – again, I hope we get to that level of detail.