Daily Archives: July 8, 2009

Luck favors the prepared

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luckI’ve been thinking about my favorite line from The Incredibles lately – luck favors the prepared (originally from Louis Pastuer). I’ve been thinking about it in terms of the broadband stimulus funding and in terms of creating vital rural communities. I think most folks reading this will make the connection between broadband and vital – but for a quick tangible reminder, I think Steve Borsch has done a nice job talking about what you can do with broadband and why it’s important for everyone to have access.

Back to being prepared … The NTIA/RUS NOFA favors the prepared. I think most folks knew that it would. The turnaround is quick. The information they request is huge. I think the funding was/is intended to favor un- and underserved communities – but generally those people aren’t prepared. I know there’s a mandate in the NOFA to serve those populations – but in practice I think it’s set up just for that – so that outside entities can serve the community but not so much so that the community can serve itself. (Amalia Deloney sent me a critique on the NOFA that touches upon this while highlighting how the focus on rural areas may have unintended consequences.)

Now for some communities having outside service provider will work well. But for others, it doesn’t. Minnesota’s own Christopher Mitchell, just had a nice article in the Charleston Gazette that highlights the need of communities to be able to serve themselves. The stimulus funding is a perfect fit for those communities – except that I think the strenuous application process will have many selecting not to participate.

My hope is that they will pursue funding either on their own or with partners. Then my follow up hope is that even if they don’t get funding that communities (and other applicants) will use the proposal process to get prepared. It might bring some hard earned good luck!

July 9 webcast for NOFA

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Just passing this on. I hope to attend – but may not be able. I’ll post notes on the call if I can.

Broadband Stimulus National Town Hall Webcast Attracting National Attention After Release of NOFA

July 9 Event Will Help Educate and Inform Grant Applicants Seeking Access to $4 Billion in Funds

Washington, D.C. – The initial Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and programmatic rules for broadband stimulus funds has just been released, with up to $4 billion of funding available in the first round. Time is of the essence, with applications due on August 14, just over a month from now.

To help educate grant applicants, Nati onal League of Cities TV (www.NLCTV.org) in cooperation with VMainStream.com is featuring a free live webcast of the Broadband Stimulus Town Hall Workshop co-sponsored by
Broadband Census, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and Alcatel-Lucent. The interactive live workshop will provide a first look at what applicants need to know in putting together successful
broadband grant and loan applications.

Live Webcast & Sign Up Today!
July 9, 2009
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT

Ken Kuchno, Director of the Broadband Division of RUS and an invited NTIA speaker will discuss details of the releases, timing of applications, and how some of the key issues that had been left open these last few months have been resolved with hosts Drew Clark of BroadbandCensus.com and Marty Stern of K&L Gates.

A second panel of experts on NTIA on RUS funding programs will be available to take your questions live. Confirmed panelists include:

John Kneuer, President Kneuer LLC and former NTIA Administrator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Gary Bolton, VP Global Marketing, Adtran
Maria Browne, Partner, Davis Wright and Tremaine LLP

The program will conclude with a discussion on compliance issues, how the agencies are expected to police waste, fraud and abuse, and what applicants need to pay attention to now to avoid potential issues down the road. Invited guest is Cynthia Schultz, Director of Compliance and Audits, BTOP Program, NTIA.

In June, Clark and Stern hosted a highly successful Broadband Stimulus Live Webcast Town Hall. Join them again for this important event.

TVWorldwide.com, Inc.
4206 F Technology Court
Chantilly, VA 20151
(703) 961-9250

Blandin eNews July 2009

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Blandin Get Broadband CommunitiesHere’s the news from our latest newsletter. It’s mostly a compilation of Minnesota-related stories from the blog in the last month – but sometimes it’s nice to have it compiled.

The NOFA is out!
The NTIA and RUS released the NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) for broadband stimulus funding on July 1 as promised. http://tinyurl.com/qgqt6n Applications are due August 14, 2009 and will be reviewed using a 2-stage process. Details are outlined in the NOFA. The NTIA and RUS are having workshops for applicants; a workshop has been scheduled in St Paul on July 21. http://tinyurl.com/o2jp6z  

Minnesota Broadband Maps are out!
Connect Minnesota released an updated version of the Minnesota broadband maps just in time to be useful in helping the state prepare applications to the NTIA and RUS. http://tinyurl.com/pu6ga7 Indication of serving un- and underserved areas is a factor for the applications the will be of interest to the federal funders.

Foundations and the ARRA
Bernadine Joselyn from the Blandin Foundation joined a group assembled by the National Council of Foundations for a meeting at the White House. They were asked to come prepared to respond to the question: “How can the administration best partner with rural leaders?” Learn more about what she learned and what she shared with the White House staff. http://tinyurl.com/qlycw2  

Blandin wins EDAM Award
In June, the Blandin Foundation won EDAM’s Economic Development Technology Initiative award for their work with the Blandin Broadband Initiative, which has stimulated broadband deployment and increased effective use of those networks in rural Minnesota. http://tinyurl.com/o5y3tx  

Broadband Task Force in Grand Rapids
The Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force met in Grand Rapids in June. http://tinyurl.com/n8joa6 It was a good opportunity for the local community to get involved. In fact several members of the public spoke at the meeting (videos available on the Blandin on Broadband blog http://tinyurl.com/n8joa6); most of those speakers had attended a workshop on broadband policy held by the Blandin Foundation the afternoon preceding the Task Force meeting. The Task Force also got a lot of work done as they continue to work on their recommendations for the Minnesota Legislature. Their next stops will be in Mankato on July 17, and August 20 in Fergus Falls. http://tinyurl.com/oqa75m  

Local Broadband News

Duluth
Verizon Wireless created a tracking system to help race fans receive periodic runner updates through a text message or an e-mail throughout Grandma’s Marathon. http://tinyurl.com/oogchy  

Lake County
Lake County has been moving forward with their plans for a countywide fiber network. In the latest step, they have submitted an RUS Loan application. http://tinyurl.com/o3brm7  

Minneapolis
The Institute for Local Self Reliance has unveiled a new web site that features news, reports and case studies that illustrate how communities can ensure that they get the broadband they want and need. http://tinyurl.com/qwh4js  

Monticello
The ongoing fiber saga in Monticello has been resolved. First the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the City and the Minnesota Supreme Court denied TDS’ petition for further review. The City will move forward with their fiber network plans. http://tinyurl.com/qyh2ks  

Red Wing
Red Wing promotes a policy of installing broadband conduits at the same time that roads are being torn up. http://tinyurl.com/qxdky2  

St. Cloud
A family saves $175 a month with online coupons. http://tinyurl.com/q6ngz5  

St. Paul (and State)
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is backing off their request that Minnesota Internet Service Providers block known gambling sites. http://tinyurl.com/odo7fb

Bill ColemanColeman’s Corner

The broadband world is hopping this summer and I am trying to keep up with all that is going on here in Minnesota and on the national and international scenes. Here is a bit from my world –

• The federal broadband NOFA is out and I am trying to figure out what it means for our Blandin application and other prospective MN projects.
• As we prepare our Blandin application for stimulus funds, we are beginning our search for a number of demonstration communities. If your community has your schools, businesses, health care providers and government on board with a push to use technology for problem solving, then we are interested in talking with you about becoming a demonstration community.
• Our broadband policy seminar, held in conjunction with the state broadband task force meeting in Grand Rapids, was a great success. An excellent audience, a sophisticated discussion on the range of broadband issues and great input to the state task force members in attendance combined together for regional consensus building. Our next seminars are July 16 in Mankato and August 21 in Fergus Falls. Make sure that your regional voice is developed and heard by the state task force. Their report to the legislature is due in November.
• Regional broadband discussions are breaking out all over the state – western, northwestern and northeastern Minnesota each have groups continuing or beginning their efforts to understand and impact broadband development and use.
• Broadband advocacy groups and federal policy makers are engaging in discussions that will have lasting impact on our broadband future and global competitiveness.
• I continue to research and to be impressed with the work being done around the world by communities recognized as Intelligent Communities (www.intelligentcommunity.org) The Eindhoven region of the Netherlands is especially impressive. Continuing their tradition as a port city (both water and air), they now market themselves as the “Brainport” and as a broadband laboratory for new technology applications. Fredericton, New Brunswick is another place to check out.

Enjoy the summer, but do not let it pass by without some efforts to improve your community’s broadband efforts!