Monthly Archives: April 2013

Technology education coming from Minnesota businesses

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I always like to hear about people improving their use of technology – especially when that means engaging kids in exciting activities that help them learn. There are some schools that are doing that well – but it’s difficult partially because technology changes so quickly and teachers often do not have the luxury of time to keep up on these changes. So I was delighted to read about a project at Thompson Reuters that got folks in industry working directly with kids…

When a group of Attracta Abulu’s co-workers at Thomson Reuters in Eagan decided to offer computer-coding classes for about 50 middle-school-age children of their colleagues, she jumped at the chance for Obi.

“I knew it was something he would really enjoy,” she said.

By developing those classes, Thomson Reuters programmers joined an informal worldwide initiative of programmers who are working to teach students the language of computers.

“We have to take some of the mystery out of technology so students can understand they can learn to control it,” said Rick King, Thomson Reuters’ chief operating officer for technology. “We want to stimulate more people to think about technology careers.”

Rebecca Schatz, who advocates for more computing education with the website CodeSavvy.org, said there is a “groundswell” of similar programmers worldwide working to pass along skills to the next generation. A group recently launched CoderDojo Twin Cities, a free workshop where students can learn to code, build websites and develop games from mentors who work around the metro area.

“Since it isn’t happening in our schools, it’s rippling up from everywhere else,” Schatz said. “It’s high time for it. It is amazing that it’s 2013 and we are not teaching our kids to code.”

It’s great to see industry and community partners stepping up to fill the gap in education – almost like a call back to mentorship or apprenticeship. I think it’s another sign of the change in the industry of education. Last summer I wrote about another impact of technology on education – specifically the ability to learn online from schools (k12 to top universities) with or without getting credit. I think we’re at a crossroads in education and how we teach will change a lot in the next decade with schools partnering with businesses and offering more personalized solutions to individual students.

 

Exempting telecommunications equipment from sales tax build jobs in North Dakota

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There was an interesting editorial in the Grand Forks Herald over the weekend urging Minnesota to look at creating policies that support technology sector growth. It builds the case that North Dakota has made policies to exempt telecommunications equipment purchases from sales tax and it has reaped benefits; the Minnesota Legislature is looking at doing the opposite.

There is more to North Dakota’s strong success than the oil boom. Lawmakers in North Dakota at the state and local levels are making sound policy decisions that create a climate favorable to business and job creation. For example, well-known tech firms such as Microsoft are choosing to locate and expand operations in the state. …

Case in point: North Dakota recently passed legislation that exempts telecommunications equipment purchases from the sales tax, thus creating an incentive and a “welcome sign” to high tech firms to invest in North Dakota’s communications infrastructure.

Technology is growing exponentially, and this kind of forward-looking policy is sure to put North Dakota in an excellent position to continue to be one of the most attractive places in America for new investment.

Minnesota, on the other hand, seems to be going in the opposite direction, especially as it relates to new, high-tech investment.

Minnesota is seriously looking at eliminating its sales tax exemption for telecommunications equipment. Investments in communications equipment is what will help to break down the digital divide, a stated goal of Minnesota’s Gov. Mark Dayton’s broadband taskforce.

Increasing taxes on investment in this infrastructure is a step backwards for Minnesota if it wants to attract modern business and the jobs it creates.

Akamai broadband reports – MN doesn’t rank!

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The latest Akamai report has been released, tracking worldwide broadband growth from Q4 2012. The US does not rank highly by international standards; Minnesota does even worse when compared to other states. We don’t do well with speed or adoption. We saw the same results last August.

Average Measured Connection Speed by Country/Region – US is #8

akamai - avg measured connection speed

Average peak connection speed, we’re worse with US at #13.

In terms of adoption US is #8 – the report measures broadband and “high broadband” defined as 10 Mbps and up. (US ranks #13 for plain old broadband – defined as 4 Mbps.)

akamai - high bb connectivity

Akamai only reports on the Top Ten of each listing – except as you can see above including info on the US when it doesn’t make the Top Tem list. So while I don’t know where Minnesota ranks in terms of speeds and adoption, I can tell you we aren’t in the Top Ten of any metric. You can see on the maps below that the ranking lean heavily to the East Coast.

It’s discouraging. We hear in rural areas of Minnesota about how good broadband can help reach and retain business and residents. And I’ve heard people talk about lack of broadband has the opposite effect. I don’t think it’s a far stretch to point out that the same effect may be seen at the state and international level. Minnesota and the US may be overlooked by businesses.

I’m most interested in the Akamai rankings – but their highlights from the last 5 years were interesting too…

This issue of the State of the Internet Report marks the end of five years of publication — the near equivalent
of an eternity in Internet time. Over this half-decade period, we have seen:

  • The rapid rise of mobile phones and tablets using Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems as the  primary devices for accessing Web content

  • The exhaustion of IANA’s central pool of IPv4 address space, and the ongoing depletion of available IPv4 address space across the Regional Internet Registries

  • Growth in IPv6 adoption across major backbone networks, end-user networks, major Web sites, and leading content delivery networks, including Akamai

  • The development of “national broadband plans” in countries around the world, laying out target connection speeds and adoption/availability targets for the next several years

  • “Internet disruptions” used as a means of control in some countries during periods of political unrest, where  international Internet connectivity is severely limited, or severed entirely

  • Growth in Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks as a means of protest, targeting government, financial services,  commerce, and other enterprise Web sites and applications

PetChatz – Minnesota-built webconferencing for pets

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I  love to hear about innovation online. I love when it comes out of Minnesota. Not being a pet owner, I think PetChatz is very funny – but again I love when innovation and economic development happen in Minnesota because of broadband. We should all be thinking of our next innovation!

Here’s a bit about PetChatz from the St Paul Pioneer Press…

Now a Minnesota company has come up with the ultimate petcam — one that dispenses treats and exudes soothing aromas while letting pets and their masters see and hear each other.

Called PetChatz, it can be controlled from afar using a phone app or desktop browser. With the tap of a touchscreen or a keyboard, the owner can release a treat from within the device for Fido to enjoy.

The product is not yet available, but maker Anser Innovation of Minneapolis is aiming to ramp up production soon with the goal of offering the petcam in Minnesota in the fall and around the country in early 2014.

Anser CEO Lisa Lavin calls the product “a greet-and-treat videophone.”

Google Training Day in Minneapolis May 4

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I know it’s not in everyone’s backyard, but I thought the following was worth sharing – and maybe worth travel…

STEP-UP Entrepreneurship Training Day

CoCo coworking and collaborative space
Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (CDT)
Minneapolis, MN

 

CoCo, STEP-UP and Google are teaming up! Join us for a one-day Google for Entrepreneurs “entrepreneur-in-training” program for students participating in the Minneapolis Step-Up Program. The purpose of the day is to prepare students for their summer employment at small businesses in Minneapolis by equipping students with the knowledge and tools necessary to help them effectively think through problems, and create a business plan from scratch to solve real world challenges.

Draft Agenda: (9:00a – 4:10p)

  • 9:00      – 9:30a Breakfast

  • 9:30      – 9:45a Intros/Icebreaker

  • 9:45      – 10:15a New technologies at Google/Moonshot projects

  • 10:15      – 10:45a Panel on Career (feat. Googler, StepUp member, CoCo member(s))

  • 10:45      – 11:30a How to Pitch Investors: Best Practices (CoCo entrepreneur to give presentation?)

  • 11:30a      – 12:15p Lunch w. pre-assigned groups

  • 12:15      – 1:45p Work groups (Split into 10 groups of 8)

  • 1:45      – 2:00p Break

  • 2:00      – 4:00p Pitch competition (Two rounds)

  • 4:00      – 4:10p Judge/Announcement of winners

Last call for comments on Lifeline

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I know I heard from folks who were glad to hear about the Lifeline program last time I posted something. So, I thought I’d post this too…

The Rural Broadband Policy Group (RBPG), a working group from the National Rural Assembly, would like to make you aware of a last-minute opportunity to support the federal Lifeline program.

Lifeline is a government benefit program that provides discounts on monthly telephone service for eligible low-income consumers to help ensure they have the opportunities and security that telephone service affords, including being able to connect to jobs, family, and 911 services. In rural, Tribal, and low-income communities, Lifeline is literally a lifeline for residents. However, Lifeline has recently come under attack and cuts to the program have been proposed.

Tomorrow, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will host a hearing on the Lifeline program. RBPG would like to encourage you to share your opinion about the program and how it impacts your community.

Annually, the program helps millions of families across the country afford a basic telephone line. Lifeline is essential to the success of our country because it ensures that even the most unserved areas are safe, able to communicate, and included. RBPG believes that any cuts to Lifeline will leave rural communities more vulnerable and locked out from full participation.

Share your thoughts on Lifeline!

Minnesota Broadband Task Force April Meeting: Full Notes

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Yesterday I attended the Minnesota Broadband Task Force meeting. They heard from several folks who offer reduced rate packages (broadband, computers and training) in Minnesota. They also heard from two ARRA-funded broadband adoption programs.

There was some talk about policy. It boiled down to two issues that remain open. First the establishment of an Office of Broadband Deployment – the big question is where it will land and who will do the hiring. Second is the Dig Once issue. Continue reading →

Lake County Fiber Plan Apparently Good as Done

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The Minneapolis Star Tribune paints a happy picture for the ARRA-funded Lake County Fiber Network…

Since the northern Minnesota county won the state’s largest package of federal broadband grants and loans, $66.4 million, in 2010, it’s been fighting a running battle with its competitors — cable TV company Mediacom and telephone company Frontier Communications — over whether a publicly funded network should compete with private business. But the opponents were unsuccessful at stopping the project, and about half of the 1,500-mile fiber network will be built this year.

“Our funds are committed,” said Lake County Commissioner Paul Bergman in an interview Friday. “We’ve already applied for $40 million of our loan and grant money. It would take an act of Congress to kill the project now.”

They report that both Mediacom and Frontier are backing off the project. There is one potential hiccup, but even if that doesn’t go well, the network will press on…

The county’s only remaining challenge related to the broadband project is a $4.9 million, 2011 lawsuit over the way the county originally planned to obtain bonds for its roughly $3.5 million share of the nearly $70 million broadband network. The plaintiff, Orix Public Finance, alleged that it was initially asked to participate, then dropped from the project. It has asked U.S. District Court in Duluth for a summary judgment in its favor.

National Broadband Asset Map from Connected Nation

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Connected Nation has developed a national broadband asset map. Here’s a description from an email received from them…

CNX is aggregating the nation’s assets to create an exchange, or marketplace, to bring together asset owners with those companies that need access to towers, rooftops, utility poles, and other real estate to expand broadband networks. CNX is streamlining site identification, acquisition, and transactions critical to the expansion of fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile broadband services.

Similar to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in the real estate market, the CNX exchange allows public and private owners of assets (rooftops, steeples, real estate, towers, utility poles, dark fiber, Rights of Way) to represent those assets on an interactive and searchable national map.

And according to the website, the CNX Map includes:

  • Network data from more than 2,500 broadband providers;
  • Publicly-owned assets at nearly 300,000 locations;
  • FCC  registered tower sites inclusive of 125,000 + assets;
  • 124,000 + schools;
  • 21,000 + libraries;
  • 38,000 + medial facilities
  • 52,000 + public safety locations
  • 33,000 + local government operations

This sounds like a tool that would be helpful to communities, providers and the Broadband Development Office if that bill should pass in Minnesota. Although it also seems like information a State entity might want to gather themselves to provide to Minnesota residents, businesses and communities. One of the advantages touted on the website is public-private partnership and to that end, maybe it makes more sense to have the private sector expend resources to maintain this information.

When I first read the information I was reminded of the fiber database, which would track (among other things) future construction plans so that broadband providers/builders could plan to deploy fiber around existing plans to minimize cost, construction and inconvenience – but it doesn’t sound as if that is a part of this database. This sounds more like an inventory of real estate assets, as they explain.

eLearning Summit – July 29-30 in St Paul

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It’s a way off yet, but it looks like an interesting conference…

A Summit with Substance!  60+ Summit Sessions and Workshops and Nationally Recognized Keynote Speakers!

Register now for the MN eLearning Summit – July 29 and 30

The Summit connects you with K-12 and higher education practitioners to engage in further discovery and learning through effective and innovative uses of technology.                         Here is a “snapshot” of topics from the Summit program:

  • · Adaptive technology/accessibility · Blended/Hybrid learning models
  • · Digital content design/engagement of students · Digital inclusion
  • · E-books/Flexbooks/interactive textbooks · eProctoring
  • · Flipped learning · Game design for education · GPS Lifeplan
  • · Individual learning plans/personal learning communities · iSeek
  • · Mobile device tools · MOOCs · NROC/OER · Online digital resources for learning and curriculum support
  • · Portfolios/eFolio · Quality Matters

The Summit Program Committee is very pleased with the great response from presenters to address a wide variety of topics! Thank you!

eSynergy: Bringing it All Together connects you with national leaders in education delivering keynote messages, interactive breakout sessions, extended hands-on workshops, showcase sessions featuring innovative technologies, and lots of opportunities to network with colleagues!

If you have questions about submitting a proposal, please feel free to contact a program committee co-chair: Mary Mehsikomer (Twitter: marytmm) or Deborah W. Proctor, Ph.D.

The Minnesota eLearning Summit 2013, July 29-30, 2013 on  the beautiful Northwestern College campus in St. Paul, has a fantastic line-up of keynote speakers:  Cable Green, Jeff Young and Gary Lopez.

This affordable conference in the upper Midwest is focused on all things digital when it comes to learning: online learning, electronic portfolios, digital resources, you name it! Registration for this conference includes access to all Summit events, materials, meals, and parking. Inexpensive on-campus lodging is also available to attendees on the host-college campus.  Register today!

More information on the 2013 Summit is posted at MNeLearningSummit.org. Share information on the Summit with others. Contact us if you need additional information on the conference.

Broadband Communities Summit in Dallas: Day Two

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Bill_ColemanMore news from the Broadband Communities Summit in Dallas.  Some very interesting stuff from the economic development track.

Michael Renders is the expert on FTTH and broadband survey research .  He had some very interesting findings about the value of broadband and its impact on economic development.  He estimates that a FTTH network brings $1600 per house/business passed per year in increased economic activity to a community.  He also estimates that people will pay up to $5500 more for a house that is connected to a FTTH network than a similar house without such a connection.

Jane Patterson, former leader of broadband development in North Carolina said that 31% of rural North Carolinians made money off their network connection through home businesses and that another 14% are planning to start home businesses.

SNG’s Michael Curri talked about how doing business technology assessments provides great base data as well as a pathway for direct business assistance to increase business vitality.  (Michael Curri did a webinar for Blandin Foundation within the last year.)

Christopher Mitchell provided a great list of success stories of how communities have spurred business growth by meeting local business’ bandwidth needs.  He highlighted the variety of approaches that these communities have used, some community-wide, some business only.

Heather Gold, FTTH Council president, demonstrated their new FTTH Community ToolKit.  It looks like a great tool!  Check it out.

Greg Richardson of Civitium talked about his new concept – Crowdfiber.  Essentially, this is using the Kickstarter model tied to the concept of Google Fiber.  It combines the tools of social networks with the many online payment networks with the goal of raising funds to create fiberhoods, ala Google.  Look at www.crowdfiber.com or follow him at @crowdfiber.

Andrew Cohill of Design Nine helps communities take control of their future.  He believes that money is not the determinant factor. He says that there is plenty of money for broadband – cities and counties spend tons of money on all kinds of things with little thought and that plenty of money is spent on broadband in every community every month – the goal is to capture this money for locally owned and controlled projects.

Cohill believes that communities need to do the hard work of answering this question: What do we want our community to look like in 20 years?  Vision drives the process and the results.  Generally, this vision is similar between communities – new jobs, keep their kids,  new businesses. The problem comes when people want these new results, but don’t want anything else to change!

In response to my question about examples of incumbents willingly partnering with communities, there were no great examples; the only examples were providers late to the initiative as an attempt to save some of their market share.

One interesting concept was the Reverse RFI: in essence, offering public assets like poles, right of way, fiber conduit, etc. available up for use by providers.  The Reverse RFI is an opportunity to make better use of these public assets for better broadband.

This was one session of a very interesting day!

Next Broadband Task Force Meeting April 23

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I plan to attend and to take notes. Here’s the logistics and agenda…

Governor’s Task Force on Broadband

April 23, 2013

Room 107, University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center
2001 Plymouth Avenue North,
Minneapolis, MN 55411

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

  • 10:00-10:15 Welcome/Introductions/Public Comments/Approve minutes from February 19, 2013 meeting
  • 10:15-11:00 Comcast Internet Essentials: Martin Ludden
    • CenturyLink Internet Basics: Joanna Hjelmeland
    • C2C : Dick Sjoberg
    • Overview, take rates, lessons learned
  • 11:00-11:30 Broadband Access Project—James DeSota
    • Overview and lessons learned
  • 11:30-11:50 Hmong American Partnership
    • Broadband Adoption – Issues and Challenges
  • 11:50-12:05 EMERGE—Mike Wynne, President and CEO
    • Overview
  • 12:05-12:30 Lunch/Small group legislative discussion
  • 12:30-1:00 Subgroups “Best Practices/Incentives” and “Broadband Adoption” meet
  • 1:00-1:30 Subgroups “Mobile/Wireless” and “Coordination Across Govt./Monitor FCC & PUC Decisions/Cost of Broadband”
  • 1:30-1:45 Legislative and upcoming events update
  • 1:45-2:00 Next meeting location (metro) and topics/Wrap-up
  • 2:00 Adjourn

Broadband Communities Summit in Dallas: Day One

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This week I am at the Broadband Communities Summit in Dallas. (An archive of the conference is/will be available on BroadbandUS.TV.) Yesterday I spoke on a panel about digital inclusion…

Meeting the Special Needs of Elderly, Young, Disabled and Low-Income Americans Senior citizens, young people, disabled individuals, and low-income Americans all have special needs that broadband can help address. In this session, our panel of experts will discuss ways in which broadband can enable members of these groups to maximize their earning power and personal growth and fulfillment.

Moderator:

Speakers:

I wanted to share some of my observations on the conference.

First I was delighted to hear Angela Simpson, Acting Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Department of Commerce, cite the  Blandin MIRC project for its work around Intelligent Community. Successes around social media breakfasts, workforce digital literacy training, business technology training and digital inclusion were highlighted. It was fun to see Minnesota shine.

While we were talking about bridging the digital gap – Heather Gold, chair of the FTTH Council, spoke on the other side of the spectrum – highlighting the top reasons to support gig networks.

  1. No more buffering on video
  2. Increased affordability with Google setting the bar on pricing
  3. Health care applications
  4. Education applications
  5. Serves as a platform for innovation

We heard some sound advice from Ron Holcomb – Vice President, Business Development, Tantalus during a discussion around the difficulties on shared networks between telecom providers and electric utilities.  Key issues include different service areas, unrealistic revenue expectations of telecom providers, contrasting speed of change in the industries (broadband is dynamic, electric is slow), differences in regulatory environments, historic relationships over things like pole attachment disputes.  To encourage partnership, Holcomb’s recommended first step is a cup of coffee!

Minneapolis 5th Nerdiest City

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It’s not necessarily broadband related – but I think it’s a good sign for a community that can make good use of broadband. According to Movoto (a real estate site), Minneapolis makes the Top Ten Nerdiest City list.

Here’s the full list:

  1. Atlanta, GA
  2. Portland, OR
  3. Seattle, WA
  4. Sacramento, CA
  5. Minneapolis, MN
  6. Boston, MA
  7. Las Vegas, NV
  8. Miami, FL
  9. San Jose, CA
  10. Denver, CO

And the criteria for nerdiness…

  • Number of annual comic book, video game, anime, and sci-fi / fantasy conventions
  • People per comic book store
  • People per video game store
  • People per traditional gaming store
  • People per computer store
  • People per bookstore
  • People per LARPing group (live action role-playing)
  • People per science museum
  • Distance to the nearest Renaissance faire

Notes & Video from HF 985 Telecommunications enforcement authority clarified

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Yesterday I attended the hearing session for HF985…

HF985 (Johnson) Telecommunications enforcement authority clarified, new requirements for tariffs added, proprietary information protected, criteria for certificates of authority specified, alternative regulation plans terminated, definitions added, technical corrections made, obsolete provisions removed, and conforming changes made.

The hearing was informational only. It was interesting to hear the different parties present the issues. I’m going to leave my notes pretty much asis with the understanding that the video is here to fill in the blanks.

Bill summary:

A rewrite of Chapter 237. It’s an effort to modernize telecommunications policy – in the words since the breakup of the bell companies. There are 25 sections of the bill. Many are repealed: Continue reading →