House CTO to Headline Upcoming Summit in Minneapolis

July 11, 2009

OK the good things seem to happen back home when I’m gone…

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER TO HEADLINE UPCOMING NATIONAL CIVIC SUMMIT
WHAT: Newly appointed Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra will be one of the 70 featured speakers at the National Civic Summit on July 16-17.
The summit opens at 9:00 a.m. on July 16 with a presentation by Target Corporation’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Sr. Public Affairs Officer Nate Garvis. The closing keynote entitled “Passionate Citizens: The Key to Minnesota’s Successful Recount,” will be delivered at 4:00 p.m. on July 17 by summit host, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. This will be the first public presentation by Ritchie since the conclusion of Minnesota’s U.S. Senate election.

A complete listing of presentations is available online at www.nationalcivicsummit.com.

WHEN: National Civic Summit
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily
Event is free and open to the public
WHERE: Minneapolis Hilton
Minneapolis, Minn.

BACKGROUND: Active citizenship is the bedrock of our democracy. The National Civic Summit is a venue for hundreds of civic organizations from across the country to engage each other in conversations through presentations and workshops in an effort to best serve the public interest by addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Ritchie teamed up with the Citizens League to host the National Civic Summit with major support provided by Target Corporation.

The summit immediately precedes the summer meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State hosted by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie in Minneapolis.

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Posted by Ann Treacy

Broadband Task Force Meeting July 17

July 10, 2009

blog_taskforceJust wanted to send a reminder to folks about the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Task Force meeting this month. (See the Agenda below.) It’s on July 17 in Mankato. I’ll still be in Ireland, so I won’t be there – but a kind friend has offered to record it for me so I’m hoping to get the notes regardless.

Also I wanted to remind folks that Blandin Foundation will be presenting a Broadband Policy Seminar on July 16 in Mankato. Last month’s session in Grand Rapids went very well. If you’re near Mankato and can make it to either meeting, I’d encourage you to go.

Task Force Meeting Agenda
Date Friday, July 17, 2009
Time 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Location Loose Moose Saloon and Conference Center
119 S. Front Street
Mankato, MN

8:00 – 9:00 Continental breakfast – meet and greet the Task Force – open to all

9:00 – 9:15 Opening comments; review meeting agenda
Approve meeting minutes from June 19th meeting

9:15 – 10:15 Public comment

10:15 – 11:00 How to approach aspirational speed goal
• A number stated as ”the equivalent in 2015 of XX in 2010”
• A statement about where we want to be on the rankings in the US and Globally
[Craig Taylor, Brent Christenson, Dan McElroy, Peg Werner, Shirley Walz]

11:00 – 11:15 Break

11:15 – 11:30 Symmetrical sub-group report
• Review language to cover the notion of symmetrical vs. asymmetrical speeds
[Shirley Walz, JoAnne Johnson, Mike O’Connor]

11:30 – 12:15 Role of Government – sub-group report
• Discuss and decide on language for the report
[Tom Garrison, Mike O’Connor, Vijay Sethi, Karen Smith, John Stanoch, Robyn West]

12:15 – 12:45 Break for Lunch

12:45 – 1:30 Recommendation #2 – Policies and actions necessary to achieve ubiquitous broadband – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[Mike O’Connor, Brent Christensen, JoAnne Johnson, Diane Wells, Peg Werner, Mary Ellen Wells/Joe Schindler, Carlos Seone]

1:30 – 2:15 Recommendation #3 – Opportunities for public and private sectors to cooperate to achieve goal – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[Brent Christensen, Steve Cawley, Tom Garrison, Tim Lovaasen, Vijay Sethi, Robyn West, Mary Ellen Wells/Joe Schindler, Diane Wells]

2:15 – 3:00 Recommendation #4 – Evaluation of strategies, financing, financial incentives used in other states/countries to support broadband development & Recommendation #6 – Cost estimate – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[John Gibbs, Dan McElroy, John Stanoch, Dick Sjoberg, Diane Wells]

3:00 – 3:30 Recommendation #5 – Evaluation and recommendation of security, vulnerability, and redundancy actions necessary to ensure reliability – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[Mike O’Connor, Steve Cawley, Craig Taylor, Jack Ries/Gopal Khanna, Shirley Walz]

3:30 – 3:45 Plans for Upcoming Meetings (reference Planning Calendar)
• August 21st Fergus Falls
• Expectations for reviewing updated draft of report
• September 18th Thomson Reuters
• October 2nd,16th, 30th Thomson Reuters

3:45 Closing comments, adjourn meeting

1 Comment | Blandin Foundation, Conferences, MN, Policy | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

July 9 webcast for NOFA

July 8, 2009

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

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Posted by Ann Treacy

BIP & BTOP workshops

July 2, 2009

The NTIA & RUS are planning a series of workshops for folks who intend to submit applications for stimulus funding. A workshop will be held in St Paul on July 21.

Here’s the scoop from their web site:

Workshops will include an overview of BTOP-BIP programs, a review of the application process for NTIA
and RUS grants and loans and individual meetings with Rural Development headquarters and field staff.

Pre-registration will close for each city approximately 24 hours prior to each workshop.

Please select the workshop you will attend. If you will attend more than one workshop, complete the registration for your first city and submit a separate registration for any other you’d like to attend.

All workshops run from 8am – 5:30pm local time
Pre-registration will be from 6pm – 9pm local time the evening before each event.

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Posted by Ann Treacy

Broadband Policy Seminar Grand Rapids June 18, 2009

June 19, 2009

About 30-40 people came to the Blandin Broadband Policy Seminar, including journalists (some from the Twin Cities), Task Force board members, representative from Senator Klobuchar’s office, community leaders. Technologists and folks interested in relocating their new businesses.

There are people who are involved with infrastructure and there are people who are interested in making sure that underserved – get access both in terms of infrastructure and training. People have seen the impact of well used technology and they have lived the results of limited access to technology.

In an effort to get these out in time, I’m rushing this. Hopefully it won’t be too rough. But I thought some folks might want to see it before the meeting tomorrow. Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Blandin Foundation, Community Networks, Conferences, Digital Divide, FTTH, Funding, MN, Policy, Rural | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

FTTH Council – Telecom Service Provider’s Workshop

June 4, 2009
FTTH Council

FTTH Council

Today I’m at the FTTH Council meeting in Minneapolis. It’s been interesting. I don’t always sit in a room full of providers. The questions are different; the focus is different. The stimulus funding has been THE topic. Many people reminded attendees that this is a jobs program first and foremost! One person joked that the stimulus funding now takes 90 percent of his time – and that’s before the RFP is even out. Others have talked about how the stimulus funding in many ways has put a stop to any projects that had been in the works as everyone reworks plans to (hopefully) qualify for stimulus funding.

I have taken notes. I think they will be most interesting to anyone who might be looking at deploying FTTH in their community or anyone interested in applying for stimulus funding.

I walked in at the intro… Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Conferences, FTTH, Funding, MN, Policy, Rural, Vendors | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Broadband Task Force on the Road with Policy Seminar Opportunities

May 30, 2009

blog_taskforceThis summer the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force will be on the road:
June 19 – Grand Rapids
July 17 – Mankato
August 21 – Fergus Falls

I’ve mentioned this before but I want to mention it again beucase if you’re in or near one of those areas, you should think about going. It really seems as if they are open to hearing formt he public. Few people have shown up to chime in at these meetings – so your voice would be heard. I’m going to go out on a limb and say – even I fyou can only come long enough to be heard, that would be valuable to you and the Task Force.

I’m planning to be in Grand Rapids and Fergua Falls. I’m hoping to find a way to listen in to the Mankato session (since I’ll be out of the country that month).

Blandin FoundationAlso if you’re in or near one of these areas, on behalf of the Blandin Foundation, I’d like to invite you to attend an accompanying Broadband Policy Seminar. The seminars are hosted by a local partner and are held on the day before the Task Force meeting.

Here’s the official inviation:

Blandin Foundation and regional partners including ARDC, Region 9 Development Commission, and Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, are promoting informed public participation in the Task Force meetings by hosting free seminars prior to each Task Force visit.

Each seminar will include regional panelists actively engaged in broadband deployment and use, and time for participants to organize their regional voice for the task force meeting the following day.

Minnesota Broadband Policy Seminars
• June 18, 3-5 pm, Sawmill Inn, Grand Rapids
• July 16, 3-5 pm, Region 9 Development Commission, Mankato
• August 20, 3 -5 pm, Big Woods, Fergus Falls

If you plan to attend – please just send a quick RSVP to broadband@blandinfoundation.org

Leave a Comment » | Blandin Foundation, Conferences, MN, Policy, Rural | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

May 15 Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force

May 15, 2009

Here are my notes from the Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force meeting today. I think it was a good day – the main drive was to get through some contentious issues. I did my best to capture the conversation. If you want a shortcut you might consider jumping to the indented portions of the notes, which reflect the notes that were taken by the facilitator.

Update on stimulus package/What was heard in DC in the last 3 weeks:
• Everyone is waiting on NTIA; guidelines expected mid or late June.
• The FCC is waiting on appointment; not looking for comments until they are ready.
• RUS & NTIA are going to work together on the application process. One source for applying and applicants can get money from either.

Public Comment: nothing from attendees

If someone has a relevant point – how can they submit it? They could send a note to Rick King or attend a meeting and speak.

Issue Number One:  Role of Governement

Define issue:
Some people feel government should furnish broadband as they do roads. Others believe that should be left to others.
Does anyone believe the government should be involved in content for example consumer sales materials?

Government gets less involved as you move up the info stack. But even at the high level government has some consumer protection.

Initially I thought no – but MMUA folks might disagree in that they provide public access info.

Should the government provide services?

Under certain circumstances when the private sector doesn’t step in – then maybe the government does need to go in.

Does it make sense to come up with criteria where this group might sanction government intervention.

Public-private partnership can help put in the conduit. Maybe the government should become a coordinating support.

1. Government looks out of best interest of constituents?
2. Is broadband in public interest?
3. As a regulating entity, what is their role?

The role of gov right now, I can identify 3 roles:
• Finance partner
• Regulator – so they regulate price
• Competitor – the existing criteria is when a super majority says OK; then gov can become competitor

Another way to look at it:
• Government as provider
• Government as participant

Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Broadband Applications, Conferences, MN, Policy, Rural | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

ICF Update: public networks in use

May 15, 2009

Bill Coleman is currently at the Building the Broadband Economy 2009 Intelligent Community Forum conference in NY this week. He is sending back quick reactions and news from the conference…

It was fun to see the excitement of community leaders last night at the ICF
reception. These Top Seven communities were recognized for their efforts and their results in transforming their economies.

It has been an interesting morning as well. We heard from Fredericton New Brunswick about their communities. They have a unique approach to network provision and use. A community fiber loop serves the public sector and some large users. Free wifi serves large areas of the community. Private providers serve residents and small and medium businesses.

Their neighbor, Moncton, is also a top seven community. They have wifi on their buses!

Leave a Comment » | Community Networks, Conferences, FTTH, Wireless | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Updates from ICF: Eindhoven & shared visions

May 14, 2009

Bill Coleman is currently at the Building the Broadband Economy 2009 Intelligent Community Forum conference in NY this week. He is sending back quick reactions and news from the conference…

Eindhoven in the Netherlands has a FTTP open access network. Speeds to the home are 100 Mb.

What are they using it for? Good question! Eindhoven has announced plans to position their region as a bandwidth intensive laboratory with an invitation to application developers to use the Eindhoven as their place to identify, create and deploy new applications. New services for residents – attraction of skilled and creative talent and new jobs. That’s intelligent!

According to all of the people on the ICF agenda, a community with a shared vision and a culture of inter-sector collaboration has tremendous advantages for competing in the global marketplaces. They can move faster, overcome more barriers and achieve more.

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Posted by Bill Coleman

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