As MPR reports…

Bemidji-based Paul Bunyan Communications, which provides service to some 28,000 phone customers, is slowing down an aggressive expansion of fiber optic cable because the Federal Communications Commission is shifting how it allocates money in what is known as the Universal Service Fund.

The company could receive from $3 million to $5 million less from that fund each year as more money flows instead to such large carriers as AT&T and Verizon, a company spokesman said.

I’ve heard the same sentiment from other folks, such as at the CLE Day on Broadband last week. The Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) feel as if they are paying into a system from which they can’t make a withdrawal. At that meeting Joseph Cavender from the FCC explained that the recent changes are the first of several phases, indicating that the next round of changes may help LECs. I think that feels like cold comfort right now – first because it doesn’t help today. Second, because that just leads to more uncertainty and it’s difficult to build (or sustain) a business plan or make investments based on uncertainty – as seems to be the case with Paul Bunyan.

It’s hard on the companies; it’s hard on the communities as well. A recent report from the University of Minnesota Extension (Economic Contribution of Telecommunications Companies Serving Greater Minnesota) indicates that the total economic contribution of the telecommunications industry serving Greater Minnesota in 2011 was an estimated $1.3 billion. So anything that hampers growth will hamper the economic impact. Also with the negative impact and uncertainty communities are not getting broadband.

David W. Collins, Executive Director of Hubbard County Regional Economic Development Commission has sent a email to several folks outlining the potential problems with these changes on his community and asking policymakers and community leaders to consider the impact…

We need your help!

The Hubbard County Regional Economic Development Commission (HCREDC) for several years has been trying to bring high speed broadband services to ALL of our rural areas. Approximately 4,000 homes and businesses within the Park Rapids (MN) phone exchange currently are not served, and have to rely on satellite or dial up service. These options are unacceptable. Bringing state of the art, underground fiber optic cable to these areas is vital to our future economic growth for numerous reasons, a few of which are:

1) the ability for consultants and others to operate / manage their business from home;
2) students / parents / teachers / schools being able to communicate and student being able to complete assignments (they are currently at a disadvantage compared to other students);
3) resorts being able to take reservations and market themselves, plus the ability of guests to communicate while visiting;
4) people want to live in this area, but are choosing to purchase real estate only where broadband is available;
5) medical care / monitoring plus emergencies;
6) the list goes on and on.

After communicating with several industry providers in our area, the HCREDC partnered with Paul Bunyan Communications (cooperative, based in Bemidji) and supported efforts to obtain a Rural Utility Service loan (RUS loan) thru the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This effort was successful and Paul Bunyan Communications was awarded a $17 million loan in September 2011 to build out fiber to each home in the Park Rapids area. It was expected that work would begin immediately with fiber going into the ground beginning Spring of 2012, with project completion estimated to be early 2014.

HOWEVER, in late October and again in November, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order to “reform” universal service fund (USF) and intercarrier access compensation. This “reform” would cost local telecoms millions of dollars annually in lost revenue. It would dramatically change the business model for these telecoms from a system that has worked and been in place for years. The “reform” would significantly reduce their annual revenues and in almost all cases eliminate their ability to invest in rural broadband / phone infrastructure. It is my understanding that one of our local area telecoms stands to lose over $3 million annually due to this “reform”, which would be implemented over the next 9 years. This “reform” will make it extremely difficult for these businesses to repay existing loans, let alone invest in further developing a broadband infrastructure in rural areas.

This is not just a Hubbard County problem. It is not just a Minnesota problem. It is a problem for rural areas nationwide!! This “reform” will negatively impact the development of rural broadband infrastructure nationwide. Imagine if rural areas did not have land phone lines or electricity? We are basically talking about the same issue for our times! And this is much more important than keeping rural post offices open!!!

But back to Hubbard County. The build out of fiber in our area has been for the most part “put on hold” because of the “reform” and its impact locally. Tough for Paul Bunyan Communication (or anyone else in our area) to build out a $17 million broadband infrastructure when the revenue model is being so drastically changed.

So, we are asking that:

1) our congressional delegation (Senator Klobuchar, Senator Franken, Congressman Colin Peterson & Congressman Chip Cravaack) make this issue a top priority; [See note from Klobuchar/Franken]
2) we need our congressional delegation work to have the FCC order nullified or reversed or amended in a way that our project could proceed;
3) and we may need our congressional delegation to extend the deadline for using the $17 million dollar RUS loan authorization. Time is ticking away on us as this issue is being “discussed” in Washington. The “reform” issue needs to be resolved, but when that happens we still need to be able to access the $17 million RUS loan;
4) the Association of Minnesota Counties to actively become involved in this issue. Perhaps by asking each county to pass a resolution of support, and by actively engaging their Minnesota and Washington lobbyists and political action network;
5) Bill Richards, Richards Policy Group, representing Governor Dayton & Minnesota, become actively involved in resolving this issue;
6) Impact 20 / 20 (Northwest Minnesota Foundation) to become involved and mobilize their network;
7) Blandin Foundation Broadband Initiative become involved and mobilize their network;
8) Governor Dayton and his staff to make this a priority and communicate the same to the Richards Policy Group and entire MN Congressional delegation;
9) that the Rural Broadband Alliance (based in Washington, D. C.) continue to work with us towards a satisfactory solution.

Apparently challenges to the “reform” have been, or will shortly be, filed in the 10th Circuit Courts (Denver). However, this route to remedy the situation could take years at best. Congressional action is needed and needed now. The intent of the USDA’s RUS program is solid, the FCC needs to keep its USF and inter-carrier access fees in line with and supportive of that intent.

I offer the content of his email almost in its entirety as a roadmap for anyone who has similar concerns.

As part of a larger, ongoing research project, this paper discusses the digital presence of rural businesses in 23 communities. We define digital presence as any locally controlled webpages, social media, or GooglePlace pages devoted to an entity, i.e., a private business, nonprofit, or government office, within a community. Overall, the digital presence of 85 townships and cities were assessed.

Here are the results:

Across the 23 communities, an average of 42.6 percent of businesses had a website. On average, 9.9 percent of businesses in each community used social media. More businesses showed activity on their GooglePlace pages. No major difference was found between the control and intervention communities for website and social media use.

The research seemed to pinpoint a few reasons that communities seemed to have more businesses online that their cohort communities

• MIRC communities saw slightly higher use of GooglePlace pages. UMN MIRC business training sessions focus on GooglePlace.
• Businesses in growing communities have a higher proportion of websites, are more likely to use social media for business, and have a higher proportion of GooglePlaces with owner verification and content.

The report adds that since the study was inclusive, not random, in nature that it doesn’t necessarily reflect all of rural Minnesota – but it does include 23% of rural businesses. So I suspect the rest of the state would follow suit. Check out the actual report if you want to see the list of specific communities and how they fared.

One fun follow up – the researchers used business listing from InfoUSA (a tried a true market research tool) to get lists of businesses. While the raw data from the report if not available to the general public, they have shared it with the individual communities so that efforts can be made to approach businesses to encourage them to learn more about effectively using the Internet to market themselves. As Hans wrote to me, “the important thing is that this is information that can help communities make “informed, intentional, positive choices about their future.”

The City of Monticello has put bondholders on notice that the municipal broadband network once hailed as a national model is unable to meet its financial obligations with revenue generated from FiberNet Monticello customers. Instead, city leaders now will discuss how to restructure payment of $26 million in revenue bonds to save the faltering broadband network.

A financial report prepared for the Monticello City Council meeting on May 14th acknowledges that FiberNet “continues to operate at a loss. For the quarter, FiberNet lost around $100,000, not including its 2012 debt payments.”

A blunt letter sent to Wells Fargo Bank in March indicates the City does not have an obligation to continue making up the losses incurred by FiberNet.

I contacted Jeff O’Neill, the city administrator at Monticello for his take on an update. He touches upon some of the issues we’ve heard in the past: the budget has taken a hit starting with obstacles caused by the lawsuit brought against the project at the onset of the initiative. Also they have seen some fierce competition from other providers. But I think it’s interesting to take a look how a community network can and should measure success. Obviously finances is part of the equation – but providing the community with the infrastructure it needs to succeed is another part.

Here’s what Jeff had to say…

When evaluated as a whole, FNM has been wonderful for the community.  As requested by its citizens, FNM has delivered.   The system is performing well with FNM staff and HBC getting great reviews from customers.  The community is benefitting from telecommunication service at a level and cost that is the envy of the nation.  With telecommunication costs  dropping 35-60% since the inception of FNM, the savings to the community are enormous.  This savings and improved performance is certainly a huge plus for the local economy and supports the goal of  job creation.

When measured from a purely profit and loss basis,  original business plan has been impacted significantly by the one year delay created by the TDS lawsuit along with a variety of impacts resulting from the great recession.   Also, the presence of an army of Charter door to door salespeople selling 30 meg internet, all video channels and four movie channels for $59.90 has blunted the growth of FNM subscription rates.    Please note however that FNM subscription rates are actually quite good (Appros 39% of Single/two family) and we have a strong and steady base of customers that continue as FNM customers due to fair prices and great service. These customers have turned away Charter salespeople on multiple occasions.   Some have mentioned that they will not take the Charter deal as doing so would be self-defeating and like cheating against themselves and their neighbors who voted for building the system.

Over one quarter of businesses in the community are using services (120+) and the number continues to grow.  Overall, business and residential citizens in the community are saving millions due to the reasonable prices by FiberNet combined with the drastically low prices by Charter.   The original David and Goliath story ended with the sling of a single rock… this modern day version is ongoing… Monticello is fighting the good fight and doing what it can to enhance financial viability through cost cutting and development of new revenue sources.  We are confident that these business development efforts will ultimately off-set the economic damage resulting from the lawsuit and unbelievable competitive pricing.

 

Winona has a unique problem that the $100,000 local grant is also addressing: the city needs to attract more workers to fill the jobs it has. Grant money is being used to create free wireless portals around the city that are comparable to similar offerings in urban centers.

With two universities, a technical college, and a history of entrepreneurial efforts, this scenic river town is long on innovation. The number of global companies that trace their roots to the city of 27,000 is notable by any standard, with many still headquartered there today. Global giants like Fastenal, Hal Leonard, Peerless Chain, Watkins, RTP and others.

Higher education, health care, arts and culture have risen to meet the needs of Winona‘s innovative business community, and now widely available broadband technology adds a crucial piece of the progressive puzzle. With slow population growth, the city needs more workers so local companies can continue to flourish.

Technology, business, and medical jobs are available, in a place modern job-seekers might not think to look. A place that’s historic, contemporary, innovative, culture-rich, and a welcome alternative to the big-city grind. And now, well connected to the rest of the world.

Notes: for more on modern-day Winona, go to www.cityofwinona-mn.com. Grant money was also used in Winona to provide computer training to 60 Hmong refugees, and home computers to 40 Hmong refugee families, in partnership with PCs for People.

This week, the St Cloud Times paints a different picture of Internet in the schools. The Internet/broadband now permeates every aspect of education – from teaching to education administration. Now it’s the classroom, school and student without access that have become the exception – and not in such an exceptional way…

Broadband is being used in Minnesota schools for student testing, reports to the state, portals for parents to track their child’s work, and for students to take online classes, according to a December report from the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. Professional development for teachers is another area where broadband access can reduce costs.

“I think people don’t always realize … how essential Internet access is to the business of doing education. It’s no longer nice to have,” said Mary Mehsikomer, technology integration development and outreach facilitator for TIES, which is an education technology collaborative.

“It’s just as important as having electricity and water. It’s really become a core component of the whole business of delivering instruction and also managing school districts.”

The good news is that as the article points out – most schools and the majority of students have access. The bad news is that they often don’t have sufficient access. There are programs that are out there supporting connectivity, especially for schools. The FCC’s E-Rate program subsidies offset about $20 million to $25 million in Minnesota every year, about half of what it costs schools. On a more local level, Foley Schools recently received funding (via Blandin Foundation’s MIRC program) to install more wireless units in the school for school and community use.

And the Internet isn’t just for K12…

“Internet access has gotten so vitally important for college students,” said Vi Bergquist, chief information officer of St. Cloud Technical and Community College. “It’s almost a must.”

“Some people wouldn’t be able to get an education if we didn’t offer online classes,” she said.

At the college, registration is done only online and some classes are offered online, she said.

The college accommodates students who don’t have access at home with open computer labs, which is good but I think insufficient for many students. The article mentions a college student who was trying to take an online class using only her mobile phone. (That’s some dedication to the effort!)

So while progress is being made on the school front, progress is still lagging for home access in some areas and with some demographics…

“Some (parents) don’t realize what the kids can’t do,” he [Marc Johnson, director of ECMECC] added. “They don’t know they have access that just isn’t robust enough.”

As a community we should be asking what our kids can’t do due to limited technology – and is the cost of that lost opportunity greater than the cost of providing ubiquitous opportunity. (Both in terms of broadband connections and computers – as a parent of three students I can attest that the cost of the equipment can easily trump cost of connectivity.) There are lower-cost options available from Comcast and CenturyLink ($9.95/month and reduced rate computers for qualifying families) but that only helps in Comcast/CenturyLink coverage areas.

This paper will explain the economic and societal gains enabled by broadband, and describe how different rural service providers and the communities they serve have embraced the challenges and opportunities of new technology.

They take a look at Education, Health Care, Agriculture, Electronic Government, Public Safety, Utilities and the Consumer’s Home. Each chapter includes a statement of need (generally backed up with statistics and citations), some specifics on what communities and providers ought to be thinking about moving forward and a couple of case studies taken from real rural communities.

I think this report can be used to compel a community to take a closer look at broadband. It could offer some advice on goals. And, as it’s been developed by the NTCA and therefore uses examples from local telecommunications providers, I think this could be used to engage local provider through examples of success approaches by counterparts in similar areas.

I would like to pull out two Minnesota examples used in the report – both highlight best practices in Education…

Halstad MN – Discovery Education Drives Use

Based in Halstad, Minn., independent telecommunications cooperative Halstad Telephone Co. (HTC) maintains an Ethernet, fiber‐based network that provides broadband service to each of the four K–12 schools in its territory. HTC is part of the Northwest Minnesota Special Access, a consortium of 18 rural telephone companies that connects 126 schools and 43 libraries in the state. Students often use a remote video connection to take advanced placement, foreign language and other specialty courses from a teacher located in another facility. The network is linked to the University of Minnesota, Crookston, enabling high school students to enroll in college courses via a video conferencing application.

Although the network has been in place for many years, HTC recently observed an exponential increase in online activity. In 2010, HTC arranged provision of Discovery Education service to its four local K–12 schools at the company’s expense for one year. Under the terms of the arrangement, instructors and students have access to Discovery Education’s multimedia and interactive content within the school building. Content includes audio files, images and videos, as well as interactive elements such as online quizzes, educational games, and math and science lab simulations. The rural communications provider reports that the various school systems engaged in this endeavor each have a 6 Mbps to 30 Mbps symmetrical connection, and due to the popularity of multimedia content, the various capacities are maxed out at least once per day. HTC also stated that combined with the increasing use of tablets, it expects many schools to double their broadband speed requirements within the next two years.

Spring Grove MN – Devices Drive Use

Headquartered in Spring Grove, Minn., rural provider Spring Grove Communications (SGC) enables its citizens to learn on cutting‐edge technology devices. SGC partnered with its local school district to outfit students with the latest laptops and tablets. Apple iPads are used in all of the elementary classrooms, and every seventh through 12th grader has an Apple MacBook Air available to him during the school day. If a student wishes to take home a MacBook Air, he has the option of renting one for $15 a month. Many of the families renting laptops have never had a computer in their home. The program engages students on a dynamic, digital online platform, providing for learning anytime and anywhere. It also is educating students and teachers alike about how to use this technology and the importance of broadband in today’s economy.

In addition to the student aspect of education innovation, virtual learning is a driver of economic development for small, rural towns. Under the traditional education system, a teacher is limited to open positions within driving distance of her home. With virtual education, a teacher residing in a rural area is able to teach from home and reach students across the state, district lines or the globe.

As Cisco reports…

Dr Michael Johnson believes that one should “never waste a good crisis.” In recent years the provost of Itasca Community College (ICC) has faced more than his share: beginning in 2005, declining enrolments in northeastern Minnesota dealt a serious blow to institutions of higher learning, as well as local elementary and secondary schools. As a result, colleges and schools funded by the state based on student population found their budgets stretched beyond the breaking point.

But Johnson and his colleagues in administration have turned obstacles into triumph: as part of the Itasca Area Schools Collaborative (IASC), the college now works in close partnership with a consortium of seven rural Minnesota K-12 school districts to share resources and provide the highest quality education possible for their students. Supported by a robust networking infrastructure, standardized systems and innovative technology tools, IASC members are ensuring that geography and distance no longer limit academic opportunity.

Blandin is pleased to have played a supporting role in the transformation. We invested $50,000 in MIRC funds through the Lightspeed grant program and $750,000 in regular grant funding to build two “immersive telepresence classrooms” in the IASC districts and related training.  (Subsequent funding includes $1.76 million in federal dollars, $1.76 investment from vendor partners and district investments of approximately $1.5 million.)

While Cisco gets into some of the details of how it happened, Minnesota Public Radio details the fruits of IASC’s labor…

Teachers are using telepresence classrooms for Spanish and Ojibwe, but next year, the district will offer 17 courses in them, ranging from literature and writing, to business, mass marketing and calculus.

School officials say the uses go beyond academic courses. The technology also will allow students to talk to people anywhere in the world, and take virtual field trips to places like NASA and the Smithsonian Museums.

[School Superintendent Matt] Grose said modern distance learning technology levels the playing field for school districts that are remote and sparsely populated. It allows them to hire specialized teachers and share the costs.

“Our kids in Deer River are going to have opportunities to take higher level courses that we can’t offer here, or at least that we don’t have the enrollment to justify a teacher for,” he said. “All of the sudden you can justify running that course and you have kids that are getting access to things that are rigorous and relevant. And we think that’s important.”

It appears that only a very small handful of K-12 schools and college campuses in Minnesota are using the newest generation of interactive technology.

We are pleased to see hard work and investment reap such benefits. We wanted to share an added perspective from IASC Technology Services Director Lora Mathison…

“This golden thread of connectivity allows classroom students to take trigonometry, dislocated workers to be retooled, agencies to offer state-of-the-art trainings for staff and business meetings to be scheduled without drive time.  The expansion to the community is only in infant stages… the expanded opportunities  for students, families, staff, community, businesses, medical institutions, non-profits and others will only be limited by creativity.  The future promises to bring new ways to utilize the telepresence classrooms that have not even been thought of yet.”

“As exciting and successful as this project has been for IASC and the region, it is just a glimpse of what may follow.  Fundamental changes in public education are on the horizon and innovative technology solutions such as telepresence will be able to offer transitional support.”

And while we’re celebrating Grand Rapids Area’s efforts around education, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune on the Strive Partnership…

Known as the Strive Partnership, the program follows this strategy: Identify specific goals, come up with a common way to measure those goals, and do so by using a rigorous set of data that can be shared with everyone. Each community sets its own priorities for improving education for students “from cradle to career.”

The Deer River School District is using the approach for an effort called Itasca Area Student Success Initiative.

I am a long-time E-Democracy volunteer. The traditional way to grow a list is through existing social networks. In other words, I ask two friends to join, they ask two friends and so on. It grows a list – but it also means you get folks who run in the same circles. In the last couple of years, E-Democracy has made concerted effort to encourage greater diversity in forum participation. This report explains what they have done successfully.

I think this work will be valuable for community leaders who are also struggling with how to make their programs more inclusive.

Here’s a quick description from the report itself…

Through this work, E-Democracy hopes to debunk assumptions that people in poverty, of color, new immigrants, and others historically disenfranchised are digitally disconnected or less interested in connecting with their neighbors online than those in homogeneous, wealthy neighborhoods – and instead demonstrate that they in fact bring assets, capacities, information, and agenda-setting value to online civic participation.

And here’s an abbreviated/paraphrased list of what has worked…

In Outreach:

• Face-to-face connections, paper signup sheets, and a personal approach are by far the most successful recruiting methods.
• Building trust is essential. Knowing that “someone like me” is on the forum makes a difference. Personal invitations and direct support help people get started.
• Understanding people’s needs and then helping them find ways for those needs to be addressed through the forum smooths the path for their participation and continued involvement.
• Partnering with respected neighbors and event organizers creates opportunities to participate in community activities and offer people the chance to sign up for our forums

Content Management

• Seeding stories that are of interest to diverse populations
• Maintaining cultural awareness and proficiency in posts and outreach

The report is full of stories and practical advice – and again suggested reading for leaders in any community effort that would benefit from increasing diversity. (I have to think that’s just about any effort.) You can also learn more about the project on a special online event with the authors and others involved with the project will speak.

PCs for People chose Austin as one of 10 greater-Minnesota communities to get 75 to 100 free computers since February 2012. But that isn’t the beginning. PCs for People has donated more than 14,000 computers since it started in 1998. With the help of local businesses such as Hormel, the Mayo Clinic and local electric co-op, PCs for People was able to convert used or damaged computers into, practical, usable gifts for those who need them.

“This is a win-win for businesses need to manage their end-of-lifecycle digital assets in a cost-effective way, and for the community,” said Casey Sorenson, executive director of PCs for People.”

Todd County FIBERBAND 40 people in attendance Nate Burkett, county coordinator goal of meeting -
Inform, gather information from users, find partners, not make decisions

Timeline on project:

• April 2011 – County board approves resolution seeking broadband
• May 2011 – Countywide meeting
• August Blandin grant
• January 2012 – feasibility study completed and presented to county board.
• March 2012 – interest survey through tax statements – 400 responses.
• April – meeting with Arvig to discuss partnership possibilities

What’s next?
Community decision making.

Mark Birkholz – ACS

No current business model works for FTTP now PP partnership might work – evaluate… Breakeven – 25, 36 to 43 years Be ready if BB stimulus funds become available.
Be positioned for USF changes – proposed changes will not help project.
Fiber is the end all – be all for broadband deployment.

John Schultz U-reka Broadband Ventures

Cites the county for moving relatively quickly. John recognizes Blandin, Toni Merdan and Alex Weego.

Starting does lead to action.. Todd County has started!
Marketing study, Build options, Capital requirements, Business modeling, possible next steps.

Residential
96 % of people still have a land line telephone.
53% Internet penetration

• Rural customers less satisfied
• Customers want faster speeds, more bandwidth 74% cable and satellite penetration
• Charter in town
• Dish in rural areas
• Where ACS has capacity, they also offer video

65% “likely” to change providers
same percentage in rural and urban

Expected bundle pricing
39% – $85-100 per month
20% – $101 – 110
18% – more than 110 dollars

Business survey

• 86% of businesses use a broadband connection Only 37% have a web site those not using cannot get broadband 62% would like higher speeds at work
• 100 % want faster service at home

A few Todd County customers have FTTH through ACS or Consolidated Telephone or WCTA.

Rural outside ACS
Town/city outside ACS
ACS Service Areas

Total build cost with 100% penetration – $65 million 65% penetration used. ACS competitive pricing model – Staples and Wadena
30 year model – $42 million capital cost and operational costs based on 65% penetration. Includes electronics refresh.

Cash flow positive in year 3.

Intangible benefits

• Savings due to competitive environment – 30%?
• Economic development surrounding the network development
• Significant jobs impact
• Improved governmental and educational services

Jobs – construction and operations and permanent new business and jobs and telework.

Now

• further discussions with ACS
• Sales/education and marketing program to demonstrate 65% penetration Discussions with funding sources – bonding, etc.
• Meet with RUS
• Follow USF discussion and exploit opportunities

Questions -

Recruiting market/education team.

Issues around multiple devices and the use of bandwidth.
Cannot take online classes due to poor broadband.
K12 districts need students with broadband; new online training enabling college courses. Schools need the bandwidth too!
Bundling would be a big saver for residential and business.
Rural people may be/would be willing to pay more.
Move forward as a county .
Wireless did not work when it rains, snows, etc.
Timelines on decision-making.
County goal 20/10 Mb by 2014 in towns, in rural areas by 2016.
Hoping for federal action.
3 year build out to spend $65 million.

Wireless as the solution. Many limitations to wireless; it is significantly cheaper. Fiber is future proof. Copper is definitely limited.

Need to work to get the discussion going across the county, with lots of people participating. Make it easy for the county board to say yes.

So many people want and need broadband. We need a local partner, one with local customer service. People in rural MN understand the needs and value of both rural and city livers.

Discussion about enhanced competition. and the effect on pricing and take rates. Schultz indicated that they need 65% take rate and around $100 ARPU.

Community questions about making things happen. How do we get the word out? How does this work get done?

geography differences – what are they?

New worker in Todd County – tech consultant. Able to get high speed in town. This is critical for business and education. Colleges and high schools are becoming increasingly intertwined. Bandwidth is the link to connect students and educational institutional . Lives in Clarissa. Ready to help get things going using social media and local contacts!