Monthly Archives: April 2008

Telework Recruits Employees

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Thanks to Ann Higgins for sending me the fun article on telework in Arizona and Virginia (Telework Helps Virginia and Arizona Recruit and Retain Employees).

Living in Ireland and working primarily with Minnesota companies and organizations, I sometimes feel as if I could be the poster child for teleworkers. So, I love to hear what people think of it.

This article waxes eloquently on the benefits:

  1. Teleworkers are more productive and need fewer days off.
  2. Telecommuting policies can help recruit younger workers, retain folks past retirement, and draw new hires from candidates without a geographic restriction.
  3. It saves money previously spent on office space.
  4. It is great for the environment as fewer people make daily commutes.

So what are the barriers?

First, management sometimes worries about supervising workers they cannot see. Getting management to telecommute was offered as a solution, which I think is great. I think you see quickly enough that you simply can’t get your work done if you don’t work. And the flip side is someone can be at the office all day and night and never work a lick. (I’m reading a jPod, a funny book by Douglas Coupland where the protagonists (IT workers at a game design company) are in the office 10 hours a day doing anything but working.) The truth is we’ve all day jobs or days like that and location doesn’t change it. Luckily we generally rebound – or move on.

The need for technology and broadband was listed as the next possible barrier. The estimated the cost for setting up a new telework employee was $7,500 and ongoing charges were $3,500. (I have to say that doesn’t seem that high to me compared to cost of setting up office space, parking, and the rest.)

Teleworkers need broadband to email, and get into various work networks but also we need the broadband and technology to support personal networks that would happen more informally if everyone was in the same office. We need video conferencing and other communication tools to building relationships and foster mentoring. I think that as those build things will get easier.

As a very remote worker I have to say that life as a teleworker has been good. Except when you’re so far away you do get lonely! Work-wise though very little has changed for me. Thanks to the fact that most government meetings (MN and US) and archived, I can view those and it’s just like being there. Thanks to Skype I can call and be called easily – I can even set up video when/if I want.

From a community perspective, making sure that the infrastructure is available (broadband) opens a whole new channel of jobs for citizens and a whole new channel for hiring for employers.

Congress wonders about emergency spectrum today at 9:30 am

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I know I’m the early bird with lots of news today. It’s because my favorite tax guy has already filed my extension so I can move on with life today and there seems to be a lot of broadband news.

Apparently the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications and the Internet subcommittee wants to know from the FCC and others why the recent 700 Mhz Spectrum Auction was so successful *except* for the segment saved for building a public safety network. The meeting to discuss the matter is planned for today (Tuesday April 15 at 9:30 to noon DC time and will be broadcast online.)

The plan was to use public airwaves and private money to create a nationwide emergency communications network. The winning vendor would build the network and make a profit by selling access to wireless service providers. However, the auction bidding didn’t meet the minimum bid requirements. Well, it sounds as if it didn’t get any bids.

There was one company (Frontline) who was expected to win this job but weeks before the bidding they dropped out, claiming they couldn’t raise the funds required, which was $1.33 billion.

I followed this story earlier on when a company called Cyren Call was the expected public safety net builder. They advocated for the use of public spectrum, but then they kind of disappeared except that the Chairman of Cyren Call became an adviser to the auction.

So now Congress wants to know – what in the heck is going on? And – what in the heck should they do now?

House Passes Broadband Study Bill

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Thanks to The Bemidji Pioneer Press for keeping me up to the minute this week on the progress of the broadband study bill. I’m going to paste their info below. I wasn’t able to find much on the Legislative web site yet, but it can take a while. I have been following the story in earlier blog posts.

I think the Bemidji paper did a great job of capturing the range of legislative opinions on the bill.

Study controversial

Rural lawmakers were divided Monday over a House-approved plan creating a task force to study a statewide high-speed broadband Internet plan.

Some rural representatives said high-speed Internet options are limited in their areas. Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, DFL-Long Prairie, said there are service “holes” all over her district. “I can’t get broadband, but my neighbor can,” she said.

Ultra-high speed Internet connections will be important to the state’s future, said bill author Rep. Sandra Masin, DFL-Eagan. The bill, which passed 98-33, asks the task force to look at how both public and private entities could be involved in a statewide broadband plan.

Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, wanted the study just to look at the Twin Cities area, where interest originated. Howes said high-speed Internet options are available in his area of northern Minnesota.

“This is nothing more than a business plan for the state of Minnesota to develop Internet connections throughout the state,” added Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha. “Our private sector is taking care of this need; we need to let them do it.”

Broadband Meeting in St Paul Tonight

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Sorry for the last minute notice but there’s a Broadband meeting at St Kate’s (my alma mater) tonight. I’ll post the details below. This is part of the Monday Night for library students and librarians meetings – but it’s not just for librarians. Everyone really is welcome. Just make sure you are legally parked if you opt for street parking. I used to live nearby and I know the cops there are sticklers.

If you do go – please let me know how it goes. Times like these I were a lot closer to home.

Reminder: Tonight at 7 pm
Broadband for Minnesota

Become informed! This is an important issue for libraries & information centers and each of us as citizens.

April 14, 2008, 7-8 pm
Coeur de Catherine Student Center, Room 362,
College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul

Rick King, Chief Operations Officer at Thomson West, will discuss the High Speed Minnesota Bill addressing broadband access in Minnesota. Go to GIG Group website www.giggroup.org to learn more.

This event is sponsored by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Student Group at St. Kate’s.

Please contact Margaret Ostrander at margaretostrander@hotmail.com with questions. No RSVP is necessary, and everyone is welcome.

WiFi on the Campgrounds

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Last week, I was in Dublin, Cork, Galway and everywhere in between in less than 72 hours. (And then funny enough I was sick for 3 days.) We saw a ton – but we stayed in the same type of hotel each night because I knew they had broadband access. All of my trips and vacations are planned around where I can get a fix of broadband and I suspect the same is true for many readers. Well, a whole new world is about to open up to us…

According to USA Today, state parks around the US are starting to install WiFi. Apparently WiFi is available in 50 of California’s 278 parks, all 17 of Kentucky’s state parks, and 28 states have at least one park with WiFI. Minnesota is planning to introduce free connections at Itasca, north of Park Rapids, in the next month or two. It sounds as if this is a pilot test for other parks.

OK, maybe that’s not enough to get me into a tent for “vacation” but I think it’s great. USA Today has comments from people who also think it’s a good idea and others who beg to differ.

They have a list of parks with WiFi for anyone who’s planning a trip. For RV folks, I found a list of RV parks with WiFi too. (There were 2 in Minnesota: one in Grand Rapids, the other in Minneapolis.)

US is Climbing a New International Ranking

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I haven’t read the whole report but the World Economic Forum just released a report that ranks international economy and technology readiness. They considered the business and regulatory environments in the countries it covered, the readiness of individuals, businesses and government to exploit opportunities and actual usage of the latest IT and communications technology (ICT).

The top spots go to:

  1. Denmark
  2. Sweden
  3. Switzerland
  4. US
  5. Singapore
  6. Finland
  7. Netherlands
  8. Iceland
  9. Korea
  10. Norway

Home and Community Options, Inc.

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Light Speed Grant Recipient

Peter Walsh, Project Coordinator

Project Update

April 9, 2008

 

Small steps but progress continues!!  We have another facility connected with FTTH!!  Now we can begin experimenting with some of our broadband applications.  Videoconferencing and “Thin Client” connectivity will be our first two projects and we hope to get started on those very soon.

 

Our Remote Monitoring efforts are gradually coming together.  We have two IP cameras set up with two-way audio.  This week we will be training the staff at the facility in the use of the cameras.  We will also continue testing the IP Intercom; we ran into some complications last week as it doesn’t seem to like our router.  Need to tweak it a bit.  We will also be arming the wireless window and door alarms this week and testing the remote configuration and monitoring of the security system.  The manufacturer is changing some of the interface code and we decided to wait until the new version comes out before we write our program that will integrate the security system with our Remote Monitoring program.

 

We are now on our third set of Outlook and Excel classes.  We are excited about the impact this is going to have on overall agency productivity.  We have become very dependent upon email of course and have been using that for internal and external communication for several years but the use of the Outlook Calendar and Tasks were just not evolving the way we had expected.  Now, with everyone taking the classes, we will expect everyone to use the Outlook Calendar and scheduling meetings will be much simpler.  We also clustered our Resources (conference rooms, projectors, etc.) as a separate Exchange group so staff can more easily reserve them.  This really makes managing our resources much easier.

 

Our e-File program is being implemented at a nice pace.  We now have five programs either completely running or in the final implementation stages of running our electronic file system for our Residential Programs.  This is an integration of Outlook, Excel and Word to provide a paperless record keeping system.  This e-File program was developed internally by our staff so it really fits our needs.  Now that our lead staff have seen its effectiveness they are all clamoring to be next in line for installation.  A nice problem to have!

 

We have lots of things happening on different fronts and that keeps me busy, but what fun to be able to integrate these applications on a fiber backbone!

light speed communityThe Blandin Foundation is supporting four standout broadband programs through the Light Speed program. The program’s purpose is to stimulate the deployment of bandwidth intensive applications that connect local institutions to area resident’s home. This post comes from a Light Speed community leader.
 

Unconference for Online Community Practitioners June 18

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Thanks to Bernadine at the Blandin Foundation for the heads up on this conference. Oh I wish I were closer to Mountainview…

The Online Community Unconference is a gathering of online community practitioners — managers, developers, strategists, tools providers, VCs — to discuss experience and strategies in the development and growth of online communities. Those involved in online community development (and social software in general) share many common challenges: community management, platform selection, metrics, marketing, business models, legal issues. The best source of information on all of these challenges is other knowledgeable practitioners.

TO REGISTER:
http://ocu2008.eventbrite.com

The Online Community Unconference is inspired by the emerging “open space” conference format. Last year’s Unconference was a huge success, and we expect this year’s to be even better. We expect to have at least 35 sessions which will be decided at the start of the day. There will also be plenty of time for networking. To see examples of last year’s Unconference sessions, as well as an overview of organizations that attended, check out the 2007 Unconference wiki:
http://www.socialtext.net/ocu2007/

The Unconference is held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, which is a unique venue with plenty of parking and WiFi. Lunch and snacks will be provided, and the Museum exhibits will be open to the group during the breaks.

The event is June 18th. The price is $195 ($175 before May 18). We have reserved the first 25 tickets at a “Super Early Bird” rate of $75. Fee is fully refundable prior to May 18, not refundable after (but is transferable). We also have several tickets reserved at a scholarship rate for students and those who can’t pay full fare. Please email me directly for details: bjohnston@forumone.com

We’re really looking forward to this event and hope to see you there. Tell your colleagues (this event is open to all)!

Again, more details and registration information can be found at:
http://ocu2008.eventbrite.com

Google on the Spectrum Auction

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It’s Friday night in Dublin – but I wanted to send a quick heads up on Google’s Policy Blog and their perspective on the FCC Spectrum Auction. Here’s a excerpt:

Google’s top priority heading into the auction was to make sure that bidding on the so-called “C Block” reached the $4.6 billion reserve price that would trigger the important “open applications” and “open handsets” license conditions. We were also prepared to gain the nationwide C Block licenses at a price somewhat higher than the reserve price; in fact, for many days during the early course of the auction, we were the high bidder. But it was clear, then and now, that Verizon Wireless ultimately was motivated to bid higher (and had far more financial incentive to gain the licenses).

As I’ve said before I have a love/hate relationship with Google. I’m delighted that they posted anything on the behind-doors action but I also wonder what isn’t being said.

How Broadband Changed My Life

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OK I guess I’ve been living under a rock for the last 10 months – I just found out about APT’s Broadband Changed My Life contest. Heck, living in Dublin while working in Minnesota I could have been a contenda!

The contest is long over – but the winners are posted on their web site and they are great. Here are a couple of my faves:

  1. Diane from California: “Broadband gave me wings. I am a physically disabled pastor in a all rural area. Broadband let me compare, spec and purchase a power wheelchair. Since my insurance won’t pay, saving $3000 was very important to me.”
  2. Cindy from CA: “Broadband internet has helped tremendously, for several of my prerequisite nursing classes are available online. This has freed up countless hours. Instead of scrambling for daycare and driving to and from the college campus, I can sit outside with my laptop, and wireless router, watch my children play as I am attending classes!”

Comcast Brings Big Broadband to Minnesota

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According to the Pioneer Press, Comcast will today announce big broadband service in the Twin Cities. With the new service, subscribers will be able to download at speeds of up to 50 megabits per second and upload at speeds of 5 megabits per second. The cost will be $150 a month for residential users and $200 a month for businesses, which includes support for business e-mail and Web hosting. (I didn’t see any info on the new service on the Comcast site – yet.)

I am very interested to see how popular the service is. They claim to be targeting online gamers. I think the businesses might be the most likely audience. I will look forward to trying out the service once I get home. I wish I could get it here. I run into bandwidth issues almost daily and while I spend a lot of time online – I don’t hitnk of myself as a super user. I don’t do online gaming and I don’t generally send or receive large files such as online x-rays or CAD files.

The article mentions that Qwest will soon be announcing a new product too.

FCC Chairman Says No to Skype

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Sorry I will be posting a few things today. I tried to combine them and I just couldn’t do it. There have been a few newsworthy events in the last 24 hours and they just aren’t relate-able.

First FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said at the CTIA Conference that he does not support Sykpe’s petition for Carterfone regulation that would force operators to connect any device provided it doesn’t do any harm to the network.

Martin insists that regulation is not necessary because (quoted from the San Francisco Chronicle) Verizon Wireless announced last year it would open its network to outside devices and applications, provided they pass their certification process. Sprint and T-Mobile have also embraced openness through Google’s Open Handset Alliance, which calls for similar open access.

Before I make any comment I must admit that I love Skype. I use it almost daily to call home. OK sometimes I use it to make work calls – but really it lets me call family back in the US at any time. It makes me feel so much closer than I ever felt living overseas 15 years ago when I could call on Sunday only.

So, I am sad at this unofficial decision. As a consumer, I feel as if maybe the vendors do just the bare minimum to get by. Sure they say that they’re all over innovation that will happen tomorrow but I don’t see anyone embracing the innovation today.

I think that hesitation to innovate is part of what’s keeping the US out of the top technology ranking on a worldwide basis. As we work to maintain the status quo – the rest of the world is playing as if they have nothing to lose and we’re eating their cyber dust.

April eNews is on the Streets

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We posted the April eNews yesterday. I wanted to share the parts of the eNews that aren’t on the blog already with the blog readers…

Community News

Alexandria
All State Wireless a subsidiary of All State Satellite Depot Inc. opened a new Sprint store March 1 in Alexandria.

Crookston
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie visited Crookston, mentioning the possibility of allowing absentee votes via the Internet. It was a suggestion that Governor Pawlenty voted down last year, but will probably resurface. (http://tinyurl.com/3y4g34)

Eagan
Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire, reflecting on the last year, mentions efforts to bring broadband to the community. “Broadband is as vital to our wellbeing as good roads, electrical power and safe water,” he said. (http://tinyurl.com/324pch)

Iron Range
The Iron Range Network Joint Powers Board is committed to a high speed network but they are at a crossroads and are considering their options for building and deploying the network. (http://tinyurl.com/2pdefq)

Isanti
A conference for parents entitled, Youngsters and the Internet, draws 150 attendees in Isanti. Parents learn how to teach their children about the Internet and how to keep safe online. (http://tinyurl.com/2lr3bv)

Marshall
Insight School of Minnesota, an online high school will open next fall. The school expects 200 students. Insight School opened in Washington in 2006 and has been popular and well regarded. (http://tinyurl.com/2jckuc)

Minneapolis
Minneapolis Wireless network is set to be completed by the end of March, 2008. (http://tinyurl.com/27x5vz)

Monticello
A columnist for the Monticello Times provides a rave review of YouTube and its religious brother God Tube. (http://tinyurl.com/3csclj)

Red Wing
Senator Amy Klobuchar visited in March to discuss broadband in Red Wing, among other things. (http://tinyurl.com/394kqy)

Sebeka
CrossUSA recruits technology workers to rural areas to remotely manage networks and mainframes in such a way that keeps the jobs in the country rather than offshore. (http://tinyurl.com/39v2d5)

St Cloud
St. Cloud Recreation Department will no longer be printing catalogs; program information will now be posted online only. Community members have concerns but the impact will be closely monitored. (http://tinyurl.com/2mzy7d)

Thief River Falls
Police offer the old mantra – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is – as sage advice on the Internet. (http://tinyurl.com/2uj4tb)

Todd County
Todd County started an FTTP program with a meeting with committee members, key stakeholders and Bill Coleman representing Blandin Foundation. They discussed the need for the community to invest in telecommunications to get the network they want and need for their future.

Twin Cities
The Twin Cities are beefing up their communications networks to support the GOP National Convention this September. Verizon Wireless expects a 150 percent rise in data transmissions on its broadband network. Qwest Communications International will add more than 100 miles of fiber-optic and copper lines in and around the Xcel Energy Center. (http://tinyurl.com/2uc2hx)

Waseca
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office are working out a new system that will allow residents to activate burning permits online. Online permits will be $5 but can be reactivated throughout the year. (http://tinyurl.com/2my9aj)

Winona
Home and Community Options Inc is in the midst of wiring one of their residences. Once it is installed, the home will not need night staff on premises; it will be monitored remotely. (http://tinyurl.com/2pm8y5)

Bill Coleman

Coleman’s Corner

Blandin Foundation’s broadband programs enable me to work with many communities throughout the state. My work this week was especially interesting. On one day, I met with leaders in a community that is just embarking on the journey to better understanding of their telecommunications services. They are asking the right questions – “What do we have? …What do we need? …. How do we get there?

Through the Community Broadband Resources program (http://www.blandinfoundation.com/html/public_bb_cbr.cfm), I will be helping them understand the current offerings from incumbent providers and the telecom needs of their business community and residents. While I work on getting information from the providers, the community leaders will be out visiting with the businesses. We will be able to pull this information together, have some informed meetings with the providers then talk about next steps.

The following day, I was able to participate in a consultant selection process for a community FTTP feasibility study. This community has been working for some time to get to this point. They have talked extensively with their incumbent providers and potential competitive providers. They have worked through the Blandin Foundation Get Broadband program (http://www.blandinfoundation.org/bsite/bbsite.html) to inform community members and businesses about the importance of broadband for economic development and quality of life. They have their local governments, school district and municipal utilities working together to identify future needs for bandwidth and technology applications. This community is seeking the definitive information necessary to make informed decisions about their next steps.

Each community is unique and has their own set of decision making factors and priorities. What is not unique is the need to bring community leaders together around the issue of broadband and technology. It is clear that communities that work aggressively on both sides of the equation – ensuring high quality services and building demand and technology sophistication – will emerge on the positive side of the digital divide and new economy. Community Broadband Resources (CBR) is designed to provide communities with the assistance they need when they need it. Go online to the Blandin website (www.blandinfoundation.org), find out the details and apply for the type of assistance that would move your community forward. While making progress is sometimes hard, the CBR online application process is quick and simple! I look forward to working with you!

Meet the Blandin Broadband Strategy Board – Steve Downer

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I’m pleased this month to introduce Blandin Broadband Strategy Board member, Steve Downer. Steve is the Associate Executive Director at the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association. He has been there 18 years and enjoys the variety in his job. He works on member services, government relations, publications and more.

The Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) represents the interests of Minnesota’s municipal electric, gas, and water utilities and provides them with the support they need to be able to improve service to their customers and community.

Helping municipal utilities provide broadband services has been a good way to support local economic development. Municipal utilities are well positioned to provide broadband. They have a business structure in place, they have the infrastructure, they have the people and they are invested in viable communities. In deed, utilities have been instrumental in creating communities that are leaders in broadband, such as Windom, Chaska, Alexandria, Buffalo, and Detroit Lakes.

Comparisons have been made to broadband expansion today with the electric utility industry 100 years ago – who better to support that effort than the companies who successfully implemented the electrification? Municipal utilities are in position to help with broadband and more industry providers are willing to work with them.

Powell, Wyoming FTTH

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While conducting research on approaches to building fiber optic networks, Powell, Wyoming came to my attention. Powell’s fiber network is financed with municipal bonds and leased to a private sector provider. This approach uses the financial strength of the local government, but does not require the city to be engaged in day to day operations. As with all of the approaches, it will be interesting to see how this strategy works over the long term – only time will tell.

As communities consider broadband development strategies, technologies and financing, it can get kind of stressful. These are big decisions, made even more difficult by threats of lawsuits and uncertainties. I applaud Scott Mangold, the Mayor of Powell, for his sense of humor in dealing with some of these stressful decisions. You can see below how Mayor Mangold considers the critical issues of branding and marketing! The mayor is seeking input so feel free to send him your ideas. I am working on a few of my own ideas,,, how about POWnet?

Message from the Mayor

I got to meet some media people the other day. No, not newspaper or radio employees, the down-home folksy types that give you a tilt of their caps as you go by, but downright big city campaign people.

Well, not entirely big city. It’s a group out of Utah that is putting together the campaign for our fiber to the home project. They are bigwigs, though. They’ve worked on campaigns for big name brands which they quickly name-dropped.

“Ever hear of Norbest Turkey? We did their campaign.”

“Why, yes I have. Tasted them, even bowled them.”

“How about Sunkist? You heard of them?”

“I believe so. Even though I live in a cave in Wyoming, Sunkist seems to be a name brand I recall. Some of them are orange in color, correct?”

The name of the company is Research Enhanced Design or RED for very short. A successful company with two members of their staff holding doctorates from BYU. (the team that always beats Wyoming in football) RED showed us diagrams, graphs, test papers, and other literature that showed how they were going to market our product.

I expected more Madison Avenue lingo.

“Let’s put her up the flagpole and see who salutes it!”

“Let’s put her on the 5:15 to Newark and see where it gets off!”

“Let’s slap her on the butt and see which way she bucks!”

No glitzy, wink-wink, ‘how are ya, baby’ lingo from this ad group. Just normal matter-of-fact straight speak that evaluates the community and comes up with a solution.

I didn’t offer my campaign slogans at our initial meeting but I have a few ideas.

“The Powell Fiber Optic System. Still Fighting Terrorists!”

No, that’s no good.

“The Powell Fiber Optic System. We Like Bunnies!”

It does have that friendly bunny thing but it doesn’t really send the right message.

“The Powell Fiber Optic System. Less Calories!”

Now, I really don’t know if that is true or not so we can’t really use that. Plus, we are not really going to call it ‘The Powell Fiber Optic System’. We need to come up with a name and that is part of their job, as well. I’m sure they’re willing to take suggestions, though. If you have a thought for a name, write me at mayormangold@cityofpowell.com and I will pass it on to them. Try to think of a name that speaks of Powell and what this means to the city.

The team already dismissed my names. ‘Optimus Prime, ‘Corvette Stingray’, and ‘Internet Thingy’ all got curious looks from the experts.

They didn’t even want to put it up the flagpole.