Monthly Archives: August 2009

FCC blogs & tweets

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The FCC just started their own blog on the National Broadband Initiative. They are also on Twitter. Both are very new but so far they are prolific.

On the blog
I thought their synopsis of a recent workshop was good – though I didn’t attend so I just have to assume it’s accurate. I enjoy the comments as much as the blog itself.

On Twitter
So far it’s more of a broadcast agenda – but I don’t mind that.

We’ll see what becomes of both. The claim is that they’re a step towards transparency. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll learn more than we would otherwise – but I would think we’d learn things more quickly.

Broadband good for rural areas

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The USDA recently published a report on the Internet’s Value for Rural America. They found that “rural communities with greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth than areas with less access.”

That won’t be news to most readers but it’s always nice to have it confirmed. They compared early-ish adopters (folks with broadband by 2000) with others and found that employment growth was higher and non-farm private earnings greater in counties with a longer history of broadband availability.

They also found that while 55 percent of US adults have broadband access at home, only 41 percent of rural adults had access. As they pointed out that can be a tremendous disadvantage in today’s economy when broadband can be required to complete many job applications and when broadband ranges from being an asset to essential in starting a home-based business.

They also note the great advantages of broadband from remote education to telemedicine. In many respects these tools are even more important in rural areas where distance can be a larger issue that in urban areas – and many rural areas have benefitted – but only when they have access to the broadband necessary to access the tools.

They pegged areas with lower service rates and unfortunately northern Minnesota gets a specific mention (along with the Dakotas, eastern Montana and eastern Oregon).

Big providers don’t want stimulus funds

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It appears as if the big broadband providers (AT&T, Verizon and Comcast) are not interested in stimulus funding. Here are the reasons as given by the Wall Street Journal:

Their reasons are varied. All three say they are flush with cash, enough to upgrade and expand their broadband networks on their own. Some say taking money could draw unwanted scrutiny of business practices and compensation, as seen with automakers and banks that have taken government bailouts. And privately, some companies are griping about conditions attached to the money, including a net-neutrality rule that they say would prevent them from managing traffic on their networks in the way they want.

I don’t think this is much of a shock. I think the writing was on the wall for low big provider participation before the NOFA even came out. In May I wrote about an article that talked about the new rural super providers. I think it will be interesting to see how many of those guys go for stimulus funding.

Also I think we have to ask why the providers aren’t going for the money. Is it the scrutiny? If so – maybe their businesses are worth a look from the feds regardless of funding. Is it because the rules are contrary to good business practices? Well then maybe we have to look into who and how the rules were made.

The stimulus funding should be a way for providers and communities to work together. Yet the big guys aren’t going for it. And I know some of the smaller providers who had been planning on applying were also discouraged but the rules – or rather the definitions of underserved/unserved have handicapped their plans. Maybe it takes us back to the new rural super providers.

It will be interesting to see who does apply.

Broadband helps Golfers – well golf fans

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golfI’m not a golfer, but who could resist the golf buzz in Minnesota over the weekend. The Bemidji Pioneer ran a fun article that outlined A Look Behind the PGA Scenes and it included a quick look at the telecommunications before the tournament at Hazeltine:

They have been working for the last six weeks to make sure cell phones and telephones service runs smoothly at Hazeltine.

They have installed 26 hi-speed T1 fiber optic data lines, 50 DSL Internet lines and 29 ISDN lines for radio. To put those numbers in perspective, there were only seven T1 lines in Chaska when they began working on the PGA.

They have also installed broadband Internet service and 180 phone lines in the media center.

“All of the major companies – Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile – basically needed to increase the size of their data pipeline,” Tieman said. “Especially AT&T because those iPhones are such bandwidth hogs.”

Media and fans are not allowed to bring cell phones on the Hazeltine grounds. Those who bring phones are required to check it at the gate or leave.

“We find that right after Tiger plays his rounds and people start going home, the use of the phone lines in the media room and the cell phones in the area spike dramatically,” Geiselhart said. “It really shows how much the system can handle. As long as the phones are up, the media is happy and the PGA is happy.”

The Blandin Foundation Assists in Restoring a Vital Service to Adrian, MN

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I am posting the following on behalf of Bruce A. Heitkamp, the Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer of the City of Adrian.

The City of Adrian, MN had uninterrupted pharmaceutical services provided to its residents for nearly all of its 131 years of existence. In March of 2008, everything changed as the door to Adrian’s only pharmacy closed. The closing had an adverse affect on the entire community and left residents scrambling for a way to take care of their prescription drug needs. As the City considered a pharmacy vital to the community’s health and well-being, the City Council directed City staff to quickly find a replacement. That is when the idea of a tele-pharmacy using video and two-way interactive communication entered the picture as a viable option.

At that point, the City’s mission was to restore a vital service to the community by means of broadband technology. The goal was to have a tele-pharmacy operational in Adrian. Although this business model was a rather new approach to the delivery of pharmaceutical services, it seemed one of the few viable options to provide the services to small rural communities.

The State of Minnesota is projected to lose at least fifteen rural pharmacies in 2009 and those communities will most likely face the same situation Adrian faced in 2008. One of the problems is newly graduated pharmacists are in high demand. The opportunities for pharmacists are so great that owning and operating a fully-staffed small-town pharmacy has little or no attraction. And with margins being cut, the risk doesn’t outweigh the rewards. With that in mind, the concept of a tele-pharmacy made sense. Without a doubt, the tele-pharmacy worked into the City of Adrian vision.

A tele-pharmacy serves the public in the same capacity of other pharmacies. The only difference is the Pharmacist resides in a remote location. Customers can still consult with a Pharmacist in a tele-pharmacy. The consult is provided through video and broadband technology.

The City of Adrian decided to search a partner to provide tele-pharmacy services to its residents. Sterling Drug, from Worthington, MN, answered the City of Adrian’s call. A new dilemma soon arose though as Adrian and Sterling Drug started to investigate the process of implementing a tele-pharmacy. The video conferencing and supportive equipment cost in excess of one hundred thousand dollars. Upon that discovery, Sterling Drug requested financial assistance from the City of Adrian.

City staff started the search for assistance. After a few phone calls, staff discovered the Light Speed Grant Program, sponsored by the Blandin Foundation. It seemed to be a perfect fit for the City’s dilemma. City staff attended an application meeting and was soon off to enter their application. It wasn’t too long and the Blandin Foundation notified the City with their willingness to assist. The City of Adrian obtained a grant for $50,000.00. This was exactly the amount of money Sterling Drug felt they needed to get the tele-pharmacy running.

It’s been a few months since the award and Sterling Drug-Adrian is fully operational. Clients are joining the pharmacy on a daily basis. This project could prove to be a new standard for pharmacy services in small communities.

The City of Adrian would like to thank the Blandin Foundation for their willingness to assist with this project. We’d also like to thank Bill Coleman, Community Technology Advisors, for getting us started on this endeavor. The project could have been in peril without the Blandin Foundation and Bill Coleman’s assistance.

The City of Adrian recommends working with the Blandin Foundation and Bill Coleman on projects like this. I, Bruce A. Heitkamp, would offer to assist communities by sharing our story and our path to getting assistance. We at the City of Adrian wishes everyone well. If you’re stopping through Adrian and need pharmacy services, we’re proud to announce that Adrian is again offering these services.

Sincerely,

Bruce A. Heitkamp
Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer
City of Adrian

Are we disqualifying an entire population because of Net access?

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That is my favorite line from a recent editorial in the St Cloud Times, written by an Avon resident who is frustrated by dialup access. The story is familiar – a rural Minnesota resident goes from being frustrated with no access to broadband to having limited choices, none of which are affordable.

As the author points out, some folks might say that she has chosen to live in a rural area. She has traded in her broadband for no rush hours. Unfortunately, broadband is becoming less of an elective – more of a requisite. Broadband is no longer a time-saving luxury it opens the doors to resources that are at least as necessary in rural areas. Broadband is required for most online job applications, grant applications, research and more.

Anyways the editorial is worth the read!

Lake County gains momentum

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This week Two Harbors and Beaver Bay have signed on to Lake County’s Fiber Network Project.

They have been talking to the local city councils and each has signed up to support the countywide project. I haven’t heard much about the meeting in Beaver Bay but I heard that after an hour and a half of deliberation, the city council unanimously approved the letter to be sent to Lake County showing support for this project.

NTIA/RUS NOFA application extension

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I have good news and bad news…

The application closing deadline for the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) is extended until 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on August 20, 2009, for any electronic applications pending as of 5 p.m. ET on August 14, 2009. There are no changes to the filing instructions for paper applications.

To take advantage of the extension, an applicant must, by 5 pm on August 14, 2009, take the following steps:
Log into the Easygrants® System at www.broadbandusa.gov;
Select “Start a new application” under “Apply for a new grant/loan;”
Select one of the two choices for available funding opportunities;
Select “Continue;” and
Select “ok” when prompted “Are you sure you want to apply for the program.”

Learn more

GoMoorhead sold to 702 Communications

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Just a couple of days ago I mentioned that there were closed doors meetings in Moorhead – well the reason is out now.

The Moorhead Public Service Commission approved the sale of its GoMoorhead broadband operation on Tuesday to 702 Communications for $1.2 million. You can read all about it in the InForum of Fargo-Moorhead.

Dakota County Fair has Wifi

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So maybe I’ll be working from Dakota County Fair tomorrow. The good news is that it would be easy for me to do. According the Pioneer Press, Frontier Communications is providing free wireless Internet access for the week.

There’s also a “mutton bustin’” contest where little kids can ride sheep. Hmmm. My week is really shaping up!

Next level videoconferencing for classrooms

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“This stuff is cool!” That’s what I heard teachers saying as I was a fly on the wall for some training with treachers to get them interested/involved with using more interactive videoconferencing in the classroom. Video Guidance (local folks) and Tandberg were presenting to a group at Pine Tech in Pine City.

I used to do training with teachers on how to incorporate web sites and information literacy in the classroom – so it was fun to see how far we’ve come in 12 or so years. My notes from the session might be of interest to anyone related to education. I tried to take in what folks were talking about it highlights some fun uses and some good questions.

Pine Technical has a nice science lab set up with great videoconferencing facilities. There are camera set up around the room so remote participants can pan the room and focus on faces. The microscope is set up to project images on the white board. (Loved that!) Then there are several screens so that students can see participants, desktops, microscopes, telescopes from remote locations.

The main speaker was Lance Ford from a rural school district in Oklahoma. He has done a lot of work with Tandberg in implementing videoconferencing in the classroom. He started by doing his PhD remotely. He’s 4 hours away the campus where he got his PhD. (A sticky issue for me since I move back and forth from Ireland while my husband finishes his PhD!)

Lance works in a small, rural district. Video allows them to offer specialized classes – such as foreign languages. Ten years ago they found that they were not alone in with their high need and low resources – so they hired a language teacher and recouped costs by having teacher offer classes to other schools remotely.

Eight years ago, they started with virtual field trips. They can go to baseball hall of fame, San Diego zoo, interviewed Pearl Harbor survivors… Field trips have been a great way to reinforce the curriculum.

At Pine Tech, they have 5 interactive TV classrooms. They are trying to move away from the talking head method of teaching. The Office of the Chancellor runs meetings via ITV. It saves time and mileage.

Mark Johnson (K12 consortium for virtual ed) said teachers who do well do connect with students. You need to be specific – just like in a real classroom. You can’t have the Ferris Bueller moment. (Anyone? Anyone?) Teachers need to engage. And you need to not talk the whole time. You have to risk the silence to open up the opportunity for students to talk.

The training Lance provides is 10 hours. Teachers start with why would you want to use technology? Then handle the technology. Then practice. They have about 10 hours and that’s enough to get them going. It may take longer to really be proficient with some of the tools; but 10 hours gets you going.

Within a school someone needs to own the technology. A shared resource will not be owned by anyone. So let one teacher be the owner, she can share but she’ll also become the resident expert and go-to person. SO when someone asks – How do I find out about virtual field trips? She’ll pint them here: http://www.cilc.org/c/education/content_provider_programs.aspx

Right now the system is used on a temporary basis with at-home learners. It’s easy to add adults. They’ve added some folks who are home for a limited amount of time – and who are in high school (not younger kids). They haven’t gone too far with homeschoolers. The technology isn’t the issue – it’s the funding and the policies that might create issues. (Isn’t that so often the case – it sounds a lot like the issue with health care remote appointments!)

Another issue is that current teachers have not been prepared to work with these tools. They were told to teach as usual. Also higher ed teachers expect to be compensated to learn how to teach this stuff. Success so often depends on how teachers have been prepared – but it’s uneven.

Another great feature – teachers and administrators can easily record programs and broadcast live on the Internet or create it into any format you want. The example we saw was offering it as an MP4. Also once it was saved it automatically uploaded to the trainer’s blog – as the video uploaded to the blog is also pulled the meta-data to create a title/credits intro of sorts. Also it sent directly to the trainer’s iPhone.

In fact that demonstration was a great way to see how the different tools are integrated and used in videoconferencing. We also got to see how well it works with Second Life. It was fun to see how easily the videoconference merged in Second Life – in that we could see the videoconference embedded in Second Life.

So often I hear about how students aren’t getting prepared for today’s workforce – but I don’t feel as if that’s as true at Pine Tech. They are using the technology in a way that goes beyond making the old way easier – they are opening doors that were locked when I was a student by teaching in new ways. To me the microscope projected on the screen was the best part. I remember pretending to see the worm heart in biology. What a difference it would have made to have seen it magnified so that I could have put my finger on it and asked – is that it? Now I understand why the remote knee surgeries are so popular for science classes – you can actually see into the knee.

Rural Hospitals caught in a Catch 22

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There’s a great article about a frustrating (yet common) problem in the Washington Post (Rural hospital hinging future on federal incentive). The super condensed version is that electronic medical records (EMR) will help save money and reduce errors. Electronic records play heavily into federal plans to improve health care. By 2015, health care facilities are expected to be using EMR. Unfortunately moving to EMR costs a chunk of change that most small and/or rural health care facilities don’t have. They need upgrades in equipment, broadband and more.

I blogged late last month about a white paper that outlined the specific advantages and barriers to EMR – and all e-health applications in small/rural facilities. The Washington Post article puts a face on the need with their story. There’s another recent article in the Minnesota Independent that talks about a successful online support group for rural women with mental health issues. The program is going well where people can access broadband.

I remember dealing with this in the libraries when government documents moved from paper to electronic media– it’s great for the government to come up with cost savings programs – but often taking away one infrastructure means building a new one!

Back to medical records … In Minnesota there has been a strong push towards EMR with the Minnesota Telehealth Network – but it too is running into trouble. It’s worked very well but the funding runs out August 31, 2009. (They have an application in for an extension – but so far no word.)

There is some federal funding available – but I think many readers who have been watching the NTIA/RUS funding are learning – it’s not easy to get federal funding. One of the big issues with the health care chunk of money is that to qualify you need to have equipment and trained staff – but the government has not been specific enough yet on what equipment and what training to help people who are making the difficult decisions make informed decisions.

If you’re a small, rural hospital what do you do? Prepare and risk being prepared for the wrong specifications? Try to get other money in today’s economy? Or keep plugging along knowing that you aren’t prepared?

Broadband on the moon

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moonAccording to Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal:

NASA chose Qwest Communications International Inc. for a $14.2 million contract to upgrade circuits for the space agency’s high-speed broadband network that handles email and computing applications.

The eight-year project is meant to boost NASA’s network speeds from 2.5 gigabits per second to 10 gigabits per second.

I think we ought to be looking at what NASA wants over the next 8 years when we are planning what the rest of us are going to need. We’re not all sending people to the moon – but this is one of the first predictions of what will be needed that I have seen where someone is putting their money where their mouth is. (And that someone would be the taxpayers here.)

Another interesting note from the article – AT&T, Qwest and Verizon are the only telecoms authorized to bid on the project.

WiMAX Broadband Network in Minnesota

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According to TMCNet, Citilink Communications (based out of Apple Valley, MN) has built the first WiMAX wireless network in Minnesota. They are currently serving areas in Dakota county and Hennepin County.

They provide up to 100Mbps and VoIP telephone services.

Speed bumps in Moorhead

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GoMoorhead is a community-owned broadband providers. They started up in 2005 with some hiccups but they have about 2,500 customers.

According to InForum of Fargo-Moorhead, the Moorhead Public Service Commission met in July to discuss the possible sale of GoMoorhead. It was a closed meeting. (Appently public meetings can be closed when discussing price of property, appraisal data or to consider offers for sale of property.

So there aren’t many notes coming out of the meeting but InForum was able to report that GoMoorhead is not clearing a profit, although they recently won a lawsuit that provided some cash flow.

I found the description of their business goal from their web site to be very interesting:

At GoMoorhead.com, we are community-owned; that means we measure our success by how much money stays in the community, not how much is paid to stockholders.

If the average GoMoorhead.com customer saves $10 per month over other ISP options, and GoMoorhead.com has 2,500 customers, that’s a savings of $25,000 per month
or $300,000 per year!

It goes along with a quote from the InForum article:

[Public Service Commission President Ken] Norman said GoMoorhead’s technical problems have been dealt with, and he said the broadband service has served its initial purpose.
“GoMoorhead has caused there to be appropriate pricing for broadband services in Moorhead and delivered a service that has been beneficial both to us as a utility and also to the community,” he said.

It’s an interesting perspective. I remember Geoff Daily’s comments at a MN Ultra High Speed Task Force meeting that commercial providers should be supportive of municipal networks – because they can also be easy fodder for acquisition. It also reminds me of Jeff O’Neill (from Monticello) who seems more interested in keeping TDS in Monticello diligent with the competition of a municipal network.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the short and long term broadband situation in Moorhead.