Monthly Archives: January 2018

Broadband prices hikes expected – but will that be from all providers?

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Digital Music News reports…

At least three major ISPs have already announced significant price hikes for 2018.  News of the increases come just days after the FCC voted to roll back net neutrality protections. …

Just this morning, Karl Bode of DSLReports caught wind of numerous increases at mega-ISP Comcast.  But that is simply the latest in a string of planned increases by the likes of Cox, Frontier, and even DirecTV and Dish Network.

In all cases, these are increases for essentially the same services, with Bode noting that American will be stuck paying ‘significantly more money for the same service in the new year’.  In many cases, the changes are padded into existing bills, with most consumers failing to see the changes.

You can check out the article for specifics on the increases.

I’ve heard from other providers that they have no plans to increase rates. It will be interesting to see what happens. And now I’m going to plug the idea to crowdsource benchmark prices today to track increases – by asking folks to report what they currently pay for service from their provider. I heard from a few folks – but not many and not from customers of local independent and cooperative providers. Providers are welcome to send me the info too.

It would be nice to give a nod to those who don’t raise prizes and be aware of those who do.

Sen. Tina Smith Throws Support Behind Proposal to Restore Net Neutrality

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Sharing the press release…

Sen. Tina Smith Throws Support Behind Proposal to Restore Net Neutrality

Joins Nearly 40 Senate Colleagues in Fight to Overturn Recent FCC Decision That Ended Net Neutrality Protections

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/09/18]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) backed a Senate effort to restore the national net neutrality protections that were recently gutted by President Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

 

“Net neutrality is the basic—but important—principle that what we read, view, and watch on the internet is free and open to everybody,” said Sen. Smith. “And that principle has long allowed for the internet to be a pillar of innovation that powers our modern economy. Tearing up net neutrality gives giant internet service providers the ability to pick and choose how Minnesota families, schools, and businesses use the internet. We can’t let that happen, which is why I’m backing the effort to restore the net neutrality protections that millions of Americans fought to establish.”

 

Last month, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai went against the will of a majority of the American people by scrapping the federal rules that prohibit internet service providers—like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon— from blocking, slowing down, or discriminating against content online. Repealing those net neutrality rules could lead to higher prices for Minnesota consumers, slower speeds, or even blocked websites. A recent poll showed that 83 percent of Americans do not approve of the FCC action to repeal net neutrality rules.

 

Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has pledged to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would undo action by the FCC and restore the 2015 net neutrality rules, and Sen. Smith added her name to that effort today.

Senator Smith makes broadband a priority while talking to the Range

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I posted notes from the meeting – but wanted to archive mainstream coverage of the event too. Here’s what SouthernMinn has to say about Senator Smith’s visit to the Range over the weekend…

Smith said her broad priority in Congress is an overall successful economy for the Range and rural Minnesota. There’s many folds to that goal, including rising health care costs, the opioid drug epidemic and rural broadband.

As lieutenant governor Smith was among the state’s biggest advocates for pushing the expansion of rural broadband. After visiting steelworkers in Eveleth she hosted a panel discussion in Mountain Iron, a rural broadband community, to discuss the successes and challenges.

“If you don’t have access to internet today, it’s like being disconnected from the 21st Century,” she said.

Last year Smith championed two major programs that provided $500,000 for school boards and $34 million for local communities to expand access. The programs were infused with an additional $26 million in state funding to provide grants for municipalities to build or expand broadband, and centered around public-private partnerships.

In the Senate, Smith will have an opportunity to look at the broadband issue on a nationwide scope.

Minnesota take on Connect America Fund Phase II Auction

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The next phase of federal broadband funding through Connect American Fund Phase 2 is an auction…

Moving forward, CAF-II will use competitive bidding to efficiently support deployment of networks providing both voice and broadband service, thereby expanding broadband availability to millions more unserved Americans.

The eligible areas are sparse but include some portions of Minnesota (as seen on the map to the right).

Here’s more info on application…

Short-Form Application — Entities seeking to participate in the auction must establish baseline financial and technical capabilities in order to be found eligible to bid. There are two pathways for establishing eligibility:

  • Demonstrate two years of experience providing a voice, broadband, and/or electric distribution or transmission service and submit one-year of audited financials, or

  • Submit three years of audited financials with the short-form application and a letter of interest from an eligible bank willing to issue a letter of credit for a specified amount

Entities may wait until after they are announced as winning bidders to obtain eligible telecommunication carrier designations from the relevant states or the Commission, if applicable.

Long-Form Application — Winning bidders must:

  • Provide in their long-form applications additional information about qualifications, funding, and the network that they intend to use to meet their obligations
  • Within a specified number of days, submit a letter from an eligible bank committing to issue a letter of credit; upon notification that the entity is ready to be authorized, must obtain a letter of credit from an eligible bank that remains open and covers disbursements until build-out is complete and verified
  • Within 180 days of being announced as winning bidders, certify they are eligible telecommunications carriers in any areas for which they seek support and submit relevant documentation

Once a winning bidder’s long form application is approved, it will be authorized to begin receiving support. Any entity that files a short-form application to participate will be subject to a forfeiture in the event of a default before it is authorized to begin receiving support.  Defaults include, but are not limited to, failing to meet submission deadlines, defaulting on a bid, or otherwise being disqualified for any reason.

E-marketing training changed this Hibbing business completely

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Broadband can help businesses but two things need to happen. First, you have to have adequate broadband. Two, you have to know what to do with it. I spend more time talking about getting broadband here, but I enjoy the stories of using it too.

The Hibbing Daily Tribune recent posted a story of seven businesses in Hibbing that received digital marketing…

Businesses were selected through a contest. In addition to Cobb Cook Grocery, small business assisted in round one included: Range Steel Fabricators, Pink Tie Design, Andy’s Auto Sales, Benders Shoes, Range Floral and Sunrise Bakery.

All combined, the businesses received $20,500 worth of consulting hours, according to Lory Fedo, president of the Chamber and co-chair of the Hibbing Broadband Steering Committee.

“Consultant Molly Solberg did an incredible job providing about 20 hours of time to each business, training them to bring their technology to the next level,” said Fedo. “Our goal was not to do the upgrade for them, but to teach them how to do it themselves so that they can continue to improve and grow after Molly is done.”

Andy Koschak of Andy’s Auto Sales said the training changed his business completely.

The project was part of the Iron Range Broadband Community project…

The consulting was a broadband project funded through the Blandin Foundation and the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources, according to the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce. Early December marked the completion of round one of the customized small business digital marketing consulting.

As one of six Iron Range Broadband Communities, Hibbing leaders have completed a process to identify the community’s top technology priorities and create projects to address them.

The Hibbing Broadband Steering Committee submitted these customized consulting and several other projects for funding in 2017.

Senator Tina Smith hearing from the Broadband frontlines in Mountain Iron MN

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Today Senator Smith met held an open round-table with a handful of broadband experts in Mountain Iron – about 25 people showed up to participate. The conversation wasn’t shocking but important. It’s always good to hear from folks on the wrong side of the front-lines. Senator Smith noted that broadband is absolutely necessary for 21st century economy.

Attendees talked about what a difference broadband could make to small businesses, home-based businesses, education and recruitment. One attendee said that he sits in the parking lot of Gilbert City Hall to upload his videos, which get millions of views. Another noted that the schools had a one (iPad) one students policy but that it felt discriminatory to the kids who don’t have broadband at home and those kids might live just a mile or two out of town.

The meeting was held at the Northeast Service Cooperative – home to middle mile fiber for the region. There’s hope and frustration with being so close and yet so far away to having fiber to the home. The communities are trying to find ways to get last mile providers into the market. There’s also frustration with the belief that some of these areas have service, when in practice people say they don’t have the broadband they need.

There is a need for public funding for broadband – in partnership with private investment. An announcement is expected (Monday) on federal infrastructure funding; people are cautiously optimistic. Funding is helpful but there is concern about the details. For example, a tiered service with different speeds for rural vs urban areas is not acceptable. There were suggestions to make sure that federal money is spent on networks that are built for the future and on streamlining process (quicker permitting and Dig Once policies) that would speed builds and encourage builds that serve entire areas – not just towns, leaving the outskirts unserved.

Affordability was emphasized, especially in terms of added costs such as data caps.

Mostly it was amazing on a cold Saturday with just a few days’ notice to have a full room people excited to talk about broadband.

Foundation for Rural Service hosts Youth Tour for kids interested in broadband

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I learn about the Youth Tour from Paul Bunyan Communications. (More on that soon.) Apparently there’s a broadband camp for teens. Or as the Foundation for Rural Service puts it…

Every summer, the FRS Youth Tour brings together high school students from across rural America to visit our nation’s capital and learn about rural telecommunications. The tour provides a forum for teens to meet and interact with their peers from other rural communities, as well as, key legislative, regulatory and government figures. Since its inception in 1995, the youth tour has hosted thousands of students.

The event draws from member communities…

NTCA member companies can sponsor a student from their local community. FRS leaves the selection of the youth tour participant completely up to the telco. The program offers sponsoring companies an excellent public relations opportunity by increasing their connections with local schools and the community in the rural areas they serve.

NTCA member companies can also sponsor a chaperone to attend the Youth Tour. FRS relies upon the support of chaperones to assist us with ensuring that the students have a safe and productive experience. Serving as a chaperone is a wonderful opportunity for a staff member of your organization.

I learned about it from Paul Bunyan because they sent me a press release. Folks in their area might contact them for more info. Folks in other areas might contact their local provider to see if they have an y programs that might help get a kid to DC. (Or if other providers want to send me info I’m happy to post here.)

Here’s the info from Paul Bunyan…

Paul Bunyan Communications 2018 Youth Tour Essay Contest

Chance for 16-17 year old high school students to win a free trip to Washington D.C

(Bemidji, MN) (January 3, 2018) – Area High School Students age 16 o 17 are encouraged to enter the Paul Bunyan Communications Essay Contest for a chance to attend the 2018 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. June 2-6, with all expenses paid by Paul Bunyan Communications.

Students interested in attending the Youth Tour need to submit a short essay, no more than 500 words in length, on why they would like to attend the Youth Tour. Students must be 16 or 17 years of age and in high school with their parent/guardian a member of Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative.

Entries can be dropped off at the Paul Bunyan Communications office in Bemidji or Grand Rapids, or they can mailed to:

Paul Bunyan Communications Essay Contest
1831 Anne St. NW
Bemidji, MN 56601

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 16.

The trip features a comprehensive overview of the telecommunications industry, including careers in telecom, the critical role telecommunications plays in rural America, and how legislative and regulatory decisions affect the industry.  The tour allows youth to meet with members of Congress who represent rural constituents.  They also participate in educational sessions about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Students visit some of the nation’s most historic sites, including Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Museums, and a beautiful night tour of our Washington D.C.

“We hope that by providing our youth with telecommunications services comparable to those found in urban areas, as well as exposing them to cultural and educational opportunities, such as the FRS Youth Tour, our youth will remain in and become active members in their rural communities,” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

The Foundation for Rural Service is dedicated to informing and to improving the quality of life throughout rural America.  Each year, it organizes the Youth Tour, designed to educate rural youth about the telecommunications industry and the federal political process.  The FRS is a subsidiary of the NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association of which Paul Bunyan Communications is a member.

This is the 22nd consecutive year that Paul Bunyan Communications has participated in sending a local high school student to the Youth Tour.

 

New Coalition Aims to Eliminate the Digital Divide in Rural America

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This sounds like a natural next step for the proposal/plan Microsoft unveiled last summer to bring broadband to rural areas. There were some concerns about the plan back then. The list of partners they include today is varied – from the Schools, Health and Library Broadband Coalition to the American Pain Relief Institute, which gets at the wide seeping improvements broadband can mean for rural areas.

Here’s the press release…

NEW COALITION AIMS TO ELIMINATE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN RURAL AMERICA

Innovators & rural advocates join forces to deploy TV white spaces technology for high-speed broadband coverage

Washington, D.C. – Rallying around a plan to eliminate the digital divide by 2022, a diverse group of community leaders, rural advocates and top innovators today announced the national launch of Connect Americans Now (www.connectamericansnow.com). The new alliance will work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other policymakers to ensure that there is sufficient unlicensed low band spectrum in every market in the country to enable broadband connectivity.

“All Americans – regardless of where they live – deserve access to high-speed internet,” said Richard T. Cullen, Executive Director of Connect Americans Now (CAN). “Without a broadband connection, millions of students struggle to keep up with their assignments, Americans in rural areas are unable to fully utilize telemedicine, farmers are denied the promise of precision agriculture and businesses are unable to tap into the world of online commerce. Congress and the FCC must stand with rural America by allowing internet service providers to deliver broadband via white spaces spectrum.”

CAN’s founding partners include Microsoft, ACT: The App Association, the National Rural Education Association, the Schools, Health and Library Broadband Coalition, the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Alaska Communications, Axiom, the Mid-Atlantic Broadcasting Communities Corporation, the American Pain Relief Institute, HTS Ag, and others. As a part of the initial launch, CAN is forming partnerships across rural America to educate stakeholders about the opportunities available via long-range, wireless broadband over TV white spaces. They also are spearheading an advocacy campaign in Washington, D.C., where FCC regulators have the authority to make sufficient unlicensed spectrum available in each market for high-speed internet.

“There are amazing educational resources online, but students without broadband can easily fall behind their peers,” said National Rural Education Association Executive Director Allen Pratt. “In rural communities, the digital divide is standing between millions of kids and the ability to research an author, watch a documentary, or just turn in assignments. We want all students to learn the computer skills that will help them succeed in the 21st century. We urge regulators to open a dialogue with our team at Connect Americans Now and unlock the incredible possibilities offered by this low band white spaces spectrum.”

“A reliable and cost-effective broadband connection will change the lives of millions of Americans who live each day without this basic necessity,” said Tad Deriso, President & CEO of Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corp. “Through our pilot project with Microsoft, we have witnessed the transformative effect that providing broadband via TV white spaces brings to rural families who otherwise could not obtain internet service, and hope that the FCC will embrace the potential of Connect Americans Now’s plan to close the digital divide.”

“Times have changed, and reliable broadband access is no longer just a luxury,” said Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) Executive Director John Windhausen. “Libraries, clinics and other anchor institutions lie at the heart of rural communities across the heartland, but they can’t provide the services people need without modern connectivity. SHLB is very pleased to join with Connect Americans Now to press for solutions that can work quickly to help close the digital divide and ensure that quality of life isn’t determined by zip code.”

The plan endorsed by CAN will rapidly accelerate the deployment – and reduce the cost – of high-speed internet service for 23.4 million rural Americans who live each day without broadband access. It does so by taking advantage of unused but powerful bandwidth below the 700 MHz frequency range, also known as TV white spaces, made available on an unlicensed basis. Wireless signals in this range can travel over hills and through buildings and trees and therefore are great for last mile broadband access in rural areas.

From education to telemedicine and precision agriculture to business development, closing the digital divide could transform the lives and livelihoods of rural Americans from all walks of life.

Implications of the Digital Divide

  • 5 million students lack access to high speed internet, but 70 percent of teachers assign homework that requires a broadband connection. This means that millions of students – most often in rural areas – struggle to keep up with their assignments and fail to learn the computer skills they need to succeed and enter college or the workforce.
  • Telemedicine could collectively save lives and millions of dollars annually for underserved patients and rural hospitals that pay up to three times more for broadband than their urban counterparts. Broadband allows patients, regardless of where they live, to access specialists and benefit from advanced monitoring services that would normally require hours of travel for patients or their providers.
  • Broadband access brings the promise of precision agriculture, including remote monitoring equipment that helps farmers save money by optimizing irrigation, conserving resources and increasing yields. It also allows farmers to search for new customers, find buyers willing to pay higher prices and identify the most affordable sources of seeds, fertilizers and farm equipment.
  • Broadband access will drive economic growth and job opportunities by enabling rural small businesses to expand their customer base from local to global and attract new industries to rural communities.
  • High-speed internet supports workforce development by allowing rural job seekers to access services online, develop new skills through cloud-based training and secure additional employment opportunities like remote teleworking. It will also allow rural communities to keep and attract new workers who require a broadband connection to carry out their daily responsibilities.

About Connect Americans Now

Connect Americans Now is a group of concerned citizens, local organizations, rural advocates and leading innovators committed to eliminating the digital divide that is holding back rural America. Our goal is to bring rural Americans who currently lack connectivity safe and affordable broadband access by 2022 so they can take advantage of the economic and educational opportunities that exist in other communities.

Lack of broadband could mean underrepresentation of rural in 2020 census

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The Daily Yonder reports…

Rural communities with high levels of poverty and lack of access to internet could be undercounted in the 2020 U. S. Census, according to a report.

Where will this be worst?

O’Hare’s warning is based on likely limits to budgets for Census operations and a change in methodology. The Census will rely more on the internet for data collection. Since rural residents trail in internet connectivity, with 21% of rural homes lacking service compared with 13% of urban residents, response rates from rural areas could be under-represented.

The rural regions with the most at risk, and the least likely to have internet service, are African-Americans communities in the South, Hispanics in the Southwest, and Native Americans living near tribal lands and reservations. Low participation rates are also expected in “deep Appalachia” and among migrant farmworker families. O’Hare said that approximately 40% of impoverished rural people in these regions have no internet access.

Why does it matter?

“Undercounted communities do not receive their fair share of public funds for things like schools, hospitals, day care centers, and roads. Rural communities that are already struggling economically can ill afford to lose federal money because they are not fully counted in the Census,” O’Hare stated.

Rural Broadband in Minnesota – an issue that’s not going away soon

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Tim Girhing of MinnPost spent time talking to folks about broadband before, during and after the Fall Broadband Conference. His article – the result of many conversations – was published today. It recognizes the importance of broadband and necessity of cooperation – in having public-private partnerships as well as hybrid technological solutions.

Making the case for rural broadband…

In most of the Twin Cities, where about 60 percent of Minnesotans live, the internet is oxygen — at once ubiquitous and unnoticed. The choices of service include various levels of high-speed internet, or what’s sometimes referred to as broadband, fast enough to quickly send enormous files to a client, or to watch “Portlandia” in 4k resolution on a MacBook. Fast enough to be taken for granted.

But for somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of Minnesotans, according to recent estimates, the internet is still ephemeral. They might use the internet only late at night, when usage is low and speeds are faster. They might use their cellphones to do homework. They might still be using dial-up.

They often live in sparsely populated counties where home internet is arguably even more important than it is for urbanites, as many rural Minnesotans are sole proprietors, running farms or small businesses. They’re more spread out, far from hospitals and banks and stores. And they’re older, generally speaking. They’re the people most likely to benefit from connectivity, and yet they are the least connected.

By one estimate, having broadband adds an average of $1,850 to a household’s income. In some cases, it’s much more. In Bemidji, where internet service is actually very good, AirCorp Aviation makes $4 million a year restoring vintage airplanes and making parts for legacy carriers; its owners figure that without high-speed internet, they’d be doing $400,000 in business at best. Even farming, once so hermetic, is now at the forefront of the so-called “internet of things,” employing everything from wired tractors to digital milking machines to remote crop-monitoring.

Making the case for cooperation and strategic partnering…

Edberg, like other broadband advocates, compares the push for rural broadband to rural electrification in the 1930s, when utilities didn’t find it profitable to bring electrical lines deep into the countryside. (Garofalo rejects the analogy, saying the way we deliver electricity — on copper wires — hasn’t changed in 100 years, while the way we provide the internet has and will continue to change.)

Then, as now, the government stepped in. But the New Dealers specifically plowed the majority of government funding into member-owned electric power companies that relied on communities’ self-interest rather than profit motive to get the job done — cooperatives not unlike the ones Edberg helps organize.

“Humans know how to compete,” Edberg said. “We know how to enter into combat. That instinct is in our amygdala, the most primitive part of the brain.” And that competitive instinct, he believes, has led us to accept the widening wealth gap, to accept that shareholders in far-off places deserve the greater benefits of our labor and resources, and perhaps to accept crappy internet. “We’ve become really good at creating extractive economies, at taking value out of our communities,” Edberg said. “But it doesn’t have to be this way.”

When Edberg talks to communities underserved by internet providers, he advises them that these telecoms “ain’t coming to your doorsteps anytime soon unless you bribe them. So you better grow the muscles and language needed to cooperate with each other. Be clear about the values you hold and what you want to give to your children and grandchildren. Think with a future in mind, not just what your internet bill is going to be this month.”

In fact, many rural Minnesota communities have recently partnered with a telecom to get better internet. But to Edberg’s point, they needed to band together to make it happen — as when Sunrise Township, about 50 miles north of St. Paul, rallied its residents around enough bonding to bring CenturyLink as well as state and federal funding on board.

Rural broadband is on Tina Smith’s short list

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The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports…

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith will join the U.S. Senate this week, vowing an early emphasis on economic development and other bread-and-butter issues even as she plunges into the heart of what promises to be another turbulent year in national politics.

Forced to immediately begin mounting a campaign for a November 2018 special election to hold the seat for two more years, Smith is setting goals and eyeing issues to take on as she prepares for at least a year as Minnesota’s junior senator. She said in an interview at the end of last week that she hopes to focus on issues she worked on at the state level: rural broadband expansion, access to child care and paid family leave.

Blandin Broadband eNews: Net Neutrality and MN policymakers on broadband

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MN Broadband Task Force formalizes report
The Minnesota Broadband Task Force met to make final edits to their annual report. https://wp.me/p3if7-4p5 They have two recommendations:

  • Provide $71.482 million in ongoing biennial funding for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program, until the state achieves its broadband speed goal.
  • Provide the Office of Broadband Development with $250,000 per year in ongoing funding, until the state achieves its broadband speed goal.

Minnesota Policymakers on Broadband

Literature Review on Impact of Broadband
A new report out of Purdue University looks at the impact of broadband on economic development, migration and civic engagement, education, telework, telehealth, smart cities and agriculture. https://wp.me/p3if7-4oZ

Repeal of Net Neutrality
The FCC repealed Net Neutrality. https://wp.me/p3if7-4pC Many are concerned about what that will mean for consumers. https://wp.me/p3if7-4pG Smaller providers (especially) are steadfast that this will not mean a change for customers https://wp.me/p3if7-4pV and many are more focused on the impact of discrepancy between Title 1 and Title 2 providers. https://wp.me/p3if7-4pT There is an effort to benchmark broadband costs now to compare to prices once the repeal goes into effect. https://wp.me/p3if7-4qc

Local Broadband News

Big Stone, Swift, Lac qui Parle, Chippewa and Yellow Medicine Counties
Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Center tracks broadband speeds in various points of their region. The results are informal but reflective. https://wp.me/p3if7-4pb

Dakota County
Dakota County looks at Rights of Way and Broadband Joint Powers https://wp.me/p3if7-4pr

New Ulm
NU-Telecom purchases RRCNet, the high school run network https://wp.me/p3if7-4pJ

Sherburne County
More details Sherburne County’s MN broadband grant project  https://wp.me/p3if7-4pt

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Looking for more events? Check out TechDotMN’s calendar http://tech.mn/events/. Many events are based in the Twin Cities but it is a comprehensive list. (If you have an upcoming event, consider submitting it.)

Stirring the Pot – by Bill Coleman

While I have my own set of personal resolutions again this year,  I have also created a short list around my broadband work.  Here they are:

Get smarter about broadband co-ops

RS Fiber has shown that it is possible to create a new broadband cooperative and the citizens in their area are experiencing the benefits of ubiquitous high-speed broadband. Meanwhile, other communities are talking about the co-op model, but have not yet followed on this complex path. My resolution is to dig in on co-op formation and share what I learn.

Public policy advocacy

Broadband has moved from a “someday this will be important to your community” consideration to a “no one is coming to a place without quality broadband” crisis for rural Minnesota.  It is clear that no provider, whether publicly traded, co-op or government utility, can conventionally finance 100% of the required investment for a quality rural broadband network.  My resolution is to think and act more strategically about influencing public policy about broadband to benefit rural Minnesota.

Economic development

Roberto Gallardo’s Digital Divide Index https://wp.me/p3if7-4j8 illustrates the strong relationship between rural broadband availability and enhanced economic vitality.  We know from observation that access does not guarantee widespread effective use.  I resolve to help rural communities design and implement strategies that directly improves business and workforce outcomes.

Resolutions are always more fun when it is a group activity.  Who is in?

Help crowdsource a benchmark to measure impact of Net Neutrality Repeal

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Happy New Year! It’s a good day for looking back and in the broadband world, the topic of 2017 was Net Neutrality. Many are concerned that repeal of Net Neutrality will lead to higher prices for consumers and/or tiered pricing for premium content. Many providers say that they will continue to provide the same level of service they always have; nothing will change to the services or prices as a result of the repeal.

New Year is also a good time to look forward. Set goals. Assess. So I want to propose that instead of stepping on the dreaded scale to set goals – that we all check out broadband prices in our respective areas. That will set a benchmark for us to measure any impact of Net Neutrality.

I started by checking out services in my zip code. I found the list of providers on the Office of Broadband Development interactive broadband map. There are nine providers/services in my area:

  • AT&T (Mobile)
  • CenturyLink DSL
  • CenturyLink (Fiber)
  • Comcast (Cable)
  • Hughes Net (Satellite)
  • Sprint (Mobile)
  • T-Mobile (Mobile)
  • Verizon Wireless (Mobile)
  • ViaSat (Satellite)

Telecom changes will only directly impact CenturyLink but I checked pricing for cable and satellite as well. While I know in some areas, people use mobile option for home access, that would be pretty rare in St Paul so I didn’t check those prices. (That being said, I have a mobile hotspot but not for primary home or business use.)

I tracked the info I could for each services based on information from the provider websites. So, if they didn’t specific up or download speed, I didn’t either. If they mentioned a restriction, so did I. I posted the best deal I could find with minimal research.

Here are the options for my address through CenturyLink:

For Internet Only:

  • Gig – $85/month
  • 100 Mbps – $65/month
  • 40 Mbps – $55/month

Bundle of Internet, phone and TV (basic Prism)

  • Gig – $194.99/month
  • 100 Mbps – $174.99/month
  • 40 Mbps – $164.99/month

Here are the options for my address through Comcast/Xfinity:

For Internet and TV (Channels – I chose fewest channels)

  • 200 Mbps (down) – $69.99/month (with one year agreement)
  • 100 Mbps (down) – $59.99/month (with one year agreement)
  • 55 Mbps (down) – $49.99/month (with one year agreement)

Here are the options for my address through HughesNet:

  • 25 Mbps for 50 GB data – $99.99/month (requires 2 year agreement; if you surpass 10 GB your connection speeds will be reduced)
  • 25 Mbps for 30 GB data – $79.99/month (requires 2 year agreement; if you surpass 10 GB your connection speeds will be reduced)
  • 25 Mbps for 20 GB data – $59.99/month (requires 2 year agreement; if you surpass 10 GB your connection speeds will be reduced)
  • 25 Mbps for 10 GB data – $49.99/month (requires 2 year agreement; if you surpass 10 GB your connection speeds will be reduced)

Here are the options for my address through ViaSat/Exede

  • 30 Mbps (down) for unlimited data – $150/month ($100/month for first 3 months)
  • 25 Mbps (down) for unlimited data – $100/month ($70/month for first 3 months)
  • 12 Mbps (down) for unlimited data – $70/month ($50/month for first 3 months)
  • 12 Mbps (down) for 10 GB – $50/month ($30/month for first 3 months)

BUT on Unlimited service plans, after 150GB of data usage, they may prioritize your data behind other customers during network congestion.

If you want to check your own area and either send me your results atreacy@treaycinfo.com or post them in the comments below that would help create the larger benchmark. You don’t have to check all of the options in your area – just starting with your current provider would be great. Next year we can see how things compare.