Category Archives: Wireless

Yellow Medicine County Broadband Feasibility Study: wireless is a temporary solution, grants needed for fiber builds

Posted on by
Reply

With funding from the Blandin Foundation, Yellow Medicine County worked with Finley Engineering and CCG Consulting on a study that would look at if and how the county might take on bringing better broadband to all corners of the county.

Here’s the executive summary of the Yellow Medicine County Broadband Feasibility Study – check out the full study for greater details and next steps…

Finley Engineering and CCG Consulting submit this report of our findings and recommendations for the feasibility of finding a broadband solution for those parts of the county without broadband today. The county is typical of many rural counties where a substantial part of the county has or will soon have good broadband, including fiber, while other parts of the county have little or no broadband. This disparity in broadband coverage will eventually harm those portions of the county without broadband and you can expect those areas to suffer lower housing prices and become places where families and business don’t want to be located.

Our study area looked at the feasibility of bringing broadband to the parts of the county that are not expected to have fiber construction over the next few years. We considered three different study areas looking at different parts of the county. We then looked at two different business plan scenarios for getting broadband to everyone: building fiber everywhere and building a hybrid network that is a mix of fiber and fixed wireless. Finley Engineering developed estimates of the cost of deploying each network option and CCG used these costs in the financial business plans to see if there is an economically viable model for providing broadband in the rural areas.

The primary purpose of the study was to determine the breakeven penetration level for each scenario. This represents the number of customers necessary for the scenario to always remain cash positive throughout the life of the financing. This analysis told us the following:

  • It does not look to be economically feasible to immediately build fiber everywhere without significant grant funding. This is not a surprising finding and is directly the result of the high cost of building fiber to farms.
  • The scenarios that mix fiber and wireless technology look feasible. The scenarios can work even without grant funding, but some level of grant funding make the scenarios safer for an investor.

The wireless network designed by Finley is intended to supply at least 25 Mbps download to rural homes in the county, which is a significant improvement for those homes with no broadband. Some customers will be able to get speeds faster than that on the wireless network.

However, implementing a wireless network would not be a permanent solution. All of the broadband trends in the country show that the amount of bandwidth needed by a typical home will keep growing, and at some point in the future the wireless network will become obsolete in the same manner that happened in the past with dial-up and DSL broadband.

The report discusses the next steps the county needs to take after digesting the results of this study. These include such things as looking for a partner to bring broadband to those areas without it today. The goal would be to have a partner by next year to hopefully be ready for future state grant funds.

We note that as this report was being written that the county announced a tentative agreement with Farmers Mutual Cooperative to bring fiber to a significant portion of the county. The county has agreed to provide $4 million in funding subject to the Cooperative being able to find grants and other funding needed to build the project. If completed this project would cover a little less than half of the parts of the county that don’t have broadband today.

Broadband video clips from House Omnibus Meeting (HF4289) from April 18

Posted on by
Reply

I wrote earlier today about the results of the Omnibus discussion from yesterday. (There are plans to discuss the bill tonight.) I have just pulled out the clips related to broadband.

Clips are grouped by topics – then included chronologically.

First is testimony from the Commissioner of DEED (MN Department of Employment and Economic Development) on the funding for proposed broadband grants. In response there’s Representative Baker and Representative Layman in their support for broadband funding.

Next is testimony from T-Mobile on the proposed $3000 cap for wireless applications fees to local government. (Wireless companies request permission to collocate equipment from local government; usually local governments need to hire third parties to help assess the applications. The proposed bill would cap that fee.) The next testimony comes from the League of MN Cities; they oppose the $3000 cap.

FirstNet Brings Additional Coverage and Capacity to Minnesota to Support Public Safety Communications

Posted on by
Reply

Big news on the FirstNet front from AT&T in MInnesota…

FirstNet Band 14 Deployment Underway to Further Enhance Emergency Response Across the State

ST. CLOUD, Minn., April 17, 2018 – Additional coverage and capacity is coming to Minnesota’s first responders with the deployment of FirstNet’s public safety spectrum, called Band 14. This will help first responders across the state stay connected to the information they need when responding to emergencies, supporting large events or handling day-to-day operations.

FirstNet is the country’s first nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to first responders when they need it. Built with AT&T*, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, it gives first responders’ communications capabilities a much-needed technology upgrade.

Recognizing its value, Governor Mark Dayton opted in to the FirstNet state plan in October 2017 to bring Minnesota’s first responders a reliable, highly secure and “always-on” connection.

“FirstNet is dramatically enhancing police work across Minnesota by giving law enforcement access to the most advanced communications capabilities available today,” said First Responder Network Authority Board Member Richard Stanek, who has served as the Sheriff of Hennepin County since 2007. “It will also modernize communications used by fire, EMS and other public safety personnel. This will help all first responders maintain the safety of our neighborhoods and communities, so it’s exciting to see FirstNet’s progress continue with the deployment of Band 14.”

AT&T and the First Responder Network Authority recently announced the launch of the nationwide buildout of FirstNet using Band 14.

Band 14 is high-quality wireless spectrum set aside by the government specifically for FirstNet. It provides good propagation in urban and rural areas, penetrating buildings and walls easily and covering larger geographic areas with less infrastructure. Band 14 also enables high-power user equipment with the ability to radiate at levels 6 times that typically allowed on an LTE system. This means that, as Band 14 is deployed, we can extend the range of LTE coverage much further than it reaches today.

“FirstNet is bringing Minnesota’s public safety community the tools they need to help them respond to any emergency, anywhere,” said Paul Weirtz, president of AT&T Minnesota. “And the deployment of public safety’s spectrum is a big next step in the ongoing build of FirstNet, helping to connect our first responders across agencies, jurisdictions and even state lines, so they can stay safe and save lives.”

After Band 14 is deployed, when FirstNet subscribers are not using that spectrum to support their public safety needs, it can be used to improve service for all AT&T wireless customers across Minnesota. This means they’ll have access to even more coverage and capacity – when not in use by first responders – as Band 14 is built out across the state.

In addition to the FirstNet build, AT&T invested nearly $350 million in its Minnesota wireless and wired networks from 2014-2016. These investments boosted reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for public safety as well as for Minnesotans and their businesses.

AT&T continued its investment in Minnesota in 2017. Expanding its network in the area has given AT&T the most wireless coverage in Minnesota, and AT&T plans to keep upgrading its network throughout 2018.

Since FirstNet service is an all-band solution – which means it can utilize AT&T’s LTE bands in addition to Band 14 – we’re well positioned to bring Minnesota’s public safety community the best network possible with the coverage and capacity they need to achieve their life-saving missions.

Wireless facility application fees limit bill in MN Senate not being moved to Omnibus (SF3166)

Posted on by
Reply

The discussion on wireless facility application fee immediately followed a more direct broadband bill discussion in the House. So I’ve done what I can to capture it in video. Key here is that it is NOT being moved to Omnibus!

Details on meeting:
Committee on Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
 Chair: Sen. David J. Osmek
1 p.m. April 12, 2018
Room 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

Bill related to limiting fees for certain wireless facility applications (SF 3166) to be discussed April 12

Posted on by
Reply

I wrote about this bill introduction earlier…

S.F. No. 3166: A bill for an act relating to telecommunications; limiting application fees for certain wireless facility applications; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 462.353, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 394.

It is on the legislative agenda for April 12…

Thursday, April 12, 2018 – 1:00 PM

Committee on Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
Chair: Sen. David J. Osmek
1 p.m.
Room 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

Hearing on SF 3166 will be informational only; no action taken

Agenda:
S.F. 3166-Hall: Wireless facility application fees limit.

S.F. 2713-Dibble: Energy storage systems advance determination of prudence authorization.

National discussion of small cell collocation continues although Minnesota’s decisions were made last year

Posted on by
Reply

Small cell equipment collocation policy decisions were made in Minnesota last year. The timing worked so that the wireless providers could prepare for the Super Bowl. (Just last month House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee heard about the results of the policy – especially how it streamlined the Super Bowl preparation.) At that meeting I heard AT&T mention testing in rural areas. I am very interested in learn more about that! I remember last year that the negotiation for the bill was hard fought – because both side had good points. People want wireless. People want local control of public rights of way. People want to know who is going to pay for or be responsible for what.

The discussion of small cell collocation continues outside of Minnesota. I’m including it here because it’s an interesting reminder of the different cards that public and private entities hold and how that has an impact on the game of getting better broadband to everyone. I think the answer in Minnesota worked for the Twin Cities and worked for the Super Bowl; again I’m interested in learning more about the impact in rural areas…

Thirty-Six Mayors and Elected Leaders Send Letter to FCC in Defense of Local Decision-Making Around 5G Investments

Letter Accompanied by New Market Research Revealing 5G, Smart City Deployment Trends Surveying 175+ Communities

Washington, DC (March 15, 2018) — Thirty-six mayors and elected local leaders from the bipartisan membership organization Next Century Cities sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today in defense of local decision-making around 5G investments, small cell deployment, and the use of public rights-of-way. Next Century Cities also released new research the organization commissioned that surveyed 176 community officials on 5G and small cell deployments and smart city applications.

 

Three mayors who signed the letter and the key researcher for the new survey will be on a media call TODAY at 1pm ET to answer questions (dial-in: (872) 240-3412; Access Code: 310-203-829).

 

The mayoral letter to the FCC pushes back on the narrative that local leaders are a barrier to small cell deployment, instead calling for collaboration between industry and municipalities. The 36 signatories, who together represent nearly 8 million Americans, include Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who recently resigned from the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) because of similar concerns.

 

“As mayors, we feel that some commissioners have wrongly cast local governments as a main barrier to next generation wireless deployments, using us as a scapegoat for larger issues: “We are concerned that the Commission will take actions that harm the public by decreasing our local authority without actually resolving the key problems that are limiting increased investment in better networks,” the letter states. Read the full letter here.

 

Next Century Cities also released new research, conducted by independent researcher RVA LLC, that includes survey results from 176 local government employees about the primary objectives and concerns of local leaders around smart city technology and small cell deployment.

 

“We are pleased to release this independently conducted research on how and where 5G is being considered and deployed, as well as the status of smart cities applications currently in use. Contrary to the narrative that locally elected officials are a barrier to implementation, they are in fact eager to collaborate with providers to expedite the deployment of the necessary infrastructure to bring innovation and opportunity to their communities,” said Deb Socia, Executive Director of Next Century Cities.

 

According to the research, small cell deployment is well underway. Nearly half of respondents (44%) have deployed small cells in their communities, while an additional 26% are considering deployment. As deployment spreads, local leaders indicated widespread concern around federal and state preemption: 84% of survey respondents believed that state laws under consideration related to pole use for small cells were negative to their community, while only 3% believed they were positive. See the full research here and a Fact Sheet with more details here.

The new 5G/smart city survey also found that small cell deployment is mostly happening in larger communities that have fiber. For instance, 93% of communities with populations larger than 500,000 responded that they were pursuing smart city applications.

Bill related to limiting fees for certain wireless facility applications (SF 3166) introduced in the MN Senate

Posted on by
Reply

According to the Senate’s list of newly introduced bills…

Senator Hall introduced–

S.F. No. 3166: A bill for an act relating to telecommunications; limiting application fees for certain wireless facility applications; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 462.353, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 394.

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy.

Here’s the proposed text…

A bill for an act
relating to telecommunications; limiting application fees for certain wireless facility
applications; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 462.353, by adding a
subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 394.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[394.38] FEES; WIRELESS FACILITY.

(a) This section applies to an application to install a new or replacement wireless facility
on (1) a new or existing structure specifically designed to support wireless facilities, or (2)
a water tower, building, or other structure designed primarily for other purposes.

(b) A local government unit must limit an application fee to the actual cost incurred,
including the cost of any third-party consultant used to assist with the application review.
A local government unit is prohibited from imposing an application fee under this section
that exceeds $3,000.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “wireless facility” means equipment at a fixed
location that enables the provision of wireless services between user equipment and a
wireless service network. Wireless facility includes an adjacent facility used to store
equipment necessary to support the wireless facility, but does not include a small wireless
facility as defined in section 237.162.

EFFECTIVE DATE. 

This section is effective the day following final enactment and
applies to an application filed on or after that date.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 462.353, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

Subd. 4b.

Fees; wireless facility. 

(a) This subdivision applies to an application to install
a new or replacement wireless facility on (1) a new or existing structure specifically designed
to support wireless facilities, or (2) a water tower, building, or other structure designed
primarily for other purposes.

(b) A local government unit must limit an application fee to the actual cost incurred,
including the cost of any third-party consultant used to assist with the application review.
A local government unit is prohibited from imposing an application fee under this subdivision
that exceeds $3,000.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “wireless facility” means equipment at a fixed
location that enables the provision of wireless services between user equipment and a
wireless service network. Wireless facility includes an adjacent facility used to store
equipment necessary to support the wireless facility, but does not include a small wireless
facility as defined in section 237.162.

EFFECTIVE DATE. 

This section is effective the day following final enactment and
applies to an application filed on or after that date.

AT&T recognizes Minneapolis efforts to streamline 5G deployment

Posted on by
Reply

RCR Wireless News reports…

AT&T has said that 5G networks will rely on dense networks of small cells, and the carrier has also said that it will launch mobile 5G in 12 U.S. markets this year. It isn’t saying which markets those will be, but it has dropped a hint by publicly praising three U.S. cities that have paved the way for small cells.

Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Little Rock, AK were singled out by AT&T for “the adoption and implementation of processes and cost structures that facilitate small cell deployment.” Joan Marsh, AT&T’s EVP for regulatory and state external affairs, said these three cities are all “leaning with us into the next generation of technologies.”

Here’s what they said about Minneapolis…

Minneapolis is also a 5G Evolution test market, and AT&T has plans to install about 115 small cell nodes there. The state of Minnesota passed a small cell law in 2017 that established a 90-day process for cities to issue or deny small cell permits and set a statewide $150 per year small cell pole attachment rate, with an additional $25 per year maintenance fee.

Minnesota and Indiana are among a handful of states that have adopted small cell legislation. Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, and Virgina have also passed laws to facilitate small cell deployments.

The article doesn’t mention the impact of the Superbowl. I recall that AT&T mentioned 122 additional or enhanced cell sites in Minneapolis (St Paul and Bloomington) in the last year in preparation for the game. The good news is that infrastructure is here to say; they only deployed 10 temporary cells on wheels.

It doesn’t necessarily help rural areas but nice to see Minneapolis at the top of the list!

Ely uses feasibility study to come up with better broadband scenarios for the community

Posted on by
Reply

The Institute for Local Self Reliance (MunitNetworks) reports…

Last fall, the northern Minnesota community of Ely took up a feasibility study to determine the possibilities of better connectivity with publicly owned Internet infrastructure. They also wanted to explore local interest in investment. After conducting a survey and reviewing the situation, local officials are contemplating moving ahead with two pilot projects.

They outline the results of a recent community survey…

As anticipated, residents and businesses who took the survey revealed that 94 percent of local residents and 98 percent of business owners want improved connectivity in Ely. Jack Maytum, senior broadband analyst for Design Nine, relayed that approximately 400 residents and 60 local business owners completed the survey. The community chose Design Nine to complete the feasibility study.

From the residents who took the survey, only nine percent have connections that meet the FCC definition of broadband — 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload.

Forty-four percent of the people answering the survey purchase DSL Internet access and 27 percent subscribe to cable service.

Forty-eight percent of those who completed the survey said that they have the type of Internet access they have because they have “no other option.” If the Ely community had better competition, for companies and types of services, they might not need to engage in a feasibility study or consider a publicly owned option, but like many rural communities, large national providers are investing elsewhere.

Twenty-three percent of respondents consider themselves self-employed or describe their employment as full-time or part-time from home. In places like Ely, where upload speeds are not robust, entrepreneurs with home bases have a difficult time if their businesses require connectivity. For many businesses today, the ability to send information to colleagues online is a necessity and a fast, reliable connection is critical to everyday business.

Subsequently, they are looking at a few options – like starting with the downtown area…

One of the pilot projects community leaders are now considering is a fiber loop around the downtown area. Community leaders want to help existing businesses and attract new growth. At this early stage, Design Nine and the city are working on cost estimates, but Ely leaders have expressed that better broadband is a priority.

Another focuses on residential areas…

The pilot project for residential service may take on a public-private flavor. One of the early suggestions is that the city invest in fixed wireless equipment and towers and fiber at two local lakes that are outside of city limits. They would own the infrastructure and lease it to a private sector Internet Service Provider (ISP) to offer fixed wireless services to the homes around the area.

Wireless to the rescue? The pros and cons of fixed wireless

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve been hearing a lot about wireless lately – especially fixed wireless. It started last week with the Minnesota Broadband Task Force presentation from LTD, then a recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune asking if fixed wireless might help close the connectivity gap.

Fixed wireless is part of a solution but not a rescue for all needs. As the Star Tribune article points out, the cost of fixed wireless is a big benefit…

But the best part of fixed wireless internet may be its cost. Nelson said fiber optic lines cost about $20,000 a mile to install. That’s a big expense. But instead of running fiber lines to individual houses, Woodstock Communications’ strategy is to run them to a wireless tower, and then use a radio signal to deliver the wireless internet to homes.

With that approach, Nelson said, his company can connect homes to the internet with wireless at a tenth of the cost of fiber.

Fixed wireless is certainly better than what many rural Minnesotans can access now. Here is a sampling of speeds and prices being offered now:

Woodstock lists monthly speeds and prices at the following:

  • 5 Mbps $49.95
  • 10 Mbps $69.95
  • 20 Mbps $99.99
  • 50 Mbps $129.95
    I assume these are download speeds.

LTD Wireless lists monthly speeds and prices:

  • 3 Mbps down and .5 up $35
  • 6 Mbps down and 1 up $55
  • 10 Mbps down and 2 up $75

RS Fiber monthly costs:

  • 25 Mbps down & up $39.95
  • 50 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up $52.95

MVTV Wireless costs:

  • Up to 1.5 Mbps $49.95/month
  • Up to 2.5 Mbps $59.95/month
  • Up to 5.0 Mbps $69.95/month
  • Up to 10.0 Mbps $74.95/month **available in select areas only
  • Up to 25.0 Mbps $99.95/month **available in select areas only
    I assume these are download speeds.

Each provider offers at least one service with speeds that meet the 2022 speed goals of 25/3 but not the 2026 goals of 100/20. Fixed wireless can be a good stepping stone to getting to 100/20. When a provider brings fiber to the tower, it helps expand infrastructure and builds a base of customers. It’s good for a business plan and a provider may have some customers that never need more. In a meeting in Litchfield yesterday I heard someone say – they were happy to work with fixed wireless providers to meet the needs of citizens today but they recognize that it’s not future proof. The challenge is balancing the variety of needs with cost. Something worth considering is that home-based businesses, teleworkers, online students will be bigger users – but they may also be attractive residents for a rural community. To attract and retain them you need adequate broadband.

There are some drawbacks to fixed wireless. Fixed Wireless requires line of sight. So it works well in Western Minnesota – where it’s flat and pretty treeless. ( Wind turbines may interfere at times.)  It will work less well in NW Minnesota. Fiber is faster and more reliable – so when it comes to creating a statewide plan I think we need to recognize that difference and be prudent in considering long-term equitable solutions.

Super Bowl hype brings some awesome wireless solutions to the Twin Cities

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s an infomercial on the role of wireless access on the Super Bowl. They mentioned the 1300 wireless access points around the US Bank Stadium. It’s created by National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) – the builders of the network.

Having adequate broadband for a conference is a big deal. A few weeks ago I was helping with a conference in St Paul. The location (which fit 2,500 people) had a wireless network but it wasn’t enough for the sold out audience. They only had a 100 Mbps into the building. (And I assume that was down only – they never did get me in touch with the person who knew.)  We wanted to invite people to live stream and post on social media during the conference. And we wanted them to not use up their personal cellular data caps or run into congestion.

It was expensive to have anyone upgrade the connection – especially for one day. We weren’t as big as the Super Bowl so probably not worth 1300 wireless access points – but still worth consideration for any community (or business) looking to attract conferences – broadband matters. In the end – we went with what was available. People got a little frustrated – I quickly moved off the free wireless to my own hotspot. And I think next time broadband might move of the list of necessities for a location.

Midco acquires fixed wireless provider from NW Minnesota

Posted on by
2

According to the Grand Forks Herald…

A Minneapolis-based company that provides internet, cable and other networking services to the Grand Forks region has acquired a fixed wireless internet provider in Warren, Minn.

Midco announced Thursday it had acquired InvisiMax, which serves more than 4,000 customers in the Fargo and Grand Forks areas, according to a news release.

This will expand their services…

InvisiMax provided services to about 75 cities in northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. The company sent a letter to customers Thursday informing them of the merger.

Midco provides services in 342 communities in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Kansas.

Getting Broadband for Palisade MN

Posted on by
Reply

I want to thank Darrell in Aitkin County for writing up his experience getting community WiFI set up in Palisade and for Scott from SCI for sharing some added info. It’s a nice example of public-private partnership at a very local level.

The problem:

Palisade is a rural community with few options for high-speed connectivity.  The only wired internet connection is via DSL through the local telephone provider.  Satellite is available but we have found it has the propensity to go disconnect due to weather situations and has limited bandwidth to support hot-spot activity.

The solution:

After much investigation, we found an existing solution.  Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) has fiber in place near the downtown area.  After several conversations with them, we were able to negotiate the construction project to bring fiber to the City Hall.

One of the considerations was that the community of Palisade wasn’t going to provide free internet or go into business of offering internet to the downtown area businesses.

There were scheduling issues to begin with as SCI was working other larger project in the county.  By October 2017, the fiber was connected and that portion of the Wi-Fi hotspot project was complete and the rest of the process could proceed.

Talk about great connectivity, the speed for upload and download is slated at 100 Mbps.  Now the Wi-Fi hotspot and community reading room are ready for the next phases of their respective projects.

SCI currently has fiber to the business available in Palisade and they plan to have residential services available by the end of 2018. (This is a privately funded project for SCI.)

AT&T Boosts Minneapolis Area Mobile Coverage for Pro Football’s Big Game

Posted on by
Reply

I had to use this picture my mom took at the big game last week (against the Saints)

Big news for sports fans from AT&T…

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 22, 2018 – AT&T* is boosting cellular capacity throughout Minneapolis in preparation for football’s Big Game.

When fans head to Minneapolis for the highly anticipated Big Game, they can expect a better mobile experience to share special moments.

We’ve been working for over a year to boost the network in Minneapolis for the Big Game. We’ve done this through a series of permanent and temporary upgrades throughout the city, so fans will be connected as soon as they arrive. They can share moments on social media during the week-long pre-game festivities, back at their hotels and at the stadium during the Big Game—faster and easier than before.

In total, we’re investing more than $40 million in our Minneapolis wireless network.

Better coverage in the stadium

At the football stadium in Minneapolis, we’ve upgraded the Distributed Antenna System (DAS). It will now offer nearly 220% more LTE capacity than at the start of the 2017 pro football season. And more than 800 antennas hidden throughout the venue will help manage heavy wireless traffic. This gives fans strong coverage throughout game day – from tailgating to the trophy presentation.

A DAS consists of strategically placed antennas that distribute the wireless network coverage throughout the stadium. These antennas manage the wireless capacity in heavily trafficked areas, like football stadiums. This brings better, more consistent wireless coverage to customers indoors and out.

Better coverage out of the stadium

But we didn’t stop with the stadium. We’ve also upgraded or installed new DAS at 16 locations throughout the Minneapolis area. Fans can enjoy better coverage in hotels, arenas, airports, convention centers, among other venues.

We’ve upgraded the DAS at the airport and installed a new DAS at the convention center in Minneapolis. We’ve also installed a new DAS at NOMADIC LIVE! at The Armory to enhance coverage for all the fans headed to the concert venue each night, including DIRECTV NOW’s Super Saturday Night.

“When fans head to Minneapolis to cheer on their favorite team, we want them to have a great network experience—whether they’re making a call, checking email or sharing their favorite moments on social media,” said Scott Mair, president AT&T Operations. “But the network enhancements in Minneapolis won’t go away after the Big Game. They’re permanent and will continue to benefit customers. It’s just one way we’re continuing to invest in our Minneapolis wireless network.”

We’re also deploying 10 Cell on Wheels (COWs) to handle expected increased wireless network demands for the Big Game. COWs are temporary towers AT&T will use to help improve reliability and data speeds for the week leading up to and during the Big Game.

Where to find the COWs:

  • Near Summit Avene and 35E
  • On Nicollet Avenue to cover pre-game events
  • A Super COW in the Stadium Commons area
  • Near Mystic Lake for pre-game concerts
  • Near the Mall in Bloomington to support visitors
  • North and south sides of the Stadium

How to take advantage of 5G Evolution

We also recently launched 5G Evolution in parts of Minneapolis. That means we’ve upgraded cell towers with ultra-fast LTE Advanced features like 256 QAM, 4×4 MIMO and 3-way carrier aggregation. These features, along with our upgrades, are providing faster speeds and a better experience for customers with compatible devices.

These devices include the LG V30, Moto Z2 Force Edition, Samsung Galaxy Note8, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8+, Samsung Galaxy S8 Active and the Netgear Nighthawk Hotspot router.

We expect crowds of over a million people, but we’re ready with 122 new or enhanced nearby cell sites. These investments mean Minneapolis residents can celebrate the Big Game over the AT&T network at home, work and on the go.

We invested more than $200 million in our Minneapolis and Bloomington, Minnesota areas wireless and wireline networks between 2014 and 2016.

To learn more about AT&T coverage in Minneapolis or anywhere in the U.S., go to the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, go to the AT&T network news page.

#MobileOnly Challenge to Kickoff in January 2018, Protesting FCC’s Plan to Lower Broadband Quality Standards

Posted on by
Reply

This is an interesting idea. I would have to choose my day carefully…

December 18, 2017 (Washington, DC) — Ten public interest organizations focused on high-quality broadband for all Americans announced today that they will be leading a #MobileOnly Challenge in January and asking Americans to participate. The Challenge will call attention to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposal to lower broadband standards and consider an internet connection on a single mobile device the same as a “fixed” broadband connection at someone’s home.

 

FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel have already committed to take the #MobileOnly challenge in January and encouraged others to do the same. Commissioner Clyburn stated: “I am ready and excited to participate in the #MobileOnly challenge. Contrary to those who claim that mobile broadband services provide effective competitive pressure on fixed broadband providers, promoting deployment of mobile broadband services alone is not sufficient to bridge digital divides in underserved rural and urban communities. By standing together through this movement, we will demonstrate why it is so essential for all Americans to have access to a robust fixed broadband connection.”

 

The public interest leaders of the #MobileOnly Challenge include: Next Century Cities, Public Knowledge, New America’s Open Technology Institute, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Mobile Citizen, and EveryoneOn.

 

The #MobileOnly Challenge, which will run January 1 through January 31, 2018, will have participants spend one day accessing the internet via only their mobile device — foregoing desktop devices or laptops with fixed connections — and to document their experience using the hashtag #MobileOnly. Individuals, families, and organizations can pledge to take the challenge, commit to a day in January that they will go mobile only, and learn more at MobileOnlyChallenge.com.

 

The Challenge seeks to draw attention to the significant and numerous limitations of mobile-only service that many Americans face daily. It also will highlight just one way FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is making it harder for Americans to get the high-quality internet access that is now critical in daily life.

 

“A home connection to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband is essential for families across the country,” says Deb Socia, Executive Director of Next Century Cities. “Lowering the broadband standard would prevent Americans from accessing the full economic, educational, and social benefits of the internet, and would exacerbate the existing digital divide. We encourage everyone to take the #MobileOnly Challenge, and spend a day experiencing what so many Americans face and what Chairman Pai thinks is acceptable.”

 

The FCC’s proposal, outlined in the Section 706 Notice of Inquiry, released earlier in 2017, would lower the standard for what is considered acceptable broadband access. Chairman Pai’s plan suggests that Americans who have access to 10/1 Mbps speeds over mobile internet service could be considered equally “served” as households that have access to 25/3 Mbps, fixed connection broadband, which is the current broadband standard.