Thursday, February 25th, 2010
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, and WASHINGTON, February 25, 2010 – Connect Illinois, a non-profit organization that includes partnerships with Southern Illinois University, Man-Tra-Con, and Connected Nation, on Thursday announced Drew Clark as its new Executive Director.
On Wednesday, the group also unveiled BroadbandStat, a new interactive mapping tool for viewing and analyzing broadband data.
Clark, the founder of BroadbandCensus.com and an experienced, independent telecom industry analyst, brings a unique public interest perspective to broadband data collection, which is vital to the effective deployment of high-speed internet networks throughout the United States.
“I’m glad that our team of broadband experts is moving forward to help achieve the ambitious vision for a public, transparent map of technology infrastructure that President Obama and I share,” said Governor Pat Quinn. A long-time advocate of improving broadband access in Illinois, Governor Quinn has worked with public and private partners over many years to ensure connectivity in all areas.
As the state’s designated entity to perform broadband mapping, Connect Illinois recently received $1.8 million in funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for broadband data collection, mapping and planning activities. In 2009, led by Southern Illinois University, Connect Illinois received a start-up grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic...
Read More »
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
By Lou Carlozo, Special Correspondent, BroadbandCensus.com
CHICAGO, November 18, 2009 - One striking sentiment dominated this week’s convention of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners: The federal government remains on nearly as steep a learning curve on crafting the future of broadband as many state agencies, and the best work ahead will likely get done when public and private concerns team up.
“Of course more needs to be done, and they’re still learning [in Washington] how to reliably and effectively get the funds out,” said David Svanda of Svanda Consulting in Clarksville, Md., and a past president of NARUC.
“It’s an ongoing learning process, and they clearly have their feelers out to learn more,” said Svanda. “I think they’ll take very seriously what they hear here. You couldn’t have two better people on the case.”
By “they,” Svanda meant Larry Strickling, of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and Jonathan Adelstein, of the Rural Utility Service.
These two key Obama administration broadband players have only been on the job only since the summer: the Senate confirmed Strickling in June, and Adelstein in July.
They have their hands full intrying to figure out how to distribute $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funding by September 2010.
Are Strickling...
Read More »
Monday, October 19th, 2009
By the Staff of BroadbandCensus.com
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday heard oral arguments in the matter of the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to maintain a rate cap on telecommunications intercarrier payments for internet-bound dial-up traffic and a related ruling that helps keep wireless intercarrier payments low.
At issue was a 2001 cap that the FCC placed on intercarrier payments. The cap saved wireless carriers substantially on termination fees. In November 2008, the FCC extended the application of that ruling to all forms of internet-bound traffic. Additionally, the FCC placed the entire matter under federal jurisdiction.
In appealing the decision, the states and the companies criticizing it said that once the FCC had used one set of arguments to justify their reasoning, it must be up to state regulators, and not the FCC, to “set the final rates in arbitration proceedings.” According to a Stifel Nicolaus telcom analysis, the three judges appear to be leaning toward the FCC’s side of the...
Read More »
Monday, September 28th, 2009
By Andrew Feinberg, Deputy Editor, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, September 28, 2009 - State utility commissioners want the Federal Communications Commission to put broadband carriers on notice that the agency’s own broadband data collection does not relieve operators of the obligation to comply with state requests.
In papers filed with the FCC on Friday, The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners asked the commission to issue a declaratory ruling which would clarify that in collecting data from broadband carriers, the commission is not asserting any preemption over state-level mapping efforts.
NARUC endorsed such a ruling at its July 2009 meeting, during which it passed a resolution asking the FCC to provide states with the Form 477 data in compliance with the 2008 Broadband Data Improvement Act.
The resolution further requests the commission to clarify that it has not asserted "any general preemption of any State actions," specifically those having to do with broadband mapping.
"Congress has been crystal clear...that it wants to promote the deployment and adoption of advanced services," NARUC said in its petition "and that it wants States to play a key role in those efforts."
NARUC passed the resolution in response to carriers resistance to state-level broadband mapping efforts, said District of Columbia Public Services...
Read More »
Monday, August 31st, 2009
From BroadbandCensus.com Weekly Report
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2009 – Although the NTIA and RUS are expected to release the names of the applicants for broadband stimulus funding later this week, the names of many of the applicants are emerging through press releases and through reporting by a wide variety of organizations.
States playing active roles in the federal broadband stimulus are emerging as key aggregators of grant applications, including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Mexico. Each of these states is responsible for bundling more than $100 million in applicants by governmental, private or quasi-public entities within their jurisdictions.
Content available for Paid Subscribers of BroadbandCensus.com Weekly Report. Click here to subscribe.
[private_yearly]Among the major private sector players eying federal stimulus funds include KeyOn, a wireless broadband providers in Omaha, Neb., going for more $150 mil¬lion in funding to expand its WiMax network http://gigaom.com/2009/08/19/wireless-cos-ask-for-169-6m-in-stimulus-bucks-wheres-wire¬line/; Leap Wireless, which operates the Cricket brand of cell phone service, which is seeking $8.6 million; Yonder Media, with a rural WiMax plan, and possibly also Level 3. http://telephonyonline.com/independent/news/level3-broad¬band-stimulus-funding-0817/ SkyTerra’s application for funds is under the Sustainable Adoption Program, and it includes a letter of support from Motorola. http://www.skyterra.com/me¬dia/press-releases-view.cfm?id=216&yr=2009
Illinois is shepherding one of the most substantial group of applicant...
Read More »
Friday, July 31st, 2009
By Tina Nguyen, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2009 — Illinois has unveiled a plan to provide supplemental grants for state projects applying for the first round of federal broadband initiative money.
Anyone wishing to grab stimulus funding, however, must hurry. Applications are due August 5. Awardees will be notified of their status on August 11—just in time to submit their applications to the federal government by August 14.
The state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which announced the program earlier this year, will have $50 million in state funding for successfully approved broadband projects created under the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
This program shares the same goals as the federal broadband stimulus grants: building out infrastructure, promoting its use, and strengthening existing networks for telemedicine, public health and safety and education.
“Broadband technology improves jobs, education, health care and public safety in our communities,” said Gov. Pat Quinn, on
broadband.illinois.gov, the Web site set up to inform potential applicants. “We have a rare chance, thanks to ARRA's $7.2 billion in competitive broadband grants and loans, to ensure every rural, underserved and unserved community in our state is connected to world-class information and communication infrastructure.”
Because of Illinois’s Jobs Now! plan,...
Read More »
Thursday, July 30th, 2009
By Douglas Streeks, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
July 30, 2009 – Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Tuesday a partnership between the Massachusetts Broadband Institute and the Executive Office of Transportation to bring broadband to unserved and underserved communities in western parts of the state.
The partnership is expected to build on the existing MassHighway project, extending six 1.25-inch fiber-optic conduits from Connecticut to Vermont and enabling “collaboration across state borders in a variety of areas, including public safety, education, e-health and access to Internet2,” according to a statement by the state.
MassHighway will use two of the conduits for its intelligent traffic system, a system designed to improve the flow of traffic throughout the state.
The other conduits will be reserved for economic development and expanding broadband networks in Western Massachusetts. The institute will own the fiber in one of the conduits with plans to lease the other three for future development.
This is the first major infrastructure investment the institute has made, according to MBI Director Sharon Gillett.
A report by the staff at
iBerkshires said that “Interstate 91 will literally become the backbone of broadband expansion efforts” in Western Massachusetts through the partnership.
The report added that the project has secured rights-of-way and approval from...
Read More »
Thursday, July 30th, 2009
By Ryan Womack, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
July 30, 2009 – Broadband advisors to Washington state’s governor have issued a request for proposals on the state’s broadband mapping project.
The Broadband Advisory Council said applicants should have an experienced track record, proven technology and a business model that addresses proven demand.
Under rules overseen by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, each state can choose only one grantee to construct its broadband coverage map.
Washington State has issued five recommendations for data applicants: Encourage public-private partnering in the development of grant applications; support proposals increasing funding for anchor institutions; support proposals that target unserved and underserved areas; leverage advances in science, healthcare, smart grid and energy efficiency, innovation in education and improved transportation infrastructure; and encourage proposals increasing access and adoption.
The council says it is hoping that Gov. Christine Gregoire will sign into effect policy enabling the Washington State Department of Information Services to proceed with mapping efforts immediately, in oversight of the statewide project.
The notice of funds availability for the Broadband Data Information Act was released July 1 and applications became available July 14. The council recommends that applicants partner and ensure their proposals are received no later than Aug....
Read More »