From the Dispatch

Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future

Fabiola Carrion — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:00:11 +0000

Deploying broadband and related communication technologies, including smart meters in the home and smart grids to upgrade our power grid, have the potential of revolutionizing energy management and economic development, according to a new report by the Progressive States Network released in association with our partners, Communications Workers of America, the Sierra Club and the Blue Green Alliance. Last Thursday, leaders from those organizations convened at a panel on Capitol Hill, hosted by U.S. Representative Edward Markey, Chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, and joined by Nick Sinai, Director of Energy and Environment for the FCC's Broadband Strategy Plan, to discuss the findings of the report entitled:

Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband & Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future


"This report highlights a historic partnership between labor, technology and environmental groups needed to stop climate change and expand broadband access for all Americans" - Congressman Ed. Markey

PSN's Executive Director Nathan Newman was joined on the panel by Executive Director of the Blue Green Alliance David Foster, Sierra Club President Allison Chin, and Communications Workers of America Vice President Annie Hill. As Congressman Markey noted during his speech, this report heralds a new alliance of labor, technology and environmental groups in a "historic partnership" to take the next steps needed to stop climate change, expand broadband access for all Americans, and build towards energy independence for the nation.

The key conclusion of both the report and the panel was that investing in broadband and communication technologies cannot be seen as a distinct goal from the construction of a green economy. By the same token, failure to address the digital divide could result in the exclusion of poor and rural communities from the green economy as well. It is imperative that the environmental, technology, and labor communities work together in the construction of a smart economy since an additional $50 billion investment in the smart grid over the next five years would create or retain an average of 239,000 new jobs for each five years.

This Dispatch will outline some other critical findings of the report, including:

Upgrading the Grid: Information Communication Technologies is Key to More Efficient Coordination of Energy Supplies and Distribution
Smart Technologies to Reduce Energy Demand in the Home and Office
Broadband Applications to Reduce Travel and Fuel Costs

It will also highlight the pathway to networking the green economy, including the need to protect consumers and workers during the transition, the need for a plan that promotes deployment and adoption of broadband by all households, and the immediate policies states can begin to implement to move towards that future.

To download a copy of the report or the executive summary, please visit www.progressivestates.org/greeneconomy.

Resources:
Progressive States Network, Blue Green Alliance, Communications Workers of America and Sierra Club - Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies can Build a Green Economic Future
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation - The Digital Road to Recovery: A Stimulus Plan to Create Jobs, Boost Productivity and Revitalize America

Table of Contents

- Upgrading the Grid: Information Communication Technologies Are Key to More Efficient Coordination of Energy Supplies and Distribution

- Smart Technologies that Reduce Energy Demand in the Home and Office

- Broadband Applications to Reduce Travel and Fuel Costs

- The Pathway to Networking the Green Economy

- Conclusion: States Moving Forward on Networking the Green Economy

Upgrading the Grid: Information Communication Technologies Are Key to More Efficient Coordination of Energy Supplies and Distribution


"Realizing the full potential and benefits of investments in efficiency and renewables will ... require a significant upgrade in our communications and transmission infrastructure" - Allison Chin, President of the Sierra Club President

Our present power grid, using outdated technologies, wastes massive amounts of energy during the transmission and distribution of electricity.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates that power system disturbances cost 50 cents for every dollar spent for electricity, and that the smart grid has the potential to reduce this cost by 50 percent or more. States can no longer afford the estimated $80 billion and $150 billion costs that power outages incur annually. Energy savings equivalent to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from 53 million cars could be achieved by improving the efficiency of the grid by just 5 percent and smart grid technologies could stop the power outages that cost the U.S. economy $49 billion per year.

Upgrading the electricity grid will produce more efficient energy, reduce greenhouse emissions, save costs to producers and consumers, as well as create sustainable jobs.

Managing a Better Distribution of Electricity: Integrating networked communications into the transmission system will help create a grid capable of better response time to large-scale and isolated-system failures, moving energy efficiently over long distances and addressing congestion issues. Increasing grid efficiency through re-automation and self-healing capabilities results in reduced energy generation and use. Power generation could be decreased by 3 to 5 percent by installing a smart grid capable of delivering only necessary electricity. Along with better building design, management and automation, the smart grid could save $20 to 25 billion in energy use. According to a study, consumers in the eastern United States pay $16.5 billion per year in higher electricity prices due to transmission congestion, a problem that would be largely resolved by an upgraded smart grid.


'The jobs of the future should all be good, green jobs, and by taking action now on broadband and other technologies, we are putting ourselves in a position to create jobs and lead the world in the race for a clean energy economy." - David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance

Communications technology is essential to the functionality of the smart grid because it gathers the vast data generated by energy use and transforms this data into information for the consumer and the utility company. As such, the communication that is transmitted must be pervasive, rapid, scalable, secure, and robust at all times, especially during emergency situations.

Integration of Renewable Energy Resources During the Transmission of Electricity: Many renewable energy sources - such as wind, solar, and geothermal - are in isolated areas throughout the United States and are unable to connect effectively with our current power grid. A Department of Energy report found that it could be possible for 20 percent of the nation’s electricity demand to be met by wind sources in 2030 should these sources be all connected with a smart grid. Curently, one issue hindering wind energy is that a portion of these wind farms are located in remote areas, far from major centers of electricity demand.

By implementing advanced digital controls and technologies such as syncrophasors — precise grid measurements that indicate grid stress — throughout the transmission system, transmission operators will be able to use long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines to move energy from renewable energy source sites to distant distribution grids located at primary-use locations with far less energy loss than is currently possible.

In facilitating the integration of renewable energy resources into our energy distribution system, we can curtail the negative environmental side effects of our energy use. Smart grid improvements should be sequenced so that high-carbon resources are phased out as quickly as possible and replaced with a combination of lower carbon, renewable fuels. By enabling smart grid distribution, the United States can cut carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent. On the demand side, the Department of Energy has maintained, there are numerous environmental benefits that take place when we reduce the emissions of generation plants during peak periods.

Resources:
GetSmartGrid.Org -Smart Grid Facts
The Climate Group - SMART2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age
United States Department of Energy - Benefits of Demand Response in Electricity Market and Recommendations for Achieving Them
Joint System Coordination Plan 2008
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners - The Smart Grid: Frequently Asked Questions for State Commission

Smart Technologies that Reduce Energy Demand in the Home and Office


FCC Energy and Environment Director, Nick Sinai, who highlighted that consumers should be given "access and control of their digital energy information."

Since buildings in the United States account for approximately 39 percent of the nation’s total energy use, 72 percent of the electricity consumption and 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, smart technologies in the home are key to a greener future. By transforming the way people and businesses use technology, the United States can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 13 to 22 percent by 2020 — and potentially see gross energy and fuel savings of $140-240 billion.

Smart meters and dynamic pricing could give consumers the ability to track their own power usage and then provide a financial incentive to alter their energy consumption either by shifting away from periods of peak demand, purchasing more environmentally friendly and energy efficient appliances, or simply decreasing overall energy usage. As highlighted by FCC Energy and Environment Director Nick Sinai, consumers should be given "access and control of their digital energy information."

Smart Meters and Net Metering: With the right type of consumer protection and technological metrics in place, smart meters can help individuals purchase energy more efficiently. If built to connect in real time with a utility and smart grid through high-speed broadband, networked homes and offices can provide large economic and environmental pay-offs. Pilot programs and studies have demonstrated that consumers who track their energy use in real time and consequently make simple behavioral changes can save 5 to 15 percent on their electricity consumption, which amount to savings of $60 to $180 per year. Dynamic pricing to shift demand can also lead to a more reliable grid and reduce the risk of outages that are often costly to the economy.

A smart grid that extends its communications network to homes and buildings can turn these traditionally large energy users into potential energy producers. Such a grid could allow energy consumers to sell solar-based and other renewable energy back to the power grid, making such investments more economical and further decreasing the dependence on fossil fuel based power plants. For example, a home could be powered by its own solar energy during the day and then the consumer could sell any extra energy produced back to the larger grid, an option called “net metering."

Smart Buildings and Networked Homes: Further, allowing various building systems, including appliances, heating and cooling systems, to communicate and interact with each other through smart technologies will also reduce energy use and buildings’ negative impact on the environment.

The incorporation of networked technology into buildings can optimize their energy consumption by controlling multiple devices, improving the ability to monitor buildings, giving building owners and occupants more information about and control over their energy use, and integrating that use into the new smart grid. By using specialized software and broadband, smart buildings can make their own efficient energy use decisions. For instance, a smart building could potentially adjust the amount of indoor light being used based on the amount of sunlight coming through a window.

The Center of American Progress estimates that integrating smart technology into new construction or in the renovation of existing buildings can make them more environmentally friendly, saving the U.S. $20-25 billion and reducing carbon dioxide emissions between 130-190MMT.

Using Broadband Protocols: To facilitate networking of homes and avoid their obsolescence, meters should incorporate high-bandwidth technology using Internet protocols and an open architecture. As the New York Public Service Commission argued in a recent order governing smart meters, smart meter systems "must be designed to meet future requirements of the smart grid."

Resources:
United States Department of Energy - The Smart Grid: An Introduction
The Climate Group - SMART2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age
Pew Internet & American Life Project - Home Broadband Adoption 2009
U.S. Green Building Council - Green Building Research
Center for American Progress - It’s Easy Being Green: Smart Buildings for Future Skylines
State of New York Public Service Commission - Order Adopting Minimum Functional Requirements for Advanced Metering Infrastructure Systems and Initiating an Inquiry into the Benefit-Cost Methodologies

Broadband Applications to Reduce Travel and Fuel Costs


"The promise of the smart grid and fast broadband are applications, from telehealth to e-commerce, that will radically reduce energy costs by reducing both the need to travel and transport physical goods." - Nathan Newman, Executive Director of Progressive States Network

In addition to savings costs for homes and businesses, smart technologies provide a wide array of benefits for entrepreneurs, consumers, and workers. Congressman Markey stressed that information can be added to our home heaters, electricity suppliers, and vehicles. This Dispatch highlights a few of the smart technology applications that can be added to our work and life essentials:

Telehealth: Increased adoption of broadband technology and telehealth practices could decrease travel by allowing doctors to monitor and consult with patients remotely.

A Veterans Administration study reported a 40 percent cut in emergency room visits and a 63 percent reduction in hospital admissions resulting from its remote home monitoring system. Telehealth technologies could avoid 850,000 transports between emergency departments, resulting in transit cost savings of $537 million a year. For patients and doctors in rural areas, travel costs are being significantly reduced when they have access to high-speed broadband.

Aside from increased medical attention, telehealth improves the quality of care, facilitates a more dynamic interaction between medical provider and patient, and overall reduces the costs of the health care system. When telehealth reduces the need for or the distance related to medical attention, we inevitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption.

Business and Long Distance Communication Technology: The emergence of a global economy has increased the need for business travel, in many cases for long distances, which negatively affects the environment. Recent technological advancements, such as advanced video-based teleconferencing, have become viable substitutes. For instance, video conferencing expends 500 times less energy than a 1000 km [620 mile] business flight.Conducting virtual meetings to replace remote in person interactions could reduce 20-30 MMT of carbon dioxide emissions and provide gross savings of $5-10 billion from reduced spending on fuel for airplanes.

Broadband-supported applications can also help reduce everyday travel associated with employment. Telecommuting or flex work, combined with labor protections to prevent unmonitored “electronic sweatshops” from arising, can potentially be a key contributor to a greener economy.

E-Commerce: Since the inception of the Internet, electronic commerce (e-commerce) has grown exponentially, and entrepreneurs, including those in rural areas, can reach out to the entire connected world as a potential consumer base. This new business frontier not only allows businesses to expand beyond their reach, but it can also benefit the environment by reducing negative emissions associated with traditional off-line shopping.

In a range of areas, broadband applications are allowing e-distribution to replace the fuel-intensive physical distribution of physical goods. According to the California Broadband Initiative, if half of today’s movie rentals were accessed by video-on-demand, the country could save the equivalent of 200,000 households’ annual electricity consumption.

Ultimately, especially in applications like telehealth, deploying high-speed broadband is ultimately required to achieve the full life-saving, environmental, and economic benefits of these applications.

Resources:
The Climate Group - SMART2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age
Benton Foundation - Using Technology and Innovation to Address Our Nation’s Critical Challenges
Baller-Herbst Report - Bigger Vision, Bolder Action, Brighter Future: Capturing the Promise of Broadband for North Carolina and America
California Broadband Taskforce - Building Innovation through Broadband: Final Report of the California Broadband Task Force

The Pathway to Networking the Green Economy


"Every American family, business, and community must have access to affordable, world-class broadband networks but the U.S. unfortunately now ranks 16th in the world in broadband adoption." - Annie Hill, Executive Vice President of Communication Workers of America

In building the smart grid and using broadband technologies to green the economy, there are both challenges and opportunities. The opportunities are clear: investments made now will not only create immediate jobs in the economy but also build in long-term energy and economic savings that will pay back those investments many times over.

However, there are critical decisions to be made to assure that all members of our communities benefit from the transition, from eliminating the digital divide to protecting consumer interests to assuring that current workers in industries find new and better job opportunities. Any transition to smart grids and new energy management technologies should ensure that consumers and workers in the industry benefit from the economic savings and growth generated. So the following are a few key guidelines for policymakers:

Eliminate the Digital Divide: Despite the great potential to create jobs, lessen our dependency on foreign oil and save the environment, limited access to broadband is currently crippling the complex operations that the smart grid requires. Although broadband access has increased in recent years, broadband subscription rates still remain under 50 percent for some groups, including certain minority populations, rural communities, and households with incomes of less than $50,000 per year. To fully realize a robust green economic future, it will take a firm and long-standing commitment to extend transformative communication technologies, such as broadband, to all members of the community.
Invest in Infrastructure and Interoperability: While some industry interests would prefer proprietary systems to lock-in monopoly control and profits, the report stresses that both federal and state policy makers should place support networking infrastructure that is interoperable with existing broadband and Internet systems and where smart appliances and other technologies can work with each other without become obsolete.
Protect Consumers’ Interests: Smart meters and dynamic pricing that allow individuals to track their energy consumption and provide financial incentives for reduced energy use could result in savings for consumers. Nevertheless, consumer advocates worry that the costs of installing some current proprietary versions of smart meters could outweigh the savings that households would receive from reducing or shifting their energy usage, especially if those meters become technologically outdated and have to be replaced before any savings offset deployment costs. In addition, if the cost of electricity is dynamically priced throughout the day, this may not benefit, and could harm, consumers such as the elderly and ill, who are not able to alter their energy use. Thus, any smart meter deployment should be done in ways that do not increase costs for residents but instead ensure that any smart meters are deployed only when energy savings can fully cover costs for consumers.
Enhance Workers’ Rights: Annie Hill, Vice-President of the Communications Workers of America, confirmed, “Investments in the green economy — which includes more efficient use of resources and power — are the job creators of the 21^st Century." With more than 564,000 people working in the utility industry, the adoption of smart meters and smart grids will likely change the nature of the work for many front-line utility workers. Utility workers must receive training and other support necessary to learn the skills to work on new technologies and to build careers in the industry. As such, their employers should not use this transition to downgrade employment, outsource work, or evade union representation.
Preserve Existing Conservation Programs: States also need to learn from mistakes made during utility deregulation and in addition to investing in smart meters, maintain other energy efficiency programs that assist consumers in shifting towards less energy use and subsidize such shifts for low-income users. Between 1995 and 1999, driven by the deregulation of electricity markets, power companies in North America cut spending on energy efficiency programs by 42 percent. Any use of smart meters or dynamic pricing must be part of a broader regulated structure that maintains and expands those key energy-efficiency programs, especially for low-income families most in need of their support.

Resources:
Energy Efficiency.Net - Power Deregulation Fueled Pollution
The Center for American Progress - Smart Grid, Smart Broadband, Smart Infrastructure: Melding Federal Stimulus Programs to Ensure More Bang for the BuckUnited States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources - Full Committee Oversight Hearing: to receive testimony on the process of smart grid initiatives and technologies
The Wall Street Journal - Smart Meter, Dumb Idea?

Conclusion: States Moving Forward on Networking the Green Economy


"With the smart grid, we partner the public utility with technology into something that builds jobs and brings costs down to consumers." - North Carolina State Senator Joe Sam Queen

Congressman Edward Markey could not sum it better, "broadband will revolutionize the way we communicate and generate electricity in this country." To achieve the environmental benefits associated with the digital infrastructure, devices, and applications, the United States needs to strengthen its broadband deployment and adoption. Broadband and information communication technologies have the potential of revolutionizing energy management and economic development.

Using Recovery Dollars for Deployment: The federal recovery plan included billions of dollars to encourage movement towards a smart grid in our nation. We have detailed a range of ways states are promoting Legislation to Promote Digital Leadership which has included both the creation of Broadband Strategy Councils to strengthen holistic planning and Digital Inclusion Policies to move towards universal adoption of broadband.
New Smart Grid Legislation: State legislators are introducing a range of legislation that support the deployment and funding of the smart grid, including bills in Kansas, California, Maine, New York, and Illinois.
Telehealth Policies: We've highlighted key policies to promote broadband applications like telehealth, including Reforming medical licensing rules to encourage long-distance medical consultations across state lines and changing Medicaid reimbursement rules to encourage its use. States should conduct studies and pilot programs to better estimate cost savings and the increased access to the quality care that telehealth provides.

In this vein, the panel last Thursday ended with the final remarks of North Carolina State Senator Joe Sam Queen, who is now working towards introducing smart grid legislation in his state. By bringing broadband players, utilities, consumers and other groups together, Senator Queen hopes to leverage the energy savings from building a smarter grid to help fund increasing broadband access -- a critical problem in a state with only 50% broadband adoption, particularly the rural communities which often have very low access to high-speed Internet.

Resources:
Progressive States Network - State Legislation to Promote Digital Leadership
Progressive States Network - Guiding Principles for Broadband Strategy Councils
Progressive States Network - Guiding Principles for Digital Inclusion Policies
Progressive States Network - Telehealth

Progressive States Network hosted a national conference call on Friday, March 12th at 1:00pm EST announcing the release of a new joint report, Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband & Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future.

On the call, speakers from each organization discussed how smart buildings, smart grids, digital education, and other components of a highly-networked economy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy resources, and promote good green jobs.

Speakers included:

Allison Chin, President, Sierra Club
Debbie Goldman, Telecommunications Policy Director and Research Economist, Communications Workers of America
David Foster, Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance
Nathan Newman, Executive Director, Progressive States Network

To listen to the conference call, click here.

Article Images

http://progressivestates.org/sync/images/dispatch/networkingcover.png

Broadband and Recovery - the ARRA and State Policies in 2010

Fabiola Carrion — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:02:05 +0000

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) apportioned $7.2 billion to stimulate the development of broadband infrastructure and services. As the U.S. is now ranked only 17th in global use of broadband and information technology, the ARRA is not only considered a job creator, but also key to regaining long-term economic competitiveness for the nation. Moreover, as a recent study documents, broadband is becoming a significant determinant of economic vitality at the local level.

Although a limited number of grant applications have been awarded, the ARRA promises to still spin the wheels of innovation as the Administration starts evaluating the next wave of applications for the second round of funding. In the meantime, states have been moving forward on laying the policy groundwork for using advanced communication technologies to strengthen both economic opportunity and local job creation.

This Dispatch will highlight the trends in the initial grants when it comes to mapping, deployment and adoption broadband, outline broadband policies that states have been pursuing (using federal and state funding), and why these broadband investments are so critical to the long-term economy of our states.

Resources
CBC News - Canada drops in UN communications technology ranking
Public Policy Institute of California - Does Broadband Boost Local Economic Development?
Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration - Commerce Awards Recovery Act Broadband Expansion Grants Totaling $63 Million

Table of Contents:

- Innovation in the States Under Initial ARRA Grants

- State Legislation to Promote Digital Leadership

- How Broadband Delivers Economic Growth

- The Next Round of ARRA Grants

Innovation in the States Under Initial ARRA Grants

Under ARRA, priority is given to initiatives that encourage broadband deployment adoption in low-income and rural communities, expand public community centers’ capacity, and fund the development of a national broadband map. Almost $5 billion in grants are to be distributed by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to deploy broadband infrastructure through its Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), and $2.5 billion will be distributed by the Agriculture Department through its Rural Utilities Services' (RUS) Broadband Initiative Program.

Mapping the Digital Divide: A key ARRA mandate is the collection of information on areas covered by broadband service. To this end, the NTIA has set aside federal funding to create state maps in order to show the availability, speed, and location of broadband access across the country. Mapping is critical for consumers and voters - who can learn where broadband service is available - to anchor community institutions such as schools, libraries, and hospitals, as well as for businesses that can benefit from this information and make investments accordingly. A comprehensive map of broadband availability is therefore critical to help policymakers determine where to allocate resources.

As part of the recent funding round, the NTIA has approved several mapping initiatives, most notably in Iowa where a $2.2 million grant will be dedicated to broadband Internet mapping and planning. Other states and territories that have benefited from the NTIA's broadband mapping and data collection grants include Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Deploying Broadband in Underserved Communities: The NTIA and RUS are concentrating most of their funds on providing broadband access to unserved and underserved areas increasingly left behind in the global information economy. Some examples are listed below:

Alabama is receiving a $3.8 million grant to provide high speed DSL broadband service to its rural territory.
The Broadband Infrastructure Project in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire will receive $985,000 in funding to provide two-way broadband service to 400 households, anchor institutions, and businesses. The tourism industry is strong in Bretton Woods and having access to broadband will encourage tourists to visit more often and for longer periods of time.
Maine was selected to receive a grant of $498,222 to purchase video conferencing equipment to link 22 schools; Michigan State University received similar funding to create more public computer centers targeting the under-served and the unemployed.
South Dakota was also selected to receive a $306,693 grant to provide video-conferencing as well as telemedicine service to connect 16 rural hospitals and clinics.
Morehouse Parish, Northeast Louisiana Telephone Co. is receiving a $4.3 million grant and $8 million loan for an active ethernet system with symmetrical speeds of 20 Mbps.
Other states such as California, North Dakota, Oregon, Virginia, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri are receiving grants for a fiber-based broadband infrastructure.

Computer Literacy to Promote Digital Inclusion: Beyond physical support, funds are being aimed to encourage computer literacy and the skills needed to take advantage of communication technologies. One of these few digital inclusion grants in the early round of ARRA funding was given to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, which is receiving a $780,000 broadband adoption grant with an additional $196,000 in applicant-provided matching funds to promote broadband awareness and computer literacy among vulnerable populations, including the nation’s second largest Cambodian population, low-income and at-risk youth, the unemployed, residents without college degrees, and seniors in the Lowell and Merrimack Valleys. As part of the program, University of Massachusetts—Lowell students will work in local computer centers with at-risk youth and seniors to develop appropriate training and outreach materials.

The University of Massachusetts grant is an example of broadband investment going beyond infrastructure, through actual implementation and continued commitment. It is important to invest in deployment, but it is equally, and arguably, more important, to make sure that gains from broadband are distributed equally among communities and their residents. Various studies confirm that only a third of the population who has access to broadband actually uses it, so the digital divide and job creation can only occur when deployment of broadband infrastructure is accompanied by training and awareness.

Resources:
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Services
Business Record - Iowa Gets Broadband Boost with Aid of Grant
Connected Nation
United States Department of Agriculture - Secretary Vilsack Announces Almost $35 million in Funding for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Projects
BroadbandBreakfast.com - Rural Utilities Service Unveils $310 Million in Stimulus Funds for 14 Projects

State Legislation to Promote Digital Leadership

In order to strengthen their ability to receive federal funding and to better manage their existing digital resources, state legislatures have been proposing and enacting a wide range of policies to promote their states' digital leadership.

Commissions to Oversee State Broadband Efforts: In an effort to either receive funding or support ARRA broadband goals, states are introducing and passing bills to adopt or deploy broadband, or map its availability throughout their jurisdictions.

With Oregon's HB 2168 creating a state goal to support the rapid deployment of broadband telecommunications services in areas where the services do not exist, HB 3158 established the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council (OBAC) and the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Fund to implement these goals and designate representatives from the education, health care, public safety, telecommunications, and government sectors to report on the affordability and accessibility of broadband and the extent of broadband technology use in energy management, education, government, and the telehealth industries.

Other similar efforts include:

Indiana (HB 1561), Maine (HB 700), Rhode Island (HB 5975/ SB 968), and Virginia (HB 2423 and SB 1336) all created commissions to advise Governors and other state officials on broadband opportunities, including available funding under the ARRA, and to better plan long-term technology goals for those states.
Hawaii has followed in their footsteps by introducing HB 2698, which also requires the Hawaii broadband commissioner to promote and maximize availability of broadband services in the State.
Other efforts in Iowa (SF 372) and Colorado (SB 162) are more specifically focused on mapping access in those states.
New Hampshire (SB 159) established the position of Director of Broadband Technology Planning, who is now in charge of developing a comprehensive state broadband plan.
Virginia (SB 1456, HB 2201, and SB 236) created the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority (IEIA) to monitor trends in the availability and deployment of and access to broadband communications services with its Chief Information Officer developing a comprehensive strategic plan to identify the unmet needs for access to technology.

For states looking to create or enhance commissions in their own states, the Progressive States Network laid out best practices for such commissions in our Guiding Principles for Broadband Strategy Councils.

Supporting Deployment in Underserved Communities: A few states are working to move beyond planning to directly encourage broadband expansion.

With a heavily rural population, Maine has been a leader in working with private entities to maximize broadband deployment. Maine's HP 585 gave the Public Utilities Commission the authority to require a communications service provider that is providing broadband coverage within at least 50% of a municipality's geographic area to expand its broadband coverage to all of the geographic area within that municipality. HB 700 required the Broadband Commission to advise the University of Maine System on how to lease or sell excess broadband capacity and negotiate lease or sales agreements with service providers to ensure they benefit the educational system and meet the goal of broadband access for everyone in the State. Recently, HP 1174 has been introduced to establish a Broadband policy: promoting sustainable private investment to increase broadband service that exceeds the minimum levels throughout the state, and developing target prices and competitively neutral discounts to customers in areas where services are more expensive than the average metropolitan rates.

Other examples of state action on deployment include:

Using federal funds, Massachusetts' HB 4158 authorizes the Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation to develop, lease, or otherwise acquire conduit, fiber, towers, and other personal property related to broadband infrastructure.
Tennessee's SB 2355 expands rural broadband connectivity in the state with rural assistance grants.
Washington's HB 1701 authorized the Department of Information Services to use federal grants to target and deploy broadband services.
In Virginia, HB 988 allows the Governor's Development Opportunity Fund to provide grants for projects related to capacity development of broadband Internet access.
Minnesota's SF 2254 sets a universal and high-speed goal, for no later than 2015, that all residents and businesses acquire access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download and upload speeds.
To encourage more access to utility poles in Georgia, SB 328 has been introduced to prohibit electric suppliers from discriminating cable companies who want to have access to electricity poles.

Promoting Digital Inclusion: Online training and education is particularly needed for communities that currently have limited access to the Internet: African Americans and Latinos, the elderly and disabled, and residents of rural areas - who can explore educational and professional opportunities and find resources for entrepreneurial assistance. In an era where entry-level jobs require a familiarity with the Internet, access to and knowledge of broadband applications is essential to economic survival. As advocated by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, state legislators must ensure that broadband is accessible to consumers, through anchors institutions, community based organizations, and within the home - in addition to being coupled with digital literacy training.

As we noted last year, Washington has been a leader in digital inclusion programs with HB 1701, creating a menu of digital inclusion programs through its Community Technology Opportunity Program, which will promote Internet adoption, training, and skill-building opportunities; access to hardware and software; digital inclusion and digital media literacy; development of locally relevant content; and organizational and capacity building support to community technology programs throughout the state.

See also PSN's Guiding Principles for Digital Inclusion Policies for other best practices.

Connecting Job Creation to Broadband Efforts: States are increasingly creating complementary job creation programs connected to their broadband efforts:

Iowa's SF 376 instituted the Iowa Jobs Program, authorizing the creation of jobs related to broadband.
Vermont's HB 711 proposes to provide economic incentives for businesses and farms to create and preserve jobs and improve the state's technological infrastructure and economic environment. Under the provisions of this bill, Vermont will distribute $3.7 million from the $8.67 million it received under the ARRA's fiscal stabilization general services fund. HB 711 also establishes the Broadband Adoption Program for the purposes of accelerating the subscription to and use of broadband Internet access by the public, thereby increasing the sustainability of broadband networks in Vermont, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Virginia's HB 1660 established the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance, which aims to encourage telework as a public policy in order to promote workplace efficiency and reduce strains on the transportation infrastructure.
Recently introduced, Hawaii's SB 2543 establishes an office of telework promotion and broadband assistance.

Resources:
Progressive States Network - Guiding Principles for Broadband Strategy Councils
Progressive States Network - Guiding Principles for Digital Inclusion Policies
Progressive States Network - Washington State Legislature Passes Legislation Aimed at Increasing both Access and Adoption of Broadband
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies - Broadband Imperatives for African Americans: Policy Recommendations to Increase Digital Adoption for Minorities and Their Communities

How Broadband Delivers Economic Growth

Before we even mark the ARRA's first anniversary, states have already found that mapping, deployment, and adoption efforts lead to economic development. For instance, Kentucky's HB 204 concludes that its ConnectKentucky project to promote deployment and adoption of broadband services has resulted in enhanced economic development and public safety for Kentucky communities, improved health care and educational opportunities, and a better quality of life for Kentucky citizens.

A recent report from the Public Policy Institute of California found that areas with broadband saw employment growth 6.4 percent higher than areas without it in the period from 1999 to 2006, with the highest employment growth where technology services represent a larger share of local industry’s inputs. Careful analysis in the report indicates that this relationship is not incidental but a causal relationship between deployment and subsequent economic growth.

This report confirms findings by earlier studies from such organizations as the Brookings Institution, which estimated that for every one percentage point increase in broadband penetration in a state, employment increases by 0.2 to 0.3 percent per year. Other studies estimate that in the early stages of the Internet, information technologies were responsible for two-thirds of total growth in productivity and that for every dollar invested in broadband, the economy sees a ten-fold return on that investment. In a report to the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Broadband Coalition - representing more than 160 organizations that include communication providers, labor unions, consumer groups, educational institutions, and units of state and local government - estimated that investment in broadband can create or retain 1 million to 2.5 million jobs.

Among broadband's greatest advantages is its intersection with various sectors of the economy: with energy through smart grid technologies, health care through telehealth, agriculture through crop and irrigation management, transportation through traffic management, and homeland security through mobile detention systems.

The Need to Address Economic Inequality: One important finding in the recent Public Policy Institute study is that while broadband leads to job growth, the benefits are not equally distributed within communities. Wages do not always increase and the concentration of workers in a few high-tech enclaves may retain local tax revenues in municipalities that host information technology companies.

Broadband expansion needs to be encouraged, the study concludes, but to address the digital divide, funds invested in its expansion "might have a large effect on economic or social outcomes if the funds were allocated instead toward subsidizing broadband adoption or other needs of disadvantaged households." This highlights again why digital inclusion and training programs are important as a complement to paying for the physical wiring of our nation, as very few state or federal funds have been apportioned to such broadband use and training programs.

Resources:
U.S. Broadband Coalition - Report of the U.S. Broadband Coalition on a National Broadband Strategy
The Brookings Institution - The Effects of Broadband Deployment on Output and Employment: A Cross-sectional Analysis of U.S. Data
Public Policy Institute of California - Does Broadband Boost Local Economic Development?

The Next Round of ARRA Grants

With the intention to increase efficiency in the next application review process, the NTIA and RUS announced in January the availability of $4.8 billion for the second round of ARRA funding. As the NTIA and RUS are ready to implement their new standards, the agencies plan to accept applications from February 16, 2010, to March 15, 2010, and will announce all awards by September 30, 2010.

Lessons Learned: Among its most fundamental changes is the NTIA’s plan to award at least $150 million for Public Computer Center projects that expand access to broadband service and enhance broadband capacity in public libraries, community colleges, and other institutions that service the general public. Additionally, the NTIA is prepared to award at least $100 million for Sustainable Broadband Adoption, which includes projects to provide broadband education, training, and equipment, particularly to vulnerable population groups where broadband technology has traditionally been underutilized. In an effort to expand more funding to unserved and under-served communities, the NTIA is adopting a “comprehensive community approach” as the way that it will evaluate applications, focusing in middle mile broadband projects that connect key community anchor institutions. These are great steps toward digital inclusion.

A series of workshops on grant and loan writing for ARRA applications are being held in various states by Broadband USA.

The Role of States: States are the advisors to the federal agencies that approve broadband program applications. As mandated by the ARRA, the NTIA and USDA must consult with state governments in order to determine which programs would best serve underprivileged areas, knowledge that state officials uniquely posses. The advisory role of states begins with their knowledge of communities that are un-served and underserved. This understanding continues with their assessment of which communities would benefit the most from the stimulus and would receive the actual funding.

Not only do states understand the immediate benefits that loans and grants would provide, but also they can assess the long-term effects in their communities and how these can be disseminated throughout their states. With every incentive to make the money work, states know which ARRA funded programs would best compliment already existing programs, and how the benefits can be shared by nearby communities that are not receiving direct ARRA funding.

As we wrote in our Dispatch Making Broadband a Key Part of States' Economic Recovery, the Progressive States Network encourages grassroots organizations and other groups to seek the advice of their state legislators before submitting any application for ARRA funding. State legislators can provide knowledge of the results in the approval of an ARRA grant or loan. An example of direct state participation took place in Massachusetts where Governor Deval Patrick played a crucial role in the approval of $2 million in funding for the development of broadband data requisition and mapping across the 351 communities of the state. Specifically, the funding will be directed towards building new broadband infrastructure that will bring high-speed Internet access to tens of thousands of households, businesses, and community anchor institutions, including the un-served and under-served communities of western Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

State legislators can provide vital information and recommendations for ARRA applications and they will also act as inevitable monitors of the implementation of the funded programs. We anticipate that state legislators will continue to act as watchdogs of ARRA program implementation. Furthermore, their participation is imperative as many of these federal grants will simultaneously go towards private companies, non-government entities, and ad hoc projects. It is important that state officials ensure that selected projects reach the intended populations and are implemented in the public interest.

Resources:
United States Department of Agriculture - Commerce Department's NTIA and USDA's RUS Announce Availability of $4.8 Billion in Recovery Act Funding to Bring Broadband to More Americans
Broadband USA
Progressive States Network - Making Broadband a Key Part of States' Economic Recovery

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Making Broadband a Key Part of States' Economic Recovery

PSN — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:06:57 +0000

Making Broadband a Key Part of States' Economic Recovery

Over 2,600,000 jobs were lost in 2008. Many of these jobs are in traditional sectors that are unlikely to return, so investing in both the infrastructure and job skills needed for a digital economy are critical to reviving long-term economic growth. Unfortunately, as acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps said last week, "[t]oo few consumers and small businesses in this country have the high-speed broadband they need.... We pay too much for service that is too slow.” To emphasize his point he highlighted a study by the International Telecommunications Union that found the United States now ranked 17th in global broadband penetration. Lack of affordable broadband access undermines the international competitiveness of our communities and workforce.

America has always realized the importance of investing in traditional infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, railways and waterways. These infrastructure systems have enabled the United States's remarkable economic growth of last century, and we have willingly financed their construction, maintenance and upgrades. With the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, our nation has committed an unprecedented amount of money to initiatives aimed at improving our digital infrastructure. These initiatives focus on increasing access to and adoption of affordable broadband technology. Rick Wade, Commerce Department senior advisor and acting chief of staff, stated that "both Commerce and USDA’s broadband programs represent a critical component of the administration’s broader economic recovery program.”

As the $7.2 billion of direct broadband funding and pockets of other funding for digital infrastructure throughout the ARRA demonstrate, the Obama Administration sees broadband as a catalyst for spurring job creation and economic growth. Further, it is an integral tool to improve health care access, energy management, public safety and transparency; and a mechanism to increase educational, civic participation and social opportunities.

The Current Digital Divide: Unfortunately, as we become increasingly dependent upon advanced communication and information technologies, people with less access to broadband or with fewer digital skills become increasingly disadvantaged financially and have fewer opportunities. Currently, nearly 20 million Americans do not have access to a single high-speed Internet provider, and only an approximate 60 percent of American households subscribe to broadband service. Many of those who do not subscribe to broadband do so because they lack a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of broadband and how it can improve their lives. Others lack the necessary digital skills or the ability to afford broadband or related technology.

The 21st century has transformed our economy and broadband access and digital skills are now critical for the job search and application process, as well as a substantial number of employment opportunities. Additionally, access to and the ability to utilize high-speed Internet services is key to making telehealth opportunities a reality, using online government services and taking advantage of remote educational opportunities. Without that access, living standards in the U.S. will fall and inequality will rise.

States Taking Action: With new help from the federal government, states are increasingly taking action to bridge the digital divide -- creating policies to promote access to and adoption of broadband to ensure that a greater equality is created between the technological haves and have-nots. To increase access to and adoption of broadband while creating a more inclusive network, states should pursue two courses of action: (1) establish Broadband Strategy Councils and (2) support digital inclusion programs. Broadband Strategy Councils should be used to devise a strategic approach to broadband initiatives and ensure that broadband investments correlate with other state goals. Digital inclusion initiatives will help ensure all residents have access to broadband and the necessary skills and hardware to utilize the technology.

This Dispatch will outline how funds allocated in the ARRA aim to support broadband initiatives and how states can leverage broadband to create efficiencies, increase opportunities and begin to bridge a major resource divide in our country by implementing progressive broadband initiatives.

Table of contents
- Broadband and the Federal Recovery Plan
- State Broadband Strategy Councils
- State Digital Inclusion Campaigns
- Conclusion

Broadband and the Federal Recovery Plan

Under the legislation the NTIA was directed to:
”¢ Award at least one NTIA grant to each state; ”¢ Dispense grants by September 30, 2010, but funds will continue to be disbursed up until two years after the grant is made. ”¢ Make awards on a “technologically neutral” basis. ”¢ Fund only projects that adhere to the Federal Communications Commission's Internet nondiscrimination and openness principles; ”¢ Promote projects that will "provide the greatest broadband speed possible;” ”¢ Consult with state governments to determine which areas are "unserved" and “underserved;” ”¢ Consult with states when determining how to allocate grants within that state; ”¢ Consider whether an application to deploy infrastructure in an area will increase the affordability of and subscribership to broadband, preferably to the greatest population of users in the area; ”¢ Consider if the initiative will provide the greatest broadband speed possible to the most users in the area; ”¢ Consider if the initiative will enhance service for health care delivery, education, or children to the greatest population of users in the area; and will not result in unjust enrichment as a result of support for non-recurring costs through another Federal program for service in the area; ”¢ Consider whether or not the applicant is a socially and economically disadvantaged small business; ”¢ Eligible services are not limited to end-user broadband services. It appears that backhaul, middle-mile, wholesale transit, tower services, are eligible projects. Grant applications must include, among other things, the following information: ”¢ A demonstration that projects receiving money will be substantially completed in two years; ”¢ A demonstration that an entity can meet the grant’s 20% matching requirement (the federal government will pay up to 80% of the cost) or is eligible for an economic hardship waiver; ”¢ An explanation of how any amount received under the program will carry out the objectives of the legislation and be used to an efficient and expeditious manner. Additionally, the law requires that, the project would not have been implemented, within the proposed timeframe, but for the federal grant; ”¢ Demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the grantors, that it is capable of carrying out the project or function to which the application relates in a competent manner in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Under the legislation the NTIA was directed to:

”¢ Award at least one NTIA grant to each state;

”¢ Dispense grants by September 30, 2010, but funds will continue to be disbursed up until two years after the grant is made.

”¢ Make awards on a “technologically neutral” basis.

”¢ Fund only projects that adhere to the Federal Communications Commission's Internet nondiscrimination and openness principles;

”¢ Promote projects that will "provide the greatest broadband speed possible;”

”¢ Consult with state governments to determine which areas are "unserved" and “underserved;”

”¢ Consult with states when determining how to allocate grants within that state;

”¢ Consider whether an application to deploy infrastructure in an area will increase the affordability of and subscribership to broadband, preferably to the greatest population of users in the area;

”¢ Consider if the initiative will provide the greatest broadband speed possible to the most users in the area;

”¢ Consider if the initiative will enhance service for health care delivery, education, or children to the greatest population of users in the area; and will not result in unjust enrichment as a result of support for non-recurring costs through another Federal program for service in the area;

”¢ Consider whether or not the applicant is a socially and economically disadvantaged small business;

”¢ Eligible services are not limited to end-user broadband services. It appears that backhaul, middle-mile, wholesale transit, tower services, are eligible projects.

Grant applications must include, among other things, the following information:

”¢ A demonstration that projects receiving money will be substantially completed in two years;

”¢ A demonstration that an entity can meet the grant’s 20% matching requirement (the federal government will pay up to 80% of the cost) or is eligible for an economic hardship waiver;

”¢ An explanation of how any amount received under the program will carry out the objectives of the legislation and be used to an efficient and expeditious manner. Additionally, the law requires that, the project would not have been implemented, within the proposed timeframe, but for the federal grant;

”¢ Demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the grantors, that it is capable of carrying out the project or function to which the application relates in a competent manner in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocates $7.2 billion to promote broadband programs. The majority of the funding will be used to increase broadband access in rural, unserved, and underserved areas. Additionally, funding is provided to support community programs that encourage broadband adoption in low-income communities, for initiatives that expand public community centers' capacity and to fund the development of a national broadband map.

The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utility Service (RUS) will be charged with distributing the grants and loans. Eligible grant applicants may apply for either or both the RUS and the NTIA grants, but if they are awarded funds by both agencies, only money from one agency can be used for a specific project. The NTIA will issue its first “notice of funds availability” in April to June of 2009, the second round would be between October and December 2009, and the third round between April and June 2010.

According to the Baller Herbst Law Group, in addition to funds appropriated directly for broadband, other funding streams in the ARRA may present substantial opportunities to use stimulus money to further broadband initiatives, if efforts are effectively coordinated ahead of time. For example, ARRA funds allocated for health information technology projects and smart grid initiatives could be leveraged to support broadband deployment.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration: The NTIA was allocated $4.7 billion in total. The majority of the NTIA funds, $4.35 billion, will be distributed to states, political subdivisions of states, municipalities, non-profits or private companies through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. In addition to grants aimed at increasing access to broadband, at least $250 million of the NTIA funds are set aside for competitive grants for programs that encourage sustainable broadband adoption, while at least an additional $200 million in grants are set aside for expanding public computer center capacity. It is important to note that the bill sets a floor, not a ceiling, for programs that focus on broadband demand. Another $350 million will fund the Broadband Data Improvement Act to support broadband inventory mapping and community initiatives. For more specific information regarding initiatives covered under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program click here.

State role: States will likely play an advisory role to the NTIA in the distribution of grants since they have specific and unique knowledge on residents needs, existing programs, and how broadband can be integrated into long-term state goals. Grass-roots groups and any applicant applying for ARRA broadband funding should contact their state legislator and make them aware of the application they are filing.

Another role that will be imperative for states to play, although not laid out specifically in the ARRA language, is that of watchdog. Since many of the federal grants may be going to private companies, non-profits, or other non-government entities, it is important that the state ensures that selected projects reach the intended populations and are implemented in the public interest.

Rural Utility Service Grants and Loans: The Rural Utility Service (RUS) will appropriate $2.5 billion in grants and loans. In order to receive a grant from the RUS, 75% of the area being served must be rural and without sufficient access to high-speed broadband to facilitate rural economic development. Priority will be given to applications for broadband systems that will allow end users to have a choice of more than one service provider, to projects servicing the highest proportion of rural residents, and to previous borrowers or current borrowers under Title II of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. For more specific information regarding what programs are eligible to receive RUS grants and loans click here.

States Taking Action Will Further Reform: The ARRA's commitment to use broadband to create efficiencies throughout many different sectors of society underscores the importance of state broadband legislation. State legislators across the country are taking action to spur strategic implementation of broadband initiatives and increase broadband adoption. Moving these policies across multiple states helps reinforce the message that we need to eliminate the digital divide. With broad and decisive enough action, states can help lead the way to even bolder federal reform. A key goal is to use these initiatives as a means to generate support for increased investment in broadband and and as motivation to leverage new broadband technologies to improve our economy, implement environmentally friendly and energy-efficient policies, and increase health care, education and social opportunities.

Baller-Herbst Law Group,The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Opportunities for Federal Grants, Loans and Other Support for Broadband Projects

Free Press - Accessing the Current Digital Divide Brochure

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights — Solving the Persistent Problem of the Digital Divide
OECD - OECD High-speed Internet Portal Household Census Information 2007
Educause White Paper - A Blueprint for Big Broadband
National Governors Association - States Take Action to Expand Access to High-speed Internet Communication
Progressive States Network, Guide to Broadband Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Free Press, A Roadmap for Stimulus Success

U.S. Census

State Broadband Strategy Councils

Despite the clear and well documented benefits of broadband, many regions are still unserved or underserved by broadband providers. In order to ensure that states remain competitive in the 21st century, state legislators are creating Broadband Strategy Councils that focus on increasing access to and adoption of affordable broadband. Such entities can help leverage broadband technology across various sectors, such as government, health care, energy management and education to create efficiencies, save money, increase transparency and provide better services and increased opportunities.

Thus far in 2009, numerous states have introduced or considered implementing some form of a Broadband Strategy Council. A few examples of initiatives taking place across the country are:

MD: H.B. 1121, authored by Delegate Hucker, establishes a broadband strategy council to focus on increasing access to and adoption of affordable broadband and outlines specific broadband data to be collected and mapped. It includes accountability metrics if a third-party contractor is hired to collect and map the broadband data.
RI: H.B. 5396, authored by Rep. Rice, creates a broadband strategy council to study and recommend the adoption of high-speed Internet services and technology throughout Rhode Island for the benefit of the state's citizens and employers. This bill emphasizes that digital inclusion initiatives should be established as long term components of a community's offerings to its citizens and an ever-present vehicle to help Rhode Island meet a variety of economic, health care, environmental and educational goals.
OR: H.B. 3158, authored by Rep. Smith, establishes an Oregon Broadband Advisory Council focused on encouraging and supporting the deployment of broadband telecommunications services and reducing barriers to broadband adoption, especially within unserved and underserved populations. The council is tasked with encouraging coordination between different organizations and sectors that can leverage broadband to their advantage, such as, state agencies, workforce development training programs, healthcare providers and educational institutions.
IN: H.B. 1621, sponsored by Rep. Pierce, creates an Indiana Broadband Deployment Council to develop a strategy for expanding the deployment and adoption of broadband services in Indiana. Among other things, the council was tasked with increasing access to broadband in underserved areas, promoting affordable broadband service throughout Indiana, initiating and supporting the development of broadband services and resources, including establishing technology literacy and digital inclusion programs and establishing low cost hardware and software purchasing programs.
TX: S.B. 640, sponsored by Senator Ellis, establishes an Authority and Cooperation regarding technology infrastructure.
AK: H.B. 107, sponsored by Rep. Guttenberg, establishes the state Internet Access Authority and the state Broadband Task Force.
CT: H.B. 6426 aims to improve broadband access and enlists a public-private partnership to implement a high-speed Internet deployment plan that will ensure all Connecticut residents and businesses access to affordable broadband service and will increase technological literacy.

Any legislation establishing a broadband strategy council should require the council to:

Engage in long-term planning and establish clear deployment goals and accountability metrics: Councils should develop a statewide strategic approach to broadband deployment, including integrating broadband build-out with long-term state goals and creating metrics for succcess.
Promote cooperation across diverse stakeholders: Councils should consist of diverse members representing various stakeholders, experts, government and agency leaders who are able to develop a "big picture" build-out strategy that provides increased access to affordable broadband and protects the public interest. Additionally, councils should provide a forum for public/private collaboration that allows states to work with privately owned providers to expand services in underserved and unserved areas.
Help spur demand: Councils should create increased affordable access to broadband and encourage private corporations to act in the public interest. Under the terms of Minneapolis, Minnesota wireless project, which many consider the most successful municipal high-speed Internet program to date, the city is functioning as an "anchor tenant", paying $1.25 million a year for the city's own use of the network. Since the city agreed to be the “anchor tenant,” U.S. Internet built the high-speed network with no public financing. Additionally, U.S. Internet is providing a comprehensive set of community benefits that surpass negotiations by other cities in the country, including a $500,000 initial payment and a commitment to dedicate at least 5% of its profits to create and maintain a “digital inclusion fund” that will be geared at promoting affordable Internet and hardware access and digital skills training.
Meet federal requirements for matching grant and other funding opportunities to expand funding for these projects.
Protect innovation by municipalities: For example, Illinois Senate Bill 2244, introduced in 2008, included a specific statement making it clear that "nothing in the deployment council enacting legislation should be construed to limit the ability of any municipality, county, or other unit of local government to undertake local high-speed Internet projects and related functions." As the Illinois legislation set out, councils should protect municipalities ability to undertake local broadband projects.

Across the board, states should be studying not only how to extend physical connections to broadband Internet but also how to assure that it is affordable, especially for working families suffering the most during the current economic downturn.

Final Report of the California High-speed Internet Task Force - State of Connectivity: Building Innovation Through High-speed Internet
Progressive States Network - Guiding Principles for Broadband Strategy Councils

State Digital Inclusion Campaigns

State broadband initiatives that focus on increasing affordable access to broadband only help address the supply side of the digital divide equation. To ensure that all citizens can take part in the digital age, especially as more government programs, jobs, education and health care institutions expand their use of advanced technology, states should implement Digital Inclusion Campaigns.

The Washington Model: During the 2008 legislative session Washington State, in large part thanks to the Communities Connect Network, took an aggressive step to increase digital literacy. The Washington State legislature allocated $500,000 to support Washington's Community Technology programs. Senate Bill 6438 created a statewide high-speed Internet development process and established the Community Technology Opportunity Program (CTOP) that will provide resources for capacity-building and grant-giving to Community Technology programs that provide hands-on technology access and training to residents. Additionally, the legislation called for the development a statewide web directory of Community Technology programs.

This legislative session Senator Kohl-Welles introduced Senate Bill 5916 to continue the community technology opportunity program. In addition, the bill aims to assist Washington’s broadband efforts by positioning the state to receive Federal stimulus dollars that will allow Washington to expand broadband access infrastructure. “This is about bettering our citizens’ lives. By eliminating the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion in underserved areas, particularly in rural parts of the state, we help to enhance education opportunities, increase access to high-paying jobs, health care, government and community economic development,” said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles. Senate Bill 5916 was passed unanimously by the Washington State Senate and now moves to the House.

Investing Beyond Infrastructure: Digital inclusion programs look beyond physical infrastructure, and instead address adoption issues that are at the heart of the digital divide. Under the broad umbrella of digital inclusion falls educating the public on what broadband can do to improve their lives, providing digital skills training, increasing relevant content on the Internet, and providing access to hardware and software. State initiatives to increase digital inclusion and the everyday use of technology must address all three major causes for lack of broadband adoption.

Digital Empowerment: States need to educate the public on the benefits and opportunities provided by 21st century technologies. Many individuals without broadband access do not understand the benefits and practical applications of broadband and new technology. States need to facilitate discussions about, and publicize how, technology is tied to economic development, better health care, implementing environmentally friendly policies, better access to information and increased opportunity.
Affordable Access to Technology and Digital Training Programs: Individuals must be provided access to technology and digital skills training which will teach them how to utilize and reap the benefits of 21st century infrastructure. Any digital inclusion program should target underserved populations and must address both sides of the digital divide equation, access and adoption. The elements that help increase access to technology and digital skills are community technology centers, technology recycling programs, leveraging of state buying power and public/private partnerships.
Long-Term Sustainability: Any digital inclusion initiative must be tied to the overall goals of a state to ensure long term sustainability. Digital inclusion initiatives should be seen a means to help state meet a variety of economic, health care, environmental and educational goals.

Maria E. Wynne and Lane F. Cooper, A Road Map Toward Digital Inclusion: Digital Inclusion Imperatives Offer Municipalities New Social and Economic Opportunities
Progressive States Network- Guiding Principles for Digital Inclusion Policies
Progressive States Network- Increase Technology Literacy and Inclusion
San Francisco Digital Inclusion Strategy
Digital Inclusion Forum
Communities Connect Network

Conclusion

The ARRA marks a departure from previous policies that facilitated the U.S. decline in numerous global broadband rankings, and can be, if managed and supported correctly, the beginning of a new vision for the 21st century. This vision includes a commitment to expanding access to and increased utilization of broadband, by individuals, businesses, health care providers, government entities, education institutions and even the energy sector. In order to remain a global competitor and to stay true to the basic concepts of equality and opportunity upon which our country was founded, the federal government and states must commit to investing in digital infrastructure and ensuring that every individual can afford and utilize broadband.

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