Connect South Carolina Releases New Broadband Coverage Maps for the Statewide Broadband Initiative

Initiative Launches New Interactive Mapping App on Connect South Carolina Website

Columbia, SC – Connect South Carolina has launched a powerful new broadband app in the effort to bring affordable, high-speed Internet to the entire state. Available on Connect South Carolina’s website, www.connectsc.org, BroadbandStat is the interactive state mapping resource that puts all the latest information on the broadband landscape directly at your fingertips. Connect South Carolina is a subsidiary of Connected Nation and operates as a nonprofit in the state of South Carolina.

Connect South Carolina has been able to gather and verify state-specific data on the availability, speed, location, and type of broadband services as well as the adoption and availability of broadband at community anchor institutions across the state. The meeting of this milestone is a result of a several-month long process of aggressive outreach to providers and community anchor institutions across the state, and extensive verification and validation of the data collected from these entities. These initial maps include data from 34 state providers, key findings include:

• 95.32% of South Carolina households have access to terrestrial fixed broadband service of at least 768 Kbps downstream and 200 Kbps upstream (excluding mobile and satellite services).
• 4.68% of South Carolina households are unserved by a terrestrial fixed broadband provider, representing approximately 72,000 unserved households that do not have access to a fixed wireless or wired broadband service offering (excluding mobile and satellite service).
• With mobile broadband service included, 99.70% or 1,529,333 South Carolina households have access to broadband service of at least 768 Kbps downstream and 200 Kbps upstream.

A public demonstration of the program’s new interactive mapping feature, BroadbandStat, was held via webinar on Friday to encourage citizen verification and to demonstrate the broadband expansion scenario building that can be achieved using the tool.

Connected Nation’s GIS team will continuously refine the maps as more data is gathered - relying upon citizen feedback as part of the validation process. Residents, businesses, and any interested party with knowledge of the state broadband landscape are asked to go to Connect South Carolina’s website to provide input that will be used to verify and ensure the highest level of accuracy for the broadband maps.

On Connectsc.org, those who do not currently have broadband access can add their name and address to a secure database of households that would like to subscribe if given the opportunity. The collected information supports the creation of the broadband inventory map that will assist in expanding broadband delivery to residents across the state.

“We are excited to offer this interactive app to the citizens of South Carolina. With this new website, citizens can play an active role in the validation of the data and more importantly, use it as a resource to search provider options and draw attention to the areas that remain unserved,” explains Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect South Carolina’s parent organization, Connected Nation. “The goal of our nonprofit organization is to expand broadband access to areas where it doesn’t exist and improve the quality of service in areas that are already served. South Carolina’s newly completed map is the first major step in this process.”

As the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state of South Carolina, Connect South Carolina is a public-private partnership uniting local governments, businesses, and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s unserved and underserved areas.

In December 2009, Connect South Carolina was awarded $1.7 million in Recovery Act funding in an effort to increase the availability and use of high-speed Internet service in the state. The funding enables the state to collect data to develop and maintain a detailed map of existing broadband service over two years and conduct planning efforts for a period of five years.

These efforts are in compliance with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the State Broadband Data and Development grant program (SBDD). Ultimately, these data will populate the comprehensive, interactive, and searchable national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.



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About Connect South Carolina: Connect South Carolina is a subsidiary of Connected Nation and operates as a nonprofit in the state of South Carolina. The state of South Carolina is leading the initiative to increase broadband Internet access throughout South Carolina. Connect South Carolina was commissioned by the Governor’s Office to work with all broadband providers in the state of South Carolina to create detailed maps of broadband coverage in order to accurately pinpoint remaining gaps in broadband availability in South Carolina. www.connectsc.org.

Link to Press Release

Connect Minnesota Launches Powerful Interactive App for Improving Statewide High-Speed Internet

New Broadband Coverage Maps Go Live on Connect Minnesota Website

St Paul, MN – Connect Minnesota has launched a powerful new broadband app in the effort to bring affordable, high-speed Internet to the entire state. Available on Connect Minnesota’s website, www.connectmn.org, BroadbandStat is the interactive state mapping resource that puts all the latest information on the broadband landscape directly at your fingertips. Connect Minnesota is a subsidiary of Connected Nation and operates as a nonprofit in the state of Minnesota.

“Minnesota has been a national leader on creating awareness and driving broadband expansion across its state,” explains Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Minnesota’s parent organization, Connected Nation. “We are proud to support the effort through this new mapping app that empowers citizens, businesses, community developers, and policy makers to make informed plans for high-speed Internet expansion in their communities.”

Since 2008, Connect Minnesota has served as the broadband mapping entity for Minnesota. Connect Minnesota has been able to gather and verify state-specific data on the availability, speed, location, and type of broadband services in order to create an accurate picture of the state’s broadband landscape. Starting this year, the program has also focused on gathering data on the adoption and availability of broadband at community anchor institutions across the state to identify the need for services at schools, libraries, and hospitals. The meeting of this milestone is a result of a several-month long process of aggressive outreach to providers and community anchor institutions across the state, and extensive verification and validation of the data collected from these entities.

The maps represent the coverage areas of 93 Minnesota broadband providers. The newly unveiled map confirms that approximately 84,391 households are still without any broadband service option at all. 95.55% of Minnesota households have access to broadband service of at least 768 Kbps downstream and 90.56% of rural Minnesota households have access. There are approximately 78,848 unserved rural households (excluding mobile and satellite service).

A public demonstration of the mapping app was held via webinar on Friday to encourage citizen feedback and to demonstrate the broadband expansion scenario building that can be achieved using the tool.

Connected Nation’s GIS team will continuously refine the maps as more data is gathered - relying upon citizen feedback as part of the validation process. Residents, businesses, and any interested party with knowledge of the state broadband landscape are asked to go to Connect Minnesota’s website to provide input that will be used to verify and ensure the highest level of accuracy for the broadband maps.

As the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state of Minnesota, Connect Minnesota is a public-private partnership uniting local governments, businesses, and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s underserved areas. In December 2009, the U.S. Department of Commerce the National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded Connect Minnesota $1.7 million in Recovery Act funding under the State Broadband Data and Development grant program (SBDD) to support the effort to increase the availability and use of high-speed Internet service in the state. The funding enables the state to collect data and develop maintain a detailed map of existing broadband service over two years and conduct planning efforts for a period of five years.

The data released are in compliance with the NTIA’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the SBDD grant program. Ultimately, these data will populate the comprehensive, interactive, and searchable national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.

Connect Michigan Releases the First Complete Maps for the Statewide Broadband Initiative

Launches New Interactive Mapping App on Connect Michigan Website

Lansing, MI –The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) announced yesterday the completion of the first round of broadband maps aimed at promoting technology development and increasing high-speed Internet throughout the state. The maps which are now accessible online at www.connectmi.org are a product of the Connect Michigan broadband initiative, a public-private partnership between the MPSC and Connected Nation, a national nonprofit focused on technology expansion in underserved areas.

“Today marks an important day in Michigan: a complete, interactive broadband map is now available for customers, Internet service providers, and policymakers,” said Orjiakor Isiogu, chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission. “This is an important first step as the state seeks to target resources to those areas of the state without high-speed Internet service.”

Connect Michigan has been able to gather and verify state-specific data on the availability, speed, location, and type of broadband services as well as the adoption and availability of broadband at community anchor institutions across the state. The meeting of this milestone is a result of a several-month long process of aggressive outreach to providers and community anchor institutions across the state, and extensive verification and validation of the data collected from these entities. These initial maps include data from 86 state providers, and key findings include:
· 95.41% of Michigan households have access to broadband service of at least 768 kbps downstream (excluding mobile and satellite service).
· 4.59% of Michigan households are unserved, representing approximately 174,000 unserved households.

A public demonstration of the program’s new interactive mapping feature, BroadbandStat, was held via webinar to encourage citizen feedback and to demonstrate the broadband expansion scenario building that can be achieved using the tool.

Connected Nation’s GIS team will continuously refine the maps as more data is gathered - relying upon citizen feedback as part of the validation process. Residents, businesses, and any interested party with knowledge of the state broadband landscape are asked to go to Connect Michigan’s website to provide input that will be used to verify and ensure the highest level of accuracy for the broadband maps.

On Connectmi.org, those who do not currently have broadband access can add their name and address to a secure database of households that would like to subscribe if given the opportunity. The collected information supports the creation of the broadband inventory map that will assist in expanding broadband delivery to residents across the state.

“We are excited to offer this interactive app to the citizens of Michigan. With this new website, citizens can play an active role in the validation of the data and more importantly, use it as a resource to search provider options and draw attention to the areas that remain unserved,” explains Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Michigan’s parent organization, Connected Nation. “The goal of our nonprofit organization is to expand broadband access to areas where it doesn’t exist and improve the quality of service in areas that are already served. Michigan’s newly completed map is the first major step in this process.”

As the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state of Michigan, Connect Michigan is a public-private partnership uniting local governments, businesses, and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s unserved and underserved areas.

In December 2009, Connect Michigan was awarded $1.8 million in Recovery Act funding in an effort to increase the availability and use of high-speed Internet service in the state. The funding enables the state to collect data to develop and maintain a detailed map of existing broadband service over two years and conduct planning efforts for a period of five years.

These efforts are in compliance with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the State Broadband Data and Development grant program (SBDD). Ultimately, these data will populate the comprehensive, interactive, and searchable national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.

Connect Nevada Launches Powerful Interactive App for Improving Statewide High-Speed Internet

Connect Nevada, Nevada Broadband Task Force to Host Public Webinar on June 3rd

Carson City, NV – Connect Nevada has launched a powerful new broadband app in the effort to bring quality, high-speed Internet to the entire state. Yesterday, Governor Jim Gibbons announced the public release of the state’s first comprehensive broadband map along with the launch of BroadbandStat, the interactive state mapping resource that puts all the latest information on the broadband landscape directly at your fingertips. Additionally, the Connect Nevada website (www.connectnv.org) offers several other interactive tools for broadband consumers.

“In today’s digital world, being connected to the Internet is critical to preserving and improving lifestyle,” says Daphne DeLeon, chairperson of the Governor’s Nevada Broadband Task Force. “Whether you live in a rural or urban area, high-speed Internet enables access to quality jobs, information, and vital services ranging from interactive telemedicine to higher education. Broadband gives you the opportunity to work from home, take online classes, and market your products - all of which have a positive impact on the local economy. Yet, for thousands of Nevada residents, affordable access to high-speed Internet is still not available.”

The newly unveiled map confirms that approximately 21,000 Nevada households are still without any broadband service option at all.

“The completed Nevada state map shows what broadband services are currently available down to the street level. Connect Nevada, in collaboration with the state’s broadband providers, will update the map on a routine basis to reflect real-time broadband availability so that policy makers, Internet providers, and the general public can use the maps to make informed decisions about broadband investment and expansion,” explains Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Nevada’s parent company, Connected Nation. “The goal of our nonprofit organization is to expand broadband access to areas where it doesn’t exist and improve the quality of service in areas that are already served. Nevada’s newly completed map is the first major step in this process.”

Nevada’s BroadbandStat state map will be explained in detail by Nevada Broadband Task Force Chairperson Daphne DeLeon and members of the Connect Nevada team. The public demonstration of the powerful tool will take place via webinar on Thursday, June 3, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. PST. Media, broadband providers, and the general public are invited to attend the webinar or join Ms. DeLeon in-person for the demonstration at a location that has yet to be determined. In the meantime, the map and the webinar sign-up link are available now through the Connect Nevada website, www.connectnv.org.

All Nevada residents are encouraged to visit the Connect Nevada website, www.connectnv.org, to join in this important initiative and offer feedback. The website gives residents a place to provide feedback on the initiative as well as several useful interactive tools. Users can use the website to find providers at their address, check their current Internet speeds, request broadband service in their area, and share stories of how high-speed Internet has impacted their lives. By increasing broadband access and use across the state, Nevada is facing a bright future, with greater opportunities, and a new throughway to economic empowerment.

Connect Nevada is funded through a $1.4 million award by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to launch the initiative in the state and carry out the work over a five-year period. Under the NTIA State Broadband Data and Development grant program Connect Nevada is charged with creating statewide awareness, mapping, and maintaining the state broadband inventory for two years, and conduct planning efforts for a period of five years. These funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. NTIA, as required by the ARRA, will make a national broadband map publicly available by February 17, 2011.


Related Links:

Press Release: Web Link to Governor’s Press Release

Webinar Sign-up Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/634571810

Connected Nation Testifies on Capitol Hill; Addresses Nation’s Broadband Demand Gap

Read the testimony here

Connected Nation’s Laura Taylor Provides Testimony to U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet on the National Broadband Plan.

Washington, D.C. –Today, Connected Nation’s Chief Policy Officer Laura Taylor addressed the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet about the importance of increasing broadband adoption to spur broadband expansion.

“Our experience, and the data that go along with it, show that the nation’s ‘demand gap’ is significantly larger than the ‘supply gap’ – with supply outstripping demand by between 30 and 35 percentage points. Broadband adoption stimulation is the key to the ultimate success of any effort to fully address the broadband challenge,” Taylor said.

Her testimony was part of a series of hearings held by the subcommittee examining recommendations in the recently released National Broadband Plan for increasing broadband adoption, including ways to ensure that all Americans are able to subscribe to broadband and educating consumers about broadband’s benefits.

During today’s hearing, several subcommittee members praised the work of Connected Nation and its state-based initiatives.

U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R, OH-5), lauded the work of Connected Nation and its Connect Ohio initiative, specifically the research on broadband adoption in the state and commitment to public-private partnerships. “Connected Nation has been a key component at raising awareness (in the state),” Latta said in his opening remarks.

U.S. Rep. Zack Space (D, OH-18) also applauded Connected Nation’s “great work” done in overcoming the first hurdle to broadband expansion – mapping, calling Connected Nation “one of the nation’s leaders” in broadband mapping.

Following the opening statements, Taylor provided insights into Connected Nation’s extensive data on broadband adoption through statewide initiatives, real-world examples of how its work with grassroots community programs drive broadband adoption, how public-private partnerships are essential in driving sustainable broadband adoption, and how the National Broadband Plan makes several good recommendations to accomplish these goals.

Connected Nation is currently creating data and broadband inventory maps for 13 states or territories (Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas).

This experience and subsequent research has shown alarming broadband adoption gaps among at-risk populations, which is consistent with National Broadband Plan findings, Taylor said. These gaps are especially wide with rural Americans, minorities, people with disabilities, and low-income Americans.

These gaps demonstrate the need for federal support for public-private partnership driven efforts to increase broadband adoption. Taylor followed with examples of Connected Nation’s success in the public-private partnership model including in Tennessee, where recent county-level research shows that these public-private efforts of the statewide Connected Tennessee program, a Connected Nation state initiative, are effectively closing the digital divide.

From 2007 to 2010, the 35% growth of home broadband adoption in Tennessee outpaced national growth of 28%. Minorities in Tennessee – who have historically lagged Caucasians in Internet use – have now surpassed Caucasians, with 84% of minority adults in Tennessee reporting that they use the Internet , she said. This well exceeds the FCC reported national average of 78%. The rural-urban gap was also narrowed significantly in Tennessee.

“One of the most powerful county-level case studies comes from Perry County, Tennessee,” Taylor said. Through the Connected Tennessee Computers 4 Kids program and a donation from the AT&T Foundation, 20 new computers and six printers were placed in a summer youth program to create jobs for high school students who worked to improve web-based tourism and economic development for the city of Linden. After this summer program ended, the computers were transformed into a digital factory, creating permanent technology jobs in Perry County. Broadband adoption in Perry County has grown by 175% since 2007.

Following her testimony, Taylor addressed several questions offered from the subcommittee chairman, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D, VA-9) and ranking member U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R, FL-6).

Boucher asked Taylor about Connected Nation’s experience in ensuring the accurate representation of coverage in the broadband mapping process, especially when providers are the ones giving the data. Taylor emphasized the importance of on-the-ground verification, which ensures real-world examples of the providers’ data. Also, she stressed the necessity of public input in the mapping process. Specifically, she mentioned the use of web-based maps, which allows for easy comment by the public.

Stearns began his questioning by praising the commitment of Connected Nation and Connected Tennessee to help connect minority communities. Connecting these communities is a vital part of broadband adoption in the United States, he said.

“That (Connected Tennessee’s minority broadband adoption data) says it all - that your nonprofit organization is doing that,” he said.

In written remarks submitted as part of the hearing, Taylor concluded with how the lessons learned by Connected Nation can and do relate to the tasks proposed in the National Broadband Plan.

The FCC sets forth several principles and recommendations that Connected Nation believes should be supported by both the Legislative and Executive Branches, according to Taylor. These include:

1. Focusing on the barriers to adoption. Connected Nation has found that these barriers are different from place to place, therefore local research is key to this effort;
2. Focusing on broadband in the home. Connected Nation agrees that libraries and other public places are critical points of access; however, there is no substitution for a computer in the home – especially for rural America where access to community anchor institutions is limited, she said;
3. Measurement and evaluation are critical to success because they allow programs to make adjustments on an ongoing basis. Connected Nation already does this through regular and recurring research and the local level and regularly updated broadband maps.

“Filling in the broadband gaps is essential to ensure that all Americans can participate in the twenty-first century economy – this step is especially critical for rural Americans,” Taylor wrote in the submitted remarks. “The job, however, is not complete unless we ensure that all Americans who have access to this technology are in fact using it in ever more productive ways. We look forward to continue working with Congress, the Federal government, states, and thousands of local champions who understand and share our mission for universal digital inclusion across America.”

Related Links:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/connectednation
CN Blog: Connected Nation Touted, Testifies on Capitol Hill

Danville Head Start Program Benefits from Computer, Technology Donations

Children from the Crescent Drive Head Start give a thumbs up during this week’s computer donation.











The Crescent Drive Head Start Program Receives Refurbished Computers Donated through a Partnership of ConnectKentucky’s Computers 4 Kids, Opportunity for Work and Learning (OWL), and the Blue Grass Community Action Partnership

Danville, KY—This week, the Crescent Drive Head Start program in Danville received computers as part of a kickoff event for a technology donation partnership.

“Having access to the computers will allow the teachers to have an opportunity to use digital instructional resources to improve kids’ math and science skills,” said Amy Collier, site supervisor for the Crescent Drive Head Start program during the kickoff on Tuesday, May 4.

Over the next few weeks, ConnectKentucky, Opportunity for Work and Learning (OWL), and the Blue Grass Community Action Partnership (BGCAP) will arrange the donation of refurbished computers to Head Start programs in Anderson, Boyle, Jessamine, Woodford, Mercer, and Franklin counties. This week’s event was the kickoff of the official partnership. For the computers donated this week, the refurbishing services took place at Pioneer Vocational Industrial Services in Danville.

“It is wonderful to have all the agencies come together to benefit the technology needs of the kids in the Head Start program,” said JoAnn Travis, director of Head Start for the six-county region. “We wish to thank all those responsible for making the technology resources available.”

Boyle County Judge-Executive Harold McKinney said Tuesday that providing access to technology “was a given in today’s world” and that he was “glad to see Boyle County organizations rally together to provide technology for area kids.”

McKinney even suggested that there may be other opportunities to donate old county computers for the refurbishing program.

Initially, the gently used computers were donated by the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office to ConnectKentucky’s Computers 4 Kids (C4K) program.

“As our office continues to increase our digital capacity, we soon outgrow some of the computer equipment that we have used over the years,” remarked Secretary of State Trey Grayson. “Although they no longer fit our needs, we are delighted to use these computers to brighten the futures of Kentucky’s most precious resources — our children. We have long said that our office does more with less, thanks to technology. We are humbled that our technological reach will extend beyond to the children of Kentucky via the C4K program.”

ConnectKentucky’s C4K program is an innovative project that brings together public and private partners to help disadvantaged children and their families join the information age. This is accomplished by placing computers in the hands of disad¬vantaged populations so that they have access to abundant technological resources and can perform basic computing functions.

Since its inception, C4K has delivered more than 3,200 Internet-ready computers to disadvantaged individuals, schools, libraries, community centers, and nonprofit after-school programs across the state.

“ConnectKentucky’s Computers 4 Kids program is proud to be a part of this new partnership and to help the Bluegrass Region’s Head Start programs,” said Rene True, executive director of ConnectKentucky. “As the partnership continues to receive donations, we are confident that technology use will expand throughout the region.”

Before going to the Head Start programs, the computers were made like new by personnel at Pioneer Vocational Industrial Services in partnership with Opportunity for Work and Learning. OWL provides job skills to employment-challenged individuals who refurbish computers during a 10-week technology training program. OWL is an organization dedicated to removing employment barriers to individuals in the community by retraining them in a field where they are more likely to find a job.

“This multi-agency partnership demonstrates that when agencies work together, all citizens regardless of age in the Commonwealth will benefit. OWL continues to look for new partnerships to fulfill its mission,” according to David Boggs, OWL president/CEO.

These computers, along with donated printers from Lexmark, have now been and will be donated to children participating in six Head Start programs, with the help of funding through the Blue Grass Community Action Partnership.

“The Blue Grass Community Action Partnership is appreciative of this donation to our six Head Start centers. These computers and printers will assure that the children have access to computer technology to learn basic computer skills. We would like to thank our partners in this effort, ConnectKentucky’s Computers 4 Kids,” said Troy Roberts, executive director.

To learn more about the donation, visit http://www.connectkentucky.org/

Download the press release here.