Connect Michigan Report Reveals Expanded Broadband Availability and Higher Speeds in Many Michigan Counties

Updated Planning Report Presented at the Second Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee Meeting

Lansing, MI — Connect Michigan today released an updated assessment of the broadband market in Michigan. Data collected and reflected in this update indicate much higher broadband availability in many Michigan counties, both at higher speed tiers and by certain platforms, than the data collected in the fall of 2010. The report is made public online at Connect Michigan's website. 

“These new data lead us to estimate that the number of households in Michigan that can’t get broadband is over 27 percentage points lower than our previous estimates,” said Eric Frederick, Connect Michigan program manager. “This is significant progress toward our goal of ensuring all Michiganders are able to work, learn, and connect online. I want to thank the provider community and members of the Collaborative Broadband Committee for their commitment to broadening our economic opportunities through broadband expansion.”

Key findings from this report:

(Note: The data in this report are subject to data validation.)

• From October 2010 to April 2011, the data indicate a change from 121,701 to 87,786 unserved households (or 2.32% of total households), a drop of over 27 percentage points.

• Increases were estimated across all speed tiers, including a jump from 11.4% to 37.25% in households that can subscribe to 25 Mbps download or greater. The 50 Mbps speed tier availability grew from 4.32% to 21.74% of households.

• The report indicates increases in the number of providers offering cable, fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile wireless platforms.

“This report highlights both the gains and the challenges in developing a vibrant broadband infrastructure and in promoting a broadband adoption mindset,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Michigan’s parent organization Connected Nation. “Overcoming adoption aversion is a key component for effectively implementing broadband technology to foster social and economic inclusion.”

The report was conducted in partnership with the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee as part of the Michigan State Broadband Initiative (SBI) grant program.

These continued assessments of the state’s broadband landscape are designed to be a catalyst for stimulating stakeholder discussions on key policy goals and strategies to expand and enhance broadband opportunities for all Michigan residents.

The report was released today at the second meeting of the recently formed Michigan Collaborative Broadband Committee (CBC). The CBC is a group of representatives from K-12 education, higher education, broadband service providers, non-profits, tourism, business, agriculture, government, and other organizations that have an interest in improving Michigan’s broadband availability and encouraging meaningful adoption.

In May of 2010, Connect Michigan produced an initial map of broadband availability to identify served and unserved areas across the state. Since the initial map’s release, Connect Michigan has collected and released new data every six months, with updates in October 2010 and April 2011.

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17 Million US Children Do Not Have Broadband At Home

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Preliminary findings from Connected Nation’s 2011 residential survey reveal wide gaps of digital inclusion for nation’s children

WASHINGTON, DC - A new white paper by national nonprofit Connected Nation released today reveals wide gaps in vital broadband opportunities for children, especially in low-income households.

Broadband plays a vital role in future educational and economic opportunity for American society, but Connected Nation’s 2011 surveys of over 27,000 residential consumers shows that 17 million US children do not have broadband at home – and that 7.6 million of these are in low-income households.

The study also reveals that:

• Only 37% of low-income minority households with children have broadband at home, compared to 66% of all households

• Only 46% of all low-income households with children have broadband at home

• 40% of low-income households do not own a computer, compared to only 9% of all other households

“As we enter the country’s poorer areas, the adoption gap grows sharply. Hardest hit are low-income schoolchildren, because fewer opportunities to use broadband means fewer opportunities to learn, to interact, and to develop the skills necessary to participate in today’s economy,” said Brian Mefford, Connected Nation’s CEO. “Closing these gaps is key to our nation’s economic future, because an impoverished and disconnected population with fewer educational and employment opportunities could slam the brakes on economic recovery, job growth, and social development.”

Today’s study also examines the reasons for the adoption gap among the nation’s most vulnerable populations. The chief reason why low-income households with children do not adopt broadband is cost, with 43% of those households citing cost as the main reason they do not adopt, followed by a lack of digital skills at 14%.

The full 2011 residential survey is scheduled to be released by Connected Nation in October.

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About Connected Nation: Connected Nation is a leading technology organization committed to bringing affordable high-speed Internet and broadband-enabled resources to all Americans. Connected Nation effectively raises the awareness of the value of broadband and related technologies by developing coalitions of influencers and enablers for improving technology access, adoption and use. Connected Nation works with consumers, community leaders, states, technology providers and foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. www.connectednation.org.

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Connected Texas Appoints Executive Director and Program Coordinator to Focus on Broadband Access, Adoption, and Use

Austin, TX – Connected Texas announces the appointment of Don Shirley as executive director and LaTanya Tatum as program coordinator. The new Austin-based staff are critical to the nonprofit’s mission of creating jobs and new economic opportunities across the state.

“Connected Texas is all about bringing broadband access, adoption, and use to every corner of the state,” said Shirley. “High-speed Internet gives Texans a direct line to quality jobs, information, and vital services like telemedicine and higher education. It’s critical that broadband is available to all Texans, not only to improve quality of life, but to also keep our state competitive in the new digital world economy. That is our Connected Texas mission.”

In their roles, Shirley and Tatum will lead the initiative’s continuing statewide effort. Connected Texas has been leading the way since 2009 to bring the economic and quality of life benefits of broadband to all Texas residents.

“We know that expanding broadband has a significant economic impact on a state’s residents, and we know Don’s and LaTonya’s experience, background, and passion for the state of Texas and this mission will be a tremendous asset for the Connected Texas program,” said Brian Mefford, CEO of national nonprofit Connected Nation, Connected Texas’ parent organization.

Under the guidance of the Texas Department of Agriculture, Shirley will oversee the management and administrative aspects of the initiative, as well as support the design and implementation of a statewide broadband deployment strategy. The plan will include partners from both the public and private sectors, all working together on local and regional technology planning, technical assistance, and ultimately, increased broadband adoption and digital literacy in all corners of the state. Connected Texas will also continue taking the state’s broadband inventory on a semi-annual basis and mapping the results.

As program coordinator, Tatum will report to Shirley and work closely with the Texas Broadband Task Force to manage the activities of the Texas regional planning teams. These teams will implement a statewide strategy that includes benchmarking of technology use across relevant community sectors; setting goals for improved technology use within each sector; the development of a strategic plan for achieving its goals; and ultimately increased broadband adoption and digital literacy.

Shirley was previously a field operations manager and executive director of the Connect Ohio program. Prior to joining Connect Ohio, Shirley served as director of strategic alliances for Spinvox, a London-based technology solution provider; served as director of product marketing and next generation services for Powernet Global Communications; and was senior product manager, business marketing, for Cincinnati Bell. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in business administration from The Citadel in Charleston, SC.

Prior to joining Connected Texas, Tatum worked for the state of Texas at the Texas Education Agency as a program specialist. She holds a master of science degree in organizational leadership & ethics from St. Edwards University in Austin, and a master of science degree in criminal justice from Texas State University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Jackson State University in Jackson, MS.

Shirley can be contacted at (512) 660-2006 or dshirley@connectedtx.org; Tatum can be contacted at (512) 461-4159 or ltatum@connectedtx.org.

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