Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids Program Awards 350 Computers to the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Tennessee

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act-funded program will impact the lives of nearly 60,000 youth across the state over the next three years

Knoxville, TN – Today, Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids "Preparing Tennessee's Next Generation for Success" program awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Tennessee with 350 brand new computers. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded project deploys computers, academic support programs, and workforce training to two disparate, but especially at-risk, populations: those in the state's foster care system who are "aging out" as they turn 18, and youth who are active in the state’s 76 Boys & Girls Clubs. Over the next three years, the program will impact the lives of nearly 60,000 youth across the state.

Both Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and City of Knoxville Mayor Daniel T. Brown were in attendance at the event. Mayor Burchett remarked that the impact of the computers throughout East Tennessee would be significant.

“Connected Tennessee's Computers 4 Kids program is giving young people access to a tool and skill set that will serve them not only now, but throughout their entire lives," Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said. "This is good news for the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Tennessee, but it's even better news for our children and communities."

The “Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success” project is a result of a $2.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded to the C4K program in August 2010 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). BTOP provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.

Today’s event was part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s first annual “Summer Safety Day.” Dollywood and the Knoxville Fire Department, among others, were on hand to discuss important safety precautions and tactics for families throughout the summer season.

The Computers 4 Kids program will be holding a series of computer distribution events at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state this summer, awarding more than 700 computers to the Clubs overall. To date, C4K has distributed more than 2,500 computers statewide.

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About Connected Tennessee: As a public-private partnership, Connected Tennessee partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state. For more information about what Connected Tennessee is doing to accelerate technology in Tennessee’s communities, visit www.connectedtennessee.org.

About Computers 4 Kids: Preparing Tennessee’s Next Generation for Success: Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids project is helping to prepare Tennessee’s most vulnerable youth for success by providing them with connectivity. The program promotes economic, career, and educational development through the provision of computers and broadband Internet, online technology training, career training, and community awareness that highlights the benefits of technology adoption.

Connected Tennessee Awarded Additional Recovery Act Funding to Extend Broadband Mapping & Planning Efforts

Grant will extend mapping efforts under the State Broadband Data and Development grant program for three more years

Washington, D.C. – Connected Tennessee will receive $2.7 million in federal funding to extend broadband mapping efforts in the state for three more years. The funds are a part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) grant program. The SBDD was initiated to 1) fund statewide efforts to assess broadband availability within a state so that it could be utilized in the development of the National Broadband Map, and 2) support activities that improve statewide capacity to compete in the digital economy through improved planning for broadband availability and adoption.

Last December, Connected Tennessee was awarded $1.8 million in federal funding for broadband mapping and planning, which allowed for the creation and delivery of a comprehensive map of existing broadband service to the state. The additional SBDD funds will enable Connected Tennessee to take this first iteration of the map to the next level, thus allowing the state to prioritize and track progress over a longer period of time.

Connected Tennessee is now in its fourth year of operation and has been met with much success in accelerating the use of high-speed Internet and other technology. Since its inception in 2007, Tennessee has experienced a 35% increase in broadband adoption. Today more than one-half (58%) of all Tennessee adults have broadband service at home, which translates into more than 2.7 million Tennesseans. Particularly noteworthy: broadband adoption has grown fastest among Tennessee’s low-income residents (those with incomes below $25,000), minorities and rural residents; all groups specifically targeted by Connected Tennessee’s eCommunity Leadership Teams (eCS) and the Computers 4 Kids (C4K) program.

“It is gratifying to know that our hard work over the past three years has made a real impact on Tennessee’s broadband landscape,” says Connected Tennessee’s Executive Director, Michael Ramage. “More Tennesseans than ever before are now able to access all of the benefits afforded by a high-speed Internet connection. With this new funding, we are now going to be able to focus on demand side issues and gather critical research at the county level. With our additional mapping and research efforts, we will be able to paint a clearer picture than ever before of where broadband exists and where we still have work to do.”

Connected Tennessee is an independent non-profit organization that works with assorted Tennessee private- and public-sector entities to decrease the cost of technology expansion and increase the ease of doing business in Tennessee. Connected Tennessee aims to accelerate the availability and use of technology statewide to create a better business environment, more effective community and economic development, improved healthcare, enhanced education, and more efficient government.

To view a summary of the new grant project please click here.

For more information about Connected Tennessee, please visit www.connectedtn.org.

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Connected Nation Launches New Interactive Mapping Tool in Tennessee

Connected Tennessee Program Now Has Latest Broadband Mapping Technology

BroadbandStat Fact Sheet

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Connected Nation launched its new interactive broadband mapping platform in its state-based initiative of Tennessee.

Called BroadbandStat, the new interactive mapping platform is a multi-functional, user-friendly way for local leaders, policymakers, consumers, and technology providers to devise a plan for the expansion and adoption of broadband.

Connected Nation joined forces with ESRI, a market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, to create the revolutionary software.

“This is more than a facelift. We have taken the feedback of thousands of Connected Nation map users to completely revamp the way we map broadband. BroadbandStat combines the supply and demand side of broadband data and presents it in a way that is accessible to the most casual observer,” said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation’s chief executive officer. “The ways in which policymakers and potential investors can utilize this tool are virtually limitless.”

Along with Tennessee, BroadbandStat will soon be available in 11 more states and the territory of Puerto Rico. These states and territory will be using BroadbandStat to organize the results of data they are currently collecting on available broadband services. This activity is supported by State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program funds that are made available through the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for improving broadband accessibility across the nation.

BroadbandStat uses GIS technology to enable a user to build and evaluate broadband expansion scenarios that incorporate data such as education and population demographics, current broadband speeds, and availability and research about adoption barriers. Results are displayed on a Web-based interactive map. The broadband-related data can be used for grant writing, broadband investment, and economic development, and it gives the public the ability to find information about broadband providers down to the street level.

For Bob Mayfield, managing partner of Electronic Communications Systems, a small broadband provider in west Tennessee, the new tool will be extremely helpful as his company plans further coverage.

“BroadbandStat is a very important tool,” Mayfield said. “For providers to be able to look at the market as we are developing our business plans — to see where broadband exists and where the demand is — this is the best thing that’s come out in a while.”

Daryl Phillips, executive director of the Hickman County Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), agreed.

“Five years ago, we had local business owners that couldn't decide where to locate within the county because they didn't have access to this kind of detailed information,” Phillips said. “Now, business and industry can use this tool for relocation decisions, home buyers can use this while shopping for a home, and government and ECD can use it for planning purposes."

BroadbandStat was showcased at the 13th Annual Kickoff Technology Policy Exhibition at the 6th Annual State of the Net conference in Washington, D.C. on January 26 and 27.

Former Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer, director of Policy and Public Sector Strategies at ESRI, attended the conference and had a chance to discuss the benefits of proper broadband data and analysis tools.

“The common underpinning of all activities — economic, social, or health — is people connecting with other people and that activity doesn’t happen without broadband,” he said at the kickoff reception. “You will never understand how much information is in the world until you can connect with broadband. Broadband mapping —or showing who is connecting and who is not — is just the first step.”

To see Connected Tennessee’s interactive map visit the Connected Tennessee website.

Related Links:

More About BroadbandStat

Blog: Connected Nation Previews Interactive Broadband Mapping Tool at Technology Policy Exhibition in Washington, D.C.

News Article: New tool shows high-speed Internet availability statewide (Knoxville News Sentinel, 02/10/2010)

News Article: Connected Tennessee Launches Cutting-Edge Interactive Broadband Mapping Tool (WTVC-TV, 02/10/2010)

Tennessee Awarded $1.8 million in Recovery Act Funding For Broadband Initiative

Grants Will Enable Mapping for Service

NASHVILLE –Tennessee will receive $1.8 million in federal funding for broadband mapping and planning in an effort to increase the availability and use of high-speed Internet service in the state. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) matching grant is awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

The award will help Connected Tennessee, the organization that helps accelerate the availability of broadband in Tennessee, deliver a comprehensive map of existing broadband service to the state.

“Expanding access to high-speed Internet services across our state is key to economic development in today’s environment,” Governor Phil Bredesen said. “About half the state’s geographic area is underserved for broadband, representing about 10 percent of Tennesseans. This Recovery Act funding will put Tennessee in a better position to compete in the new global economy.”

In conjunction with broadband providers in the state, Connected Tennessee will periodically update service maps to reflect broadband availability and other relevant information such as household size, topographical information and civil infrastructure data.

Connected Tennessee is a public-private partnership launched by the state in 2007 to unite local governments, businesses and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s underserved areas. The state has contracted with Connected Nation, a national leader in broadband issues and technology, to help with mapping and planning.

“We are pleased to be working with the state to further develop our existing broadband maps and to paint a more accurate picture of broadband availability throughout the state,” said Michael Ramage, Connected Tennessee’s executive director. “We are honored to be recognized for the work we have accomplished over the past two years and to be afforded the opportunity build on that foundation to further close the digital divide in the state of Tennessee.”

Tennessee businesses, organizations, Internet service providers and citizens can contribute to the mapping process by visiting www.connectedtn.org to provide information about broadband access in their areas.

Mapping is one of four parts of the state’s application for broadband grants. The state also applied for $20.9 million for broadband infrastructure; $5.67 million for sustainability and adoption; and, $4.92 million for public computer centers. Federal announcement related to those three areas are not expected until early 2010.

View entire press release here.

Connected Nation State-level Digital Inclusion Work Highlighted at FCC Public Hearing

Connected Tennessee’s Executive Director Michael Ramage Invited to Speak at Federal Communications Commission’s Field Hearing in Memphis

Memphis, Tenn. -- Today, the digital inclusion work of Connected Tennessee, a Connected Nation state-level initiative, will be highlighted during a Federal Communications Commission’s field hearing in Memphis.

Connected Tennessee’s executive director Michael Ramage will speak at one of a series of FCC’s public hearings promoting an open discussion between the commission and the public on the development of a national broadband plan.

In Tennessee, work to provide expanded access to and use of broadband has seen significant success. Since Connected Tennessee’s 2007 inception, more than 250,000 Tennesseans have gained access to broadband.

Connected Tennessee has accomplished this goal by involving all of Tennessee’s 95 counties in a technology planning and outreach process called e-Community Strategies. Through this process, each county creates local leadership teams, comprised of leaders from both the private and public sector. These teams work to create county-level technology plans in order to address a particular county’s challenges related to technology growth.

In addition to this process, Connected Tennessee has distributed more than 2,100 computers to children, families and community-based organizations through its Computers 4 Kids program. In October, Connected Tennessee’s Computers 4 Kids program was awarded a “community service” award at the 7th annual TechStar Awards in Kingsport, Tenn. The honor was given for the program’s commitment of time and resources to improve the community through technology.

Following the success of state-based programs like Connected Tennessee’s Computer 4 Kids, Connected Nation and several leading technology companies including Intel, Fujitsu, Velocity Micro and ZT Systems announced in August the creation of Every Citizen Online (SM), a public-private partnership program that will enable computer ownership and broadband use in low-income and unconnected homes throughout the United States.

The program will help vulnerable populations overcome the top barriers to adoption: broadband awareness and training, computer ownership and subscription affordability.

Joining together technology companies and local entities, the program will provide digital literacy and help unconnected consumers purchase a new broadband-enabled computer using an instant rebate, bundled with a year of discounted broadband service.

Related Links:

Press Release: Connected Nation Partners with Technology Leaders to Apply for Broadband Stimulus Funds to Connect More U.S. Households

About: Every Citizen Online (SM)

Whitepaper: Investing in Sustainable Broadband Adoption (PDF)

News Article: Intel's Maloney talks beer and broadband (The Hill, 10/29/09)

News Article: Q&A with Brian Meffford, CEO, Connected Nation About Every Citizen Online (Wireless Government Report, 12/07/09)

News Article: U.S. Stimulus: Intel Invests in Sustainable Broadband Adoption (Policy@Intel blog, 08/20/09)

News Article: Intel, Dell, Fujitsu Partner with Nonprofit to Increase Low-income Internet Access (The Daily Tell, 08/18/09)

News Article: Connected Nation, Technology Stalwarts Launch Every Citizen Online (Cherokeean Hearld, 08/19/09)

News Article: Connected Nation: Access Not the Biggest Problem (TMCNet, 08/14/09)

News Article: Intel, Dell Join Nonprofit To Bring Cheap Internet Svc To Poor (Dow Jones Newswire via The Wall Street Journal, 08/13/09)

View press release here.