building community capacity through broadband

2010 Connections and Engagement Conference

October 21, 2010

Professor Andrew Lewis

Maria Alvarez-Stroud

John Pederson

Building Community CapacityThrough Broadband

Presentation Outcomes

Build awareness of broadband & its importance to community sustainability

Expand understanding of the role of engagement in building healthy communities

Stimulate thinking about UWEX’s role in building broadband capacity

Name This Technology

Once upon a time…..

http://localtechwire.com/business/local_tech_wire/news/blogpost/6582776/

Why U.W. Extension?

Building Organizational Capacity

It describes the work of the university’s extension faculty in building some of the state (and nation’s) great organizations and movements.

“There is a formula to this history,” said Somersan. “It has to do with the people involved in creating self-sustaining organizations and movements. They have all been tops in their field, they all had a deep passion for what they were doing. They had very strong bonds with community leaders, partnered very well with others, and were willing to do the grunt work it takes to nurture organizations from birth to graduation.”

The Road to Prosperity

What is Broadband?

Federal Communication Commission (FCC) definition:• Any connection that transfers data at

speeds greater than 768 kbpsProblem:• Medical Transmissions (Up to 50 mbits/sec)• Full Motion Video (1 -2 gbits/sec)

Alternative definition:• Connection that does not limit application

(i.e. VoIP, web-based video streaming)

Context

What is broadband?

1 Gbps: ‘Broadband’as

‘Broadband’: Dial-up

What is Broadband?

http://www.linktionary.com/b/bandwidth.html

Don’t confuse promising new tools with panaceas

“In short, access to telecommunications technology may be a necessary condition for rural economic growth, but it is far from sufficient.” (Digital Deliverance, p. xiv)

Dr. Judson Edwards, Director of the Center for International Business, Troy University

Context

Why is broadband important?

Digital exclusion costs $55 billion annually.

Percentage Increase in the Number of High Speed Lines (’03-’08)

Percentage of High Speed Lines for Business Use (June 2008)

Our Role

Build community leadership Link broadband expertise &

knowledge with the communities

Create opportunity for innovation

The $7.2 Billion Dollar Solution??

Project Background

Failed Round 1 attempt

Engaged demonstration communities

Engaged partners

Wrote grant applications

Implementation

The Journey to Engagement

Chippewa Valley

Platteville

Superior

Wausau

Menominee Nation

Comprehensive Community Infrastructure (CCI) & Sustainable Broadband Adoption (SBA)

Building Community Capacity through Broadband (BCCB)

CCI = $42.7 million ($29.9 request, $9.2 cash match, $3.6 in-kind contribution)

SBA = $3.2 million ($2.4 request, $875,000 match)

The Journey to Engagement

Principles

Mutual benefit

Extension as facilitator

Community ownership

Public-private partnership

Advancement of innovation

Two-way flow of knowledge

Sustaining the Engagement

Organizational design

Communication

Shared vision

Shared results

WiscNet

CAN’s

Programming

Community Area Networks

How to lead together Broadband use to improve quality

of life & local economy

Development & Education

Broadband use webinars Virtual Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club Awareness/marketing campaign Community broadband assessment tool Community-based education Best practices video case studies Website

Awareness Campaign

Community-based

Statewide

Evaluation & Metrics

Phone survey/state broadband planning/mapping project

Broadband preparedness index

Qualitative case studies

Economic indicators

Your Role

How many of you are engaged in

building community capacity

through broadband?

Thank you!

Maria Alvarez-StroudProject ManagerBuilding Community Capacity through BroadbandOffice of Community Sustainability Univeristy of Wisconsin Extensionmaria.alvarez-stroud@uwex.edu608-263-9295

Professor Andy LewisCommunity and Economic Development ManagerBuilding Community Capacity through BroadbandOffice of Community Sustainability 610 Langdon St.Madison, WI 53703608-263-1432andy.lewis@uwex.edu

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/andylewis.cfm

Thank you!

John PedersonEducational Technology LiaisonWiscNet - Wisconsin's Research and Education Networkjohnpederson@wiscnet.net608-265-1126