Building the Future: Addressing Library Broadband Connectivity

Issues in the 21st Century

Bob BocherWI State Library

Fellow, ALA Office for Information Technology Policy608-266-2127, robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov

(dpi.wi.gov/pld/litabb.ppt)

LITA President’s Program ALA Annual Conference — June 2011

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Topics to Cover

1. The U.S. broadband (BB) landscape 2. The National Broadband Plan (NBP)3. The library broadband landscape4. Addressing library broadband issues

The issue is no longer Internet access but improving the quality of access as the demands of the medium and patrons grow rapidly. —OITP Broadband Connectivity Report (2007)

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The U.S. Broadband Landscape

Household BB access 66%, but varies Address BB access via marketplace

More BB based on more competition, which is driven by less regulation• 2002-05 FCC deregulates BB, raises Net Neutrality issue

U.S. one of few developed nations with no BB plan Plan mandated in ARRA

Other ARRA broadband programs Infrastructure (BTOP) Mapping

We need to develop a broadband strategy just like every other industrialized nation. —FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, 2005.

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NBP: Key Long-term Goals

1: Every American should have affordable access to robust broadband and at least 100 million homes have access to 100Mbps or more.

2: Community anchor institutions (CAI) should have affordable access to at least 1Gbps.

Using its regulatory authority, the FCC is initiating over 60 actions to implement the NBP goals and recommendations.

(released March 2010, http://www.broadband.gov)

“This isn’t just about faster Internet. It’s about connecting every part of America to the digital age.“ –President Obama, State of the Union Address, Jan. 2011

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NBP: Several Key FCC Actions/Recommendations

E-rate reform: Allow fiber by any entity (Sept 2010)

High Cost reform: Transition to new Connect America Fund for broadband (open docket) $4.6 billion annually now supports voice telephony

• With BB, voice just another service – VoIP ALA: Use CAF for libraries too*

Create national coordinating entity, the “U.S. Unified Community Anchor Network” (U.S. UCAN) Recommendation from Internet2

*ALA comments at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021239757

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Public Library Broadband Landscape*

65% offer the only free Net access in their communities

86% offer wireless access (29% in 2005)

91% offer jobs-related databases 99% offer periodical and reference databases

Libraries find the BB landscape confusing Bandwidth increases are not meeting demand

But…

* Data from ALA Libraries and the Internet surveys at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org/?q=node/13

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2010 Public Library Broadband Stats

We have a 3Mbps connection but at 4pm it is so slow it’s like being on dial-up. -Comment from ALA Technology Access Study

Rather than spelling the demise of public libraries, the Internet holds new service opportunities. -- Public Libraries and the Internet rpt. , 1994 .

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Addressing Library Broadband: BTOP Grants

61 grants will increase bandwidth to 2,381 libraries Internet2 awarded $62 million

Augment national backbone; add 11,800 miles of new fiber and upgrade 10,000 miles of existing fiber

Create U.S. Unified Community Anchor Network (U.S. UCAN)

• National: Use I2 network infrastructure• State/local: Use R&E network infrastructure

Give a non-profit institution the mission and capability to focus on the broadband needs of public institutions. --NPB, Chapter 8.

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Addressing Library Broadband: U.S. UCAN

Some R&E networks already serve libraries, schools, etc. Leverage expertise of R&E networks

High quality bandwidth Network engineering and IT support Procurement and contracts

U.S. UCAN challenges Connect 150,000 CAI?

• 66,000 connected now Economic issues

• Task Force report out for comment Last mile issues

Expanding the R&E network model to other anchor institutions will offer tremendous benefits. Many CAI lack resources to undertake the many tasks necessary to maximize their utilization of broadband.

--NPB, Chapter 8.

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Addressing Library Broadband: OITP Activities

Advocacy: OITP files comments with the FCC, visits FCC

staff, NTIA, etc. OGR tracks Congressional action, makes Hill visits

Collaboration: Works with many groups, (SHLB Coalition,

Gates Foundation, Internet2, etc.) Education:

Workshops, news releases, conference programs, publications

* See OITP website: http://www.ala.org/oitp

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In Summary: Addressing Library Broadband

NBP recognizes library and other CAI broadband needs FCC reform of E-rate and High Cost programs Encourage cooperative initiatives, like the U.S. UCAN Need strong advocates, like ALA/OITP

Q&A from an OITP focus group on broadband.

Q: What is sufficient broadband?A: As much as you can afford.A: More than we have.A: It’s based on the number of irritated patrons. A: When you click, it happens.

Building the Future: Addressing Library Broadband Connectivity…

Questions??Bob BocherWI State Library

Fellow, ALA Office for Information Technology Policy608-266-2127, robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov

(dpi.wi.gov/pld/litabb.ppt)

LITA President’s Program ALA Annual Conference — June 2011

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HS diploma <$50,000 income

BA degree >$50,000 income

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

51.4%47.2%

84.2% 82.4%

Have Residential Broadband

We need a national goal for universal ,affordable access to broadband by 2007. —President Bush, 2004.

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State R&E Networks and Libraries*

There are 38 state R&E networks and 22 serve at least some libraries. See the Gates Foundation report Connections, Capacity, Community… for more details.

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