ne league of municipalities sept. 2012
DESCRIPTION
Broadband Survey for the Nebraska League of Municipalities, Sept. 2012TRANSCRIPT
Initial and Supplemental Proposals awarded to Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIC, UNL, DED and the AIM Institute are cooperatively leading the broadband planning efforts.
Let's Talk About Broadband – Results from UNL Broadband Survey
2012 League of Municipalities Fall Conference
Presented by Becky Vogt and Charlotte NarjesUNL Center for Applied Innovation
About the Nebraska Broadband Initiative
Broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and
a better way of life.
broadband.nebraska.gov
Goals of this initiative include: Increase adoption and utilization of broadband Develop regional broadband plans Increase understanding of importance of broadband
as a foundation of economic growth
League Broadband Survey Insight - how city governments are using technology Identify barriers in adopting broadband Help identify educational opportunities to better
utilize Establish benchmarks Perceptions of how community is utilizing broadband
League Broadband Survey Online survey distributed to 362 members via email
144 responses (40% response rate) Paper survey mailed to 22 members
1 response
Population of Area Served
Under 1,000
Between 1,000 and 2,499
Between 2,500 and 4,999
Between 5,000 and 9,999
Between 10,000 and 19,999
Between 20,000 and 99,999
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
63
20
6
8
1
2
TECHNOLOGY USE
Have Website
Under 1,000
Between 1,000 and 4,999
5,000 or more
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
56
90
92
41
10
8
3
YesNoDon't know
Satisfaction with Website
N/A
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
36
15
22
9
13
4
Majority want to see improvement or are improving (82%). Areas would like to see strengthened –
Content Maintenance Technical support –
Ability to update User friendly updates
Comments about Website
64 individual comments re the websitewith 85 themes tracked (a person may have shared more than one topic area)
We hired out to have the website rebuilt. We went active and it still isn't finished…information and options I want to see added.
Better website, with tools to take payment and easily update Clerk doing the work on her own time and at her own expense.
Not properly trained on how to change information and add information.
It is not user friendly...office staff cannot update it. We cannot add information on a regular basis, like agendas, minutes, ordinances, etc.
Our community has a website. I don't have time to manage one.
Sample of Comments -
Social Media Tools Used
None
YouTube
Flickr
Blogs
Other
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
73
23
6
2
1
2
1
5
Social Media Use by Community Size
NoneFacebook
TwitterYouTube
FlickrBlogs
LinkedInOther
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 9082
13
22
2
3
5541
10
33
10
5833
2588
8
5,000 or more Between 1,000 and 4,999Under 1,000
Satisfaction with Internet Connection Speeds
Upload speeds 76% fast enough 15% average, but not quite fast enoughDownload speeds 80% fast enough 12% average, but not quite fast enough
Challenges to Moving City Government Services to Internet
Ability to accept payment by credit card
Funding to implement
Available staff
Inability to keep upgrading new technology
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
46
39
37
33
% answering large challenge
Challenges by Community SizeUnder 1,000 Ability to accept
payments by credit card (56%)
Inability to keep upgrading new technology (40%)
Funding to implement (40%)
1,000 - 4,999 5,000 or more Available staff
(50%) Funding to
implement (39%) Inability to keep
upgrading new technology (35%)
Funding to implement (42%)
Ability to accept payments by credit card (36%)
Available staff (25%)
% answering large challenge
Frequency of Replacing Computer
Every two years
Every three years
Every four years
Every five years
Don't know
Less often
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
3
10
14
25
17
31
Annual Budget for Information Technology
$0 - $499
$500 - $1,000
$1,001 - $4,999
$5,000 or more
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
20
29
26
25
Information Technology Support Provider
Local IT company
Employee hired for IT
Employee with other responsibilities
Other
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
52
3
23
23
What Will Help Drive Utilization? Adoption (52.8%)
Education Resources – time/people Return on investment Software Updates (including paying bills)
Availability (6.9%) 55% desire more
Affordability (20.8%) Unsure (11.1%)
66 individual comments with 72 total comments (some individuals identified
more than one theme).
Additional staff to help with work load and then also budget concerns to help pay for that position
High speed internet access at affordable cost Funds needed in order to retain updated technology.
Better uninterrupted internet service.Better bandwidth and better technical assistance.
We need to identify what technologies are cost effective and beneficial to our processes.
Sample of Comments -
PERCEPTIONS OF TECHNOLOGY IN COMMUNITY
Economic Development Plan Currently or Will Be Incorporating Broadband
9% of total respondents 3% population under 1,000 14% population between 1,000 and 4,999 25% population of 5,000 or more
Perceived Effectiveness of Broadband Utilization in Community
Attracting businesses
Attracting employees/residents
Improving access to health care
Encouraging citizen involvement
Increasing quality of life
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
15
15
13
13
15
8
7
5
30
7
27
27
23
54
27
25
33
33
75
33
5,000 or more Between 1,000 and 4,999Under 1,000 All members
Belief that Access to High-Speed Internet Services is Accomplishing Various Items
Staying in touch with family/friends (93%) Accessing financial services (82%) Reaching higher education levels (79%) Getting health information (72%) Community and emergency alerts (72%) Finding a better job (70%) Improving job skills/professional development (68%) Starting a home-based business (58%) Transitioning to a new industry or profession (57%)
Perceived Adequacy of Internet Services
Your organization
Households in community
Businesses in community
Attracting new residents
Future generations
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
59
47
44
24
26
49
43
41
32
34
Five years from now Currently
% answering very adequate
Familiarity with Internet Service Needs
Current businesses
Businesses trying to recruit
Teleworkers
New employees
Younger population
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 188
4
5
2
5
6
3
3
2
2
11
4
4
4
7
8
8
17
17
5,000 or more 1,000 - 4,999 Under 1,000 All
% answering very familiar
Most Economic Benefits to Business in Late Adoption Applications
Source: Strategic Networks Group – sngroup.com/research-library/
Fast/early adoption Access governmentElectronic document transferAccessing collaborative toolsResearch by staffWebsiteTeleworking
Late Adoption Selling goods and servicesRich media or service creationDeliver services and contextSocial networking
Familiarity with Internet Offerings and Services
Bandwidth speed
Price
Types of services available
Support
Interest in local ED
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 5017
19
23
18
12
14
18
19
17
8
7
15
26
15
19
50
33
42
25
17
5,000 or more 1,000 - 4,999 Under 1,000 All
% answering very familiar
Where Can I Find What is Available?
broadband.nebraska.gov
Priority Areas Adoption (27.3%)
Education Update website
Availability (34.1%) Affordability (13.6%) Not a priority (25%)
Best Practices –- Setting Priorities
Updating the website ability to pay utilitiy bills on-line more items available on the website
Better supply technology. Better education on how to use it. More education on its potential benefits.
Money, Trained service professionals , Human resource – staffing
Our IT budget is less than 1/2 percent of operating budget.
Fiber Optic Accessibility, Fiber Optic Accessibility, & Fiber Optic Accessibility
Questions on Survey Results?
Let’s Talk….Your Insights
When you think of your community government office what do you believe are the greatest opportunities to utilize high speed Internet to achieve economic growth/ sustainability?
Let’s Talk….Your Insights
What challenges/barriers do you believe need to be overcome before broadband is widely adopted?
Let’s Talk….Your Insights
Any words of advice on how to increase broadband utilization and adoption within your region?
Let’s Talk….Your Insights
What are some things you would like to see the League do in the area of technology and broadband?
Let’s Talk….Your Insights
What goals would like to see included in the broadband plan around economic development?
Let’s Talk….Your Insights
Any suggestions for the broadband planning efforts?
Contact Information Charlotte Narjes [email protected] Becky Vogt [email protected]
http://broadband.nebraska.gov
