building community capacity through broadband

Northern Regional Broadband Networks Forum, Oct. 4, 2011

Professor Andy Lewis, Community Economic Development Coordinator (BCCB), UW-Extension

Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program

Our Grants:

Comprehensive Community Infrastructure (CCI)

Sustainable Broadband Adoption

(SBA)

Building Community Capacity through Broadband (BCCB)

CCI [infrastucture] = $42.7 million • $29.9 federal support • $9.2 cash match • $3.6 in-kind contribution

SBA [education] = $3.2 million • $2.4 federal support • $875,000 match

Chippewa Valley

CINC

What are we doing?

• Connect up to 182 key public anchor• >600 miles of fiber• Expand the CINC network• Create Community Area networks in Superior,

Platteville, and Wausau

Progress to Date – Completion, Summer of 2013

http://broadband.uwex.edu/blog/2011/08/bccb_progress/

Key Partners

• U.W. Extension – Outreach Education in 72 Counties

• WiscNet – The State’s Education and Research Network

• CCI Systems/Packerland Broadband – A Communication Network Services Business

Why U.W. Extension?

“Clark County Agent Wallace Landry reading newsclips announcing the formation of one of Wisconsin’s first rural electrical cooperatives in 1935. Extension farm agents took the lead in organizing the cooperatives that brought electrical power to the countryside”

How Does This Help Business?

Road Construction Delays? Government Spending?

What Do We Need to See?

Workers Working

Products Sourced and Built Locally

How Does This Help Business?• All construction done by the private sector – equipment and supplies are sourced

locally for the most part.• The people who own businesses and their employees are reliant on the

institutions served by the networks (schools, libraries, hospitals, government)• Many of the anchor institutions like hospitals are major employers within the

community• Businesses need to be located in communities that are appealing to the workforce

and the availability of broadband at these institutions is essential• CCI Systems is providing broadband services to businesses in 9 very small towns• All middle mile fiber is made available to other last mile providers that want to

expand their service or level of services.• Increase the efficiency of financially strapped public institutions that businesses

and residents have to fund• More than $1 billion dollars of business a year is conduced over the State’s

education and Research Network• These public institutions often provide Internet access to those within the

community that can’t afford it.• We are conducting educational programs geared towards promoting the value of

broadband• Private Sector Partnerships within CAN’s?

Decline in Government Employment

Source: BEA REIS 2006 Table CA25 and CA25N

The Economic Impact of Wisconsin Hospitals

In 2006, Wisconsin hospitals employed 112,780 people and accounted for $22 billion in economic activity.

Hospitals are among the top 10 employers in 44 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin and among the top five employers in 20 counties

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/economies/hospitals.cfm

National View – Community Area Networks

Andy Lewishttp://Broadband.uwex.edu

andy.lewis@uwex.edu608-890-4254