Broadband Capacity and Planning Issues

Charles R. McClure, PhD, DirectorFlorida State University, Information Institute, andFrancis Eppes Professor of Information Studies

LITA Panel Presentation at ALA Annual Conference June 26, 2010

Broadband Capacity Planning and Assessment

Recent Information Institute activities:•Funded projects

– Broadband needs assessment, benchmarking, and diagnostics in anchor institutions in North Florida (for a Wave I BTOP-funded project), 2010 -

– Statewide (Florida) evaluation of public library broadband needs, capacity, services (http://ii.fsu.edu/Research/Projects/All/Projects-from-2009-to-1999/2009-Project-Details)

– Data from the Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study (http://www.ala.org/ala/research/initiatives/plftas/2009_2010/index.cfm) 2010 (annual)

•Publications– Hinnant, C. C., McClure, C. R., Mandel, L. H., & Alemanne, N. D. (2010). Broadband

deployment as technological innovation: Assessing needs of anchor institutions. Proceedings of the iSchools iConference 2010, 102-108. Available at: http://nora.lis.uiuc.edu/images/iConferences/2010papers_Allen-Ortiz.pdf

– Mandel, L. H., Bishop, B. W., McClure, C. R., Bertot, J. C., & Jaeger, P. T. (2010). Broadband for public libraries: Importance, issues, and research needs. Government Information Quarterly, 27(3), 280-291. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2010.02.004

Why You Need to Plan for Broadband Capacity

• How many public access workstations are “enough”? And how many can you support?

• What high-speed broadband connection speeds are “enough” to meet demand?

• What new broadband services like interactive high resolution video will you provide in the future?

• Will you need to renovate your building to accommodate better broadband capacity?

• How does your local political context affect broadband use and deployment?

• What other situational factors will affect your broadband use and deployment?

Assessing Broadband Bandwidth and Services

1. Inventory and Describe Existing Information Technology Infrastructure and Network Configuration

2. Determine Use, Adequacy, and Quality of Existing Broadband, IT, and Network

3. Obtain External Broadband Assessment Assistance?

4. Assess Broadband, IT, and Network Adequacy

4a. Adequate

4b. Inadequate

4c. Excess Capacity

5. Future Community Broadband Services Needs and Demands

6. Select Library Internet Broadband Service Roles Appropriate to Meet Those Needs

7. Library Objectives/strategies for Broadband, Information Technology, and Network Deployment

8. Broadband, Information Technology, and Network Deployment

9. Assessment of Broadband Services Provision and IT/ Network Deployment

Adopted from: Charles R. McClure and Paul T. Jaeger (2009). Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles: Measuring and Maximizing Internet Services. Chicago: American Library Association.

Lessons Learned• Public libraries need to conduct broadband

assessment at individual outlet level– Factors to consider:

• Current and future user needs/demands for broadband services

• Current and future library broadband capacity • Speed tests at front door and workstation

[www.speakeasy.net]• Internal library network deployment/configuration

models and strategies • Options for ISP contracts, costs, services

agreements• Broadband “load” varies throughout the day, and• IT staff knowledge and skills

Network Configuration Examples

County or City

Library

××

××

×

× ×

Branch 1

Branch 2

Branch 3

Branch 6,7,8,…

Branch 5

Branch 4

Workstations Admin Wireless Other

Library

Internet Service Provider

Branch 4Branch 3

Branch 1

Branch 2

Branch 5

Branch 6,7,8,…

Workstations Admin Wireless Other

Internet Service Provider

Library

Regional Library

Branch 4

Workstations Admin Wireless Other

Branch 3

Branch 5

Branch 1

Branch 2

Branch 7,8,…

Branch 6×

1. 3. 2.

City Network

Library Network

Library Network

Estimating Broadband Speed at the Workstation

Branch 3

Branch 4

Branch 1

Branch 2

Branch 5

Basic Configuration

Library

Complex ConfigurationT3 (4.5 Mps)

10 Mps

Nature of applications/use at each workstation from email to interactive high resolution video conferencing

Library

8 regional libraries and

total of 34 branch or other

outletsLibrary Network

Each Outlet

Workstations Wireless Routers

Admin Other

Nature of applications/use at each workstation from email to interactive high resolution video conferencing

12 Workstations

Other2 Wireless Routers

Admin

After the Needs Assessment• Ok – you’ve done the needs assessment,

talked to IT Staff, Now what?– Talk to your ISP and other vendors– Make sure you’re not losing bandwidth between

the front door and workstations– Propose future broadband service costs demands,

and needs – Design new network configuration and

deployment– Continue monitoring broadband connections, use,

demand, speeds, network, and services

Broadband on the National Stage• Federal Communications Commission

(FCC) and the National Broadband Plan (http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf) – Includes recommendations ABOUT libraries– FCC recommendation to IMLS (Rec 9.3):

• Develop national public access technology guidelines based on population served, organization size, or other criteria

• Ask Congress for additional broadband funding

Parting Shots• High speed broadband connectivity and

deployment will only become MORE complex in the future

• Expect continued demands for broadband to outpace library capacity and response

• New models for broadband access, use, resource sharing, and deployment are needed (WiMax, cloud computing, etc.)

• Librarian broadband skill sets and knowledge must increase

Additional ResourcesBertot, J. C., McClure, C. R., Wright, C. B., Jensen, E., &

Thomas, S. (2008). Public libraries and the Internet 2009: Study results and findings. Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University, College of Communication & Information, Information Use Management & Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://www.ii.fsu.edu/plinternet_reports.cfm

McClure, C. R., &Jaeger, P. T. (2009) Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles. Chicago: American Library Association.

McClure, C. R., Ryan, J., Mandel, L. H., Snead, J. T., & Bishop, B. W. (2009). Needs assessment of Florida public library E-government and emergency/disaster management broadband services. Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University, College of Communication & Information, Information Use Management & Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://ii.fsu.edu/content/download/18354/118602

Additional Resources (Cont’d)An action plan for America: Using technology and

innovation for address our nation’s critical challenges. The Benton Foundation, 2008. http://www.benton.org/initiatives/broadband_benefits/action_plan

A plan to extend super-fast broadband connections to all Americans. John Windhausen, 2009. http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=PB&pubid=678

Connecting America: The national broadband plan. Federal Communications Commission, 2010. Retrieved from http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf

American Library Association Washington Office. http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/telecom/index.cfm

National Telecommunications and Information Administration. http://www.broadbandusa.gov/

Questions or Comments?

Charles R. McClure, PhDFrancis Eppes Professor and Director,

Information Institutecmcclure@lis.fsu.edu