troy babbit, state of wyoming

A state-wide initiative to promote the availability and sustainable adoption of broadband internet access.

Troy Babbitt

Broadband Coordinator State of Wyoming

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• Broadband Coordinator – February 16, 2012

•Agency/Department : Enterprise Technology Services/ OCIO/ Enterprise Coordination Team

• Previous: Senior Communications Technician – St of WY – 12+ years

Worked with: • many of the State’s Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) • many different technologies • with State Agencies • with Municipalities • with University of Wyoming • with Community Colleges • in majority of the State’s High Schools • on data and H.323 video units

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Internet Service Providers: •No bias or preference toward a technology or a provider

•Consider all technologies fair game for the delivery of broadband service across Wyoming

•Different technologies from different providers include: Ethernet, DSL, ATM, Frame-Relay, Cable, Wireless • Different mediums – Fiber, Copper, Coax, Wireless, Satellite

State’s view on Broadband

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Broadband defined by:

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•FCC = Federal Communications Commission SPEED = 4Mbps down x 1Mbps up •NTIA = National Telecommunications and Information Administration SPEED = 876Kbps down x 200Kbps up


• State Broadband Initiative – LinkWyoming partner with other subcontractors to meet grant requirements.

• State of Wyoming – representative for all State projects

Roll of Broadband Coordinator

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SBI – LinkWyoming & State of Wyoming


• Primary responsibilities will be to serve as an effective champion and advocate for the advancement of broadband access and adoption for the State of Wyoming.

• Central focus is to collaborate with the Capacity Building, Mapping, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) partners and support the ongoing LinkWYOMING regional planning process.


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Broadband Advocate


• Keep abreast and coordinate efforts of capacity building partners

• Understand National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) requirements for the SBI to ensure the State is in compliance with all requirements and reporting

• Maintain documentation of in-kind match contributions of the OCIO and regional planning teams and provide monthly documentation pursuant to NTIA, applicable federal cost principles, and EdLab Group requirements


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Administration and Oversight


•One Voice: The value of a shared and collective voice across major stakeholders is becoming more and more clear. Finding common ground across key stakeholders including providers, government, business leaders, health, education, ect..

•Government Role: conflict on this issue. Some say it’s the government’s business to step in a help, others say government needs to keep out and let the private sector work.

•Lack of Awareness: Continue to educated business leaders, consumers, ect.. Of the benefits of Broadband connectivity.

•Data is Power: we continue to find people wanting/needing more data


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Relationship Management – A Few Themes


American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Stimulus funds: •An assessment of the current availability, adoption and application: use of broadband communications infrastructure throughout the state. •Development of specific strategies to fill current gaps in broadband access. Un-served and Under-served areas. •Development of a “business plan” to expand the adoption of deployed broadband and expedite the achievement of priority goals.

Roll of Broadband Coordinator with LinkWyoming project

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Started with 2009 NTIA Broadband Grant


Roll of Broadband Coordinator with LinkWyoming project

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State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program

Wyoming: Awarded to EdLabs Group and their partners across the LinkAMERICA Alliance as grant recipient on behalf of the State.

National Broadband Plan •March 16, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission released “Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan.” •More information at: www.broadband.gov


SBI Program update…

LinkWYOMING moves into second half of NTIA’s State Broadband Initiative grant:

• Years 1 – 2 (initial grant period 2009) closed Oct 2011…all expectations / commitments met

• Provider data collection/mapping accomplished (including initial CAI – Community

Anchor Institutions - data)

• Public web site developed/maintained (www.linkwyoming.org)

• Regional broadband investment plans developed

• Key planning/support tools in place (www.wyomingdashboard.org)

• Years 3 – 5 (supplemental grant period) began Nov 2011

• Purposeful transition to Wyoming leadership (Broadband Coordinator in ETS)

• Focus on state needs within federal grant boundaries

• Continued data collection/mapping and capacity building

• State framework development

• In-state Monitoring & Evaluation partner WYSAC – Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center

• Other Project Partners: Wyoming Business Council 11

Grant amounts: • Years 1 – 2…$1.80M • Years 3 – 5…$2.36M • Total …$4.16M WY continues to provide “match”…but no $$ per se

Presenter

Presentation Notes

http://www.linkwyoming.org/

http://www.wyomingdashboard.org/


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Planning process…

Regional Planning Teams: • Tangible benefit focused on priority issues • Regional priorities developed thru grass roots • Focused on both SUPPLY (access) and DEMAND (adoption) • Local ownership on execution of plans • Regional plans to be:

Doable: realistic given available resources. Effective: responsive to regional needs. Fundable: tied to state and national priorities. Measurable: benchmarks & accountabilities

Seven regions defined: • Aligned with existing planning regions (e.g., WBC) and to take advantage of Community College locations

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• Re-engage with RPT’s •Mini Grants will be available for funding through the WBC


Mapping…

Broadband mapping was an important first step:

1) Developed detailed service maps that organized a comprehensive inventory of service (by

connection speed) across the entire state with a spotlight on where there are un-served or

under-served areas.

2) Core information helps to focus policymakers, community leaders, service providers and

others on the central issue at hand: where is the existing digital divide and how can we

best close the gap?

3) Engage all providers across the state in a joint effort to identify and solve an issues

4) Free marketing tool for ISP’s as well as for public to utilize

LinkWyoming and the State take great care to protect the valuable business information

submitted by each service provider

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Presenter

Presentation Notes


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www.linkwyoming.org http://wy.linkamericadata.org/



Future milestones…

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• State Framework…the emerging framework with the Broadband Advisory Committee’s counsel on key issues, e.g., policy issues, opportunities, resources and implementation

• Regional Investments…the regional investment efforts underway across the state with the Committee’s counsel on what can be done at the state level in support of this work

• Cost Model…Tool to help analyze and estimate cost of adding fiber or wireless facilities


Future Issues…

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•State Transition GIS…the NDA’s (non-disclosure agreements). LinkWyoming years 4-5. No changes to the process now, but the State will begin signing their own NDA’s with providers for the future

•State Transition Web site…the state will assume the current LinkWyoming.org web site. Domain extension might change to include a .gov


• Educate and relay the benefits of broadband (e.g., improved economic development; greater access to education, healthcare and workforce development; enhanced public safety; improved government efficiencies; enhanced agriculture applications; enhanced tourism; better access to telecommuting opportunities; etc.) to government leaders and key stakeholder groups

• Assist with connectivity build out


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Broadband Champion

Roll of Broadband Coordinator with State of Wyoming


Issues…

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• WYDOT – Right of Way Agreements…the department of transportation is working to define ROW contracts/negotiations with fiber construction operations down Interstate corridors

•State Lands…assist with contract/negotiations with tower location and construction

•Public/Private partnerships…new out of the box thinking


Issues in Sectors…

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• Education…have released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the creation of a statewide Unified Network. Plan to leverage the next generation of the Wyoming Equality Network (WEN) with State needs to provide agencies and schools with higher bandwidth

• Public Safety...preparing for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network. Federal communications network design D-Block 700MHZ spectrum. FirstNet will be the organization to design and maintain this network. Will be selected Aug 20th.

• Health…currently growing with the TeleHealth video network and issues involving medical records


Issues in Sectors…

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• Private…Expand small and mid-sized business utilization of broadband to strengthen state economic competitiveness

• Enhance public and private sector communication and resource sharing on broadband related projects


Challenges…

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•Funding…currently for planning purposes only •Mountain region…10th in size and least populated (competition for subscription)

• CNBC study ranking for America’s Top States for Business…Wyoming ranked 10th overall…categories included: cost of doing business, workforce, quality of life, infrastructure & transportation, economy, education, business friendliness, access to capital and cost of living. Wyoming ranked near the bottom in technology and innovation at No. 48. Improvement over previous year, in which we ranked at the very bottom.

•Regulation – (PSC) Public Service Commission (USF) – Universal Service Funds vs future Broadband (CAF) Connect America Funds


What is needed from Communities

• Engagement…

• Input…with fresh independent ideas

• State-wide perspective…to help Wyoming in global market

• Outreach / Awareness / Education…program needs

• Contacts…state-wide contact with anyone willing to assist

• Success Stories – Grass roots strategies that have worked

• If it worked in one community, might be blueprint for others

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Needs…

Presenter

Presentation Notes


Future milestones…

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•Broadband Summit…Set for October 23, 2012 9am-4pm Little America, Cheyenne. Agenda, speakers and vendors participation for a state-wide broadband summit


Questions ?

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Troy Babbitt

Broadband Coordinator State of Wyoming

[email protected] www.linkwyoming.org

http://wy.linkamericadata.org/

mailto:[email protected]
