First, to re-cap, here was our agenda for last month's Connect America Summit:
Connect America Summit
April 10, 2014 –
Pioneer Center in Duffield VA
AGENDA
10:00AM – 10:20AM
Introduction and Overview – Connect America Phase II
10:20AM – 11:20AM
Three Case Studies – Connect America Phase II
Case Study # 1 - “digital state of Cumberland” – 9 counties
in 3 states (Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties in Virginia; Claiborne, Hancock and
Hawkins Counties in Tennessee; Bell, Harlan and Letcher Counties in Kentucky)
Case Study # 2 – Cumberland Plateau Planning District – 4
counties in 1 state (Russell, Tazewell, Dickenson and Buchanan in Virginia)
Case Study # 3 – Madison County, North Carolina
11:20AM – 11:40AM
Brief overview of FCC information, FCC maps, Census maps, and other
websites offering more information about Connect America Phase II
11:40AM – 11:50AM Rural
broadband experiments – The national dialogue happening now!
11:50AM – NOON Plans
for Connect America Summit II – Thursday, May 8, 2014 10am – noon at
the Pioneer Center in Duffield
Five people representing 3 broadband Internet service providers participated in the Summit on April 10, 2014. Together, they provide 3 types of services (FTTH, HFC and wireless) and serve portions of 3 states (Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee). I didn't ask anyone to complete a "customer satisfaction survey" or "presenter evaluation form" after the workshop, but based on the comments and on-going dialogue after the Summit, the participants expressed that the Summit information and group discussion were interesting and helpful.
Some of the information provided in the handouts is copied below:
Connect America Phase
II
Where do I find information?
Where do I find maps showing census tracts? Go to
www.census.gov. Click on “geography.” Click on “maps and data.” Click on “reference maps.” Click on “census reference maps.” Click on “census tract maps – 2010.” Select state.
Select county. Click on the pdf
file.
CASE STUDY # 1 –
Examples of
Expressions of Interest filed pertaining to this geographic area
Commonwealth of
Kentucky, Frankfort KY
Network will cover over 3,100 fiber miles (Middle Mile and
targeted Community Anchor Institutions).
“As part of this build out, extra capacity will be included that will be
leased to other service providers, enabling improved service to these
underserved areas.” All of Kentucky’s 120 counties. One-time funding $126 million and $38 million
over a ten-year period. Total $164,000,000.
Center on Rural
Development, Somerset KY
Focus on fiberoptic middle mile infrastructure and anchor
institutions across southern and eastern KY, nearly 40 counties (including
Bell, Harlan and Letcher). Seeks to
identify new opportunities for competitive commercial providers.
$57 million construction (one-time capital infrastructure
investment)
$1.5 million per year for two years (maintenance and
operational costs)
Total $60 million estimate
TV Service, Inc. (TVS
Cable), Hindman KY
Letcher County census tract 9506, includes Hallie and Roxana
($139,693 annual support)
“TVS Cable provides access to high-speed broadband, voice
and video, to residents and businesses in Knott, Letcher, Perry, Floyd and
Leslie Counties. TVS Cable passes
approximately 20,000 premises in these counties with a 60% take rate.”
Planning to offer FTTH.
Proposed premises passed: 2,500.
Estimate 60% take rate to serve 1,500 customers. Total construction costs estimate $8,440,000. Estimated annual CAF $136,693.
Harlan Community
Television, Harlan KY
Currently serves 7 of Harlan County’s 11 census tracts,
approximately 2,100 Internet customers.
Proposes to provide faster speeds at the same price for customers. One-time investment of $200,000 for equipment
and assistance with monthly recurring charge for bandwidth.
CASE STUDY # 2 -
Examples of
Expressions of Interest filed pertaining to this geographic area
BVU OptiNet/CPC
Company, Bristol VA
Partnership with CPC Company (formed by Cumberland Plateau
Planning District Commission)
Eight counties, includes Russell, Tazewell (except 1
eligible census tract), Buchanan (except 1 eligible census tract) and
Dickenson. FTTP for on-route locations
(within ½ mile of the Middle Mile backbone) and wireless for off-route
locations. Total projected last mile
connections (including both wireline and wireless): 5,554. Funding request $37,743,109.
Scott County
Telephone Cooperative/Virginia Coalfield Coalition, Gate City VA
Seven Virginia counties (Lee, Scott, Wise, Russell,
Tazewell, Buchanan, Dickenson) and Harlan County, KY. Hybrid of FTTP and fixed wireless. Estimated cost for 8-county region
$60,000,000.
WVVA.net
Inc./Tazewell County and Town of Tazewell
Hybrid network of Fiber and Fixed wireless for all eligible
Tazewell County census tracts.
Estimated cost to be determined after engineering.
