Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Connect America Summit I Summary

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?
Go to http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/connecting-america  for an overview and related links about Connect America.
Go to http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/rural-broadband-experiments for more information about competitive funding available through Connect America Phase 2.
Where is the list of Connect America Phase 2 “eligible census tracts” http://transition.fcc.gov/bureaus/wcb/ExperimentEligibleLocationsPN020514.csv
Where is the replay video for the March 19th workshop? http://www.fcc.gov/events/rural-broadband-workshop
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.








No comments:

Post a Comment