What’s new in the world of cable? I’m a little closer to updated with help from Tim Finnerty who recently sent me some interesting articles.

First – Cable Braces for IPv6. It seems as if I’ve been hearing about IPv6 forever – certainly in 1994 – it also seem as if eventually we will need to move to IPv6 as more and more devices get online. (IPv6 is Internet Protocol version 6 – the next generation addressing scheme.) Apparently guestimates for a timeline for running out of numbers are as soon as two years from now. According to Cable Digital News, Comcast has already has its backbone outfitted for next-gen IPv6 and could begin residential tests as early as this year. With DOCSIS 3.0, they expect to be able to run IPv6 to businesses and homes by the end of next year.

Second – Cable Crafts Turbo Option. Apparently the cable industry is brainstorming an invention to allow customers to supercharge their connections for short spurts of time. Here’s the scoop from Cable Digital News:

As described (PDF) by CableLabs, that invention — dubbed the “Method for dynamic control of per-flow bandwidth preemption” [Ed. note: Catchy!] — will let a customer request that the cable operator provision (mostly likely through the cable modem and the cable modem termination system) a temporarily faster and higher-priority level of service.

It’s not here yet – but they’re working on it.

OK the good things seem to happen back home when I’m gone…

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER TO HEADLINE UPCOMING NATIONAL CIVIC SUMMIT
WHAT: Newly appointed Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra will be one of the 70 featured speakers at the National Civic Summit on July 16-17.
The summit opens at 9:00 a.m. on July 16 with a presentation by Target Corporation’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Sr. Public Affairs Officer Nate Garvis. The closing keynote entitled “Passionate Citizens: The Key to Minnesota’s Successful Recount,” will be delivered at 4:00 p.m. on July 17 by summit host, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. This will be the first public presentation by Ritchie since the conclusion of Minnesota’s U.S. Senate election.

A complete listing of presentations is available online at www.nationalcivicsummit.com.

WHEN: National Civic Summit
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily
Event is free and open to the public
WHERE: Minneapolis Hilton
Minneapolis, Minn.

BACKGROUND: Active citizenship is the bedrock of our democracy. The National Civic Summit is a venue for hundreds of civic organizations from across the country to engage each other in conversations through presentations and workshops in an effort to best serve the public interest by addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Ritchie teamed up with the Citizens League to host the National Civic Summit with major support provided by Target Corporation.

The summit immediately precedes the summer meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State hosted by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie in Minneapolis.

Thanks to Amalia Deloney for the head up on this very interesting opportuntiy…

July 6, 2009 – Call for Reviewers – Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

Help America Advance its National Objective of Broadband Access for All

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of
the U.S. Department of Commerce is soliciting volunteers to serve as panelists to evaluate grant proposals for the $4.7 billion Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), an important part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

NTIA is accepting applications for its first round of BTOP grants from July
14, 2009 until August 14, 2009, and will conduct panel reviews through at least the end of September, 2009. As a reviewer, your evaluations will be an important factor considered by NTIA in determining whether to award grant funding. To be considered as a reviewer you must have significant expertise and experience in at least one of the following areas:

1) the design, funding, construction, and operation of broadband networks
or public computer centers;
2) broadband-related outreach, training, or education;and
3) innovative programs to increase the demand for broadband services. In
addition you must agree to comply with Department of Commerce policies on conflict of interest and confidentiality.

We are committed to ensuring that reviewers come from diverse backgrounds
and areas of the United States. Please feel free to circulate this “Call for
Reviewers” to other individuals or organizations that may be sources of qualified reviewers.

To apply to be a panel reviewer for BTOP, please email a resume containing
the information below to BTOPReviewers@ntia.doc.gov:
• Name
• Residence (city and state)
• Email/phone number
• Employer
• Position/Title
• Years and types of experience and positions in fields related to BTOP
activities

NTIA will examine and approve reviewer applications on a first-come,
first-served basis. Approved reviewers will be contacted to schedule participation in a webinar orientation session and teleconference panel reviews.

Although there will be no direct reimbursement for your time and expertise,
you may be assured that you will be making a significant contribution to enhancing broadband services throughout the United States. We appreciate the valuable contribution you will be making to the success of BTOP and look forward to working with you as a reviewer.

If you have questions, please send them by email to:
BTOPReviewers@ntia.doc.gov.
For additional information, please see http://www.broadbandusa.gov

Folks in Lake County are pretty excited with the prospect of broadband in their area. According to the Lake County News Chronicle, “The overall response was excellent,” said Chris Swanson, at a Lake County Board meeting this week. “They (Lake County residents) are very supportive of the project.”

It sounds as if the average Lake County resident pays $122 per month for Internet, TV and phone services. National Public Broadband, the folks who are implementing the broadband plan, feel they can beat that price.

Just wanted to send a reminder to folks about the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Task Force meeting this month. (See the Agenda below.) It’s on July 17 in Mankato. I’ll still be in Ireland, so I won’t be there – but a kind friend has offered to record it for me so I’m hoping to get the notes regardless.

Also I wanted to remind folks that Blandin Foundation will be presenting a Broadband Policy Seminar on July 16 in Mankato. Last month’s session in Grand Rapids went very well. If you’re near Mankato and can make it to either meeting, I’d encourage you to go.

Task Force Meeting Agenda
Date Friday, July 17, 2009
Time 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Location Loose Moose Saloon and Conference Center
119 S. Front Street
Mankato, MN

8:00 – 9:00 Continental breakfast – meet and greet the Task Force – open to all

9:00 – 9:15 Opening comments; review meeting agenda
Approve meeting minutes from June 19th meeting

9:15 – 10:15 Public comment

10:15 – 11:00 How to approach aspirational speed goal
• A number stated as ”the equivalent in 2015 of XX in 2010”
• A statement about where we want to be on the rankings in the US and Globally
[Craig Taylor, Brent Christenson, Dan McElroy, Peg Werner, Shirley Walz]

11:00 – 11:15 Break

11:15 – 11:30 Symmetrical sub-group report
• Review language to cover the notion of symmetrical vs. asymmetrical speeds
[Shirley Walz, JoAnne Johnson, Mike O’Connor]

11:30 – 12:15 Role of Government – sub-group report
• Discuss and decide on language for the report
[Tom Garrison, Mike O’Connor, Vijay Sethi, Karen Smith, John Stanoch, Robyn West]

12:15 – 12:45 Break for Lunch

12:45 – 1:30 Recommendation #2 – Policies and actions necessary to achieve ubiquitous broadband – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[Mike O’Connor, Brent Christensen, JoAnne Johnson, Diane Wells, Peg Werner, Mary Ellen Wells/Joe Schindler, Carlos Seone]

1:30 – 2:15 Recommendation #3 – Opportunities for public and private sectors to cooperate to achieve goal – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[Brent Christensen, Steve Cawley, Tom Garrison, Tim Lovaasen, Vijay Sethi, Robyn West, Mary Ellen Wells/Joe Schindler, Diane Wells]

2:15 – 3:00 Recommendation #4 – Evaluation of strategies, financing, financial incentives used in other states/countries to support broadband development & Recommendation #6 – Cost estimate – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[John Gibbs, Dan McElroy, John Stanoch, Dick Sjoberg, Diane Wells]

3:00 – 3:30 Recommendation #5 – Evaluation and recommendation of security, vulnerability, and redundancy actions necessary to ensure reliability – sub-group report
• Review sub-group recommendations
[Mike O’Connor, Steve Cawley, Craig Taylor, Jack Ries/Gopal Khanna, Shirley Walz]

3:30 – 3:45 Plans for Upcoming Meetings (reference Planning Calendar)
• August 21st Fergus Falls
• Expectations for reviewing updated draft of report
• September 18th Thomson Reuters
• October 2nd,16th, 30th Thomson Reuters

3:45 Closing comments, adjourn meeting

Thanks to Tim Finnerty for passing on the latest on DOCSIS 3.0 in Minnesota.

According to their press release, “Midcontinent Communications has launched wideband Internet to the West Fargo and Sioux Falls service regions. The deployment of DOCSIS 3.0 (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) or D3 technology represents a landmark shift in Internet speeds to both residential and business consumers.”

Midcontinent’s MidcoNet™ Ultimate speeds will allow up to 50 MB downloads and 5 MB uploads and customers at all service levels (residential and business) will see a speed increase. Apparently Sabin, Minnesota already received the new service. Moorhead should receive service over the summer.

I’ve been thinking about my favorite line from The Incredibles lately – luck favors the prepared (originally from Louis Pastuer). I’ve been thinking about it in terms of the broadband stimulus funding and in terms of creating vital rural communities. I think most folks reading this will make the connection between broadband and vital – but for a quick tangible reminder, I think Steve Borsch has done a nice job talking about what you can do with broadband and why it’s important for everyone to have access.

Back to being prepared … The NTIA/RUS NOFA favors the prepared. I think most folks knew that it would. The turnaround is quick. The information they request is huge. I think the funding was/is intended to favor un- and underserved communities – but generally those people aren’t prepared. I know there’s a mandate in the NOFA to serve those populations – but in practice I think it’s set up just for that – so that outside entities can serve the community but not so much so that the community can serve itself. (Amalia Deloney sent me a critique on the NOFA that touches upon this while highlighting how the focus on rural areas may have unintended consequences.)

Now for some communities having outside service provider will work well. But for others, it doesn’t. Minnesota’s own Christopher Mitchell, just had a nice article in the Charleston Gazette that highlights the need of communities to be able to serve themselves. The stimulus funding is a perfect fit for those communities – except that I think the strenuous application process will have many selecting not to participate.

My hope is that they will pursue funding either on their own or with partners. Then my follow up hope is that even if they don’t get funding that communities (and other applicants) will use the proposal process to get prepared. It might bring some hard earned good luck!

Just passing this on. I hope to attend – but may not be able. I’ll post notes on the call if I can.

Broadband Stimulus National Town Hall Webcast Attracting National Attention After Release of NOFA

July 9 Event Will Help Educate and Inform Grant Applicants Seeking Access to $4 Billion in Funds

Washington, D.C. – The initial Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and programmatic rules for broadband stimulus funds has just been released, with up to $4 billion of funding available in the first round. Time is of the essence, with applications due on August 14, just over a month from now.

To help educate grant applicants, Nati onal League of Cities TV (www.NLCTV.org) in cooperation with VMainStream.com is featuring a free live webcast of the Broadband Stimulus Town Hall Workshop co-sponsored by
Broadband Census, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and Alcatel-Lucent. The interactive live workshop will provide a first look at what applicants need to know in putting together successful
broadband grant and loan applications.

Live Webcast & Sign Up Today!
July 9, 2009
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT

Ken Kuchno, Director of the Broadband Division of RUS and an invited NTIA speaker will discuss details of the releases, timing of applications, and how some of the key issues that had been left open these last few months have been resolved with hosts Drew Clark of BroadbandCensus.com and Marty Stern of K&L Gates.

A second panel of experts on NTIA on RUS funding programs will be available to take your questions live. Confirmed panelists include:

John Kneuer, President Kneuer LLC and former NTIA Administrator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Gary Bolton, VP Global Marketing, Adtran
Maria Browne, Partner, Davis Wright and Tremaine LLP

The program will conclude with a discussion on compliance issues, how the agencies are expected to police waste, fraud and abuse, and what applicants need to pay attention to now to avoid potential issues down the road. Invited guest is Cynthia Schultz, Director of Compliance and Audits, BTOP Program, NTIA.

In June, Clark and Stern hosted a highly successful Broadband Stimulus Live Webcast Town Hall. Join them again for this important event.

TVWorldwide.com, Inc.
4206 F Technology Court
Chantilly, VA 20151
(703) 961-9250

Here’s the news from our latest newsletter. It’s mostly a compilation of Minnesota-related stories from the blog in the last month – but sometimes it’s nice to have it compiled.

The NOFA is out!
The NTIA and RUS released the NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) for broadband stimulus funding on July 1 as promised. http://tinyurl.com/qgqt6n Applications are due August 14, 2009 and will be reviewed using a 2-stage process. Details are outlined in the NOFA. The NTIA and RUS are having workshops for applicants; a workshop has been scheduled in St Paul on July 21. http://tinyurl.com/o2jp6z  

Minnesota Broadband Maps are out!
Connect Minnesota released an updated version of the Minnesota broadband maps just in time to be useful in helping the state prepare applications to the NTIA and RUS. http://tinyurl.com/pu6ga7 Indication of serving un- and underserved areas is a factor for the applications the will be of interest to the federal funders.

Foundations and the ARRA
Bernadine Joselyn from the Blandin Foundation joined a group assembled by the National Council of Foundations for a meeting at the White House. They were asked to come prepared to respond to the question: “How can the administration best partner with rural leaders?” Learn more about what she learned and what she shared with the White House staff. http://tinyurl.com/qlycw2  

Blandin wins EDAM Award
In June, the Blandin Foundation won EDAM’s Economic Development Technology Initiative award for their work with the Blandin Broadband Initiative, which has stimulated broadband deployment and increased effective use of those networks in rural Minnesota. http://tinyurl.com/o5y3tx  

Broadband Task Force in Grand Rapids
The Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force met in Grand Rapids in June. http://tinyurl.com/n8joa6 It was a good opportunity for the local community to get involved. In fact several members of the public spoke at the meeting (videos available on the Blandin on Broadband blog http://tinyurl.com/n8joa6); most of those speakers had attended a workshop on broadband policy held by the Blandin Foundation the afternoon preceding the Task Force meeting. The Task Force also got a lot of work done as they continue to work on their recommendations for the Minnesota Legislature. Their next stops will be in Mankato on July 17, and August 20 in Fergus Falls. http://tinyurl.com/oqa75m  

Local Broadband News

Duluth
Verizon Wireless created a tracking system to help race fans receive periodic runner updates through a text message or an e-mail throughout Grandma’s Marathon. http://tinyurl.com/oogchy  

Lake County
Lake County has been moving forward with their plans for a countywide fiber network. In the latest step, they have submitted an RUS Loan application. http://tinyurl.com/o3brm7  

Minneapolis
The Institute for Local Self Reliance has unveiled a new web site that features news, reports and case studies that illustrate how communities can ensure that they get the broadband they want and need. http://tinyurl.com/qwh4js  

Monticello
The ongoing fiber saga in Monticello has been resolved. First the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the City and the Minnesota Supreme Court denied TDS’ petition for further review. The City will move forward with their fiber network plans. http://tinyurl.com/qyh2ks  

Red Wing
Red Wing promotes a policy of installing broadband conduits at the same time that roads are being torn up. http://tinyurl.com/qxdky2  

St. Cloud
A family saves $175 a month with online coupons. http://tinyurl.com/q6ngz5  

St. Paul (and State)
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is backing off their request that Minnesota Internet Service Providers block known gambling sites. http://tinyurl.com/odo7fb

Coleman’s Corner

The broadband world is hopping this summer and I am trying to keep up with all that is going on here in Minnesota and on the national and international scenes. Here is a bit from my world –

• The federal broadband NOFA is out and I am trying to figure out what it means for our Blandin application and other prospective MN projects.
• As we prepare our Blandin application for stimulus funds, we are beginning our search for a number of demonstration communities. If your community has your schools, businesses, health care providers and government on board with a push to use technology for problem solving, then we are interested in talking with you about becoming a demonstration community.
• Our broadband policy seminar, held in conjunction with the state broadband task force meeting in Grand Rapids, was a great success. An excellent audience, a sophisticated discussion on the range of broadband issues and great input to the state task force members in attendance combined together for regional consensus building. Our next seminars are July 16 in Mankato and August 21 in Fergus Falls. Make sure that your regional voice is developed and heard by the state task force. Their report to the legislature is due in November.
• Regional broadband discussions are breaking out all over the state – western, northwestern and northeastern Minnesota each have groups continuing or beginning their efforts to understand and impact broadband development and use.
• Broadband advocacy groups and federal policy makers are engaging in discussions that will have lasting impact on our broadband future and global competitiveness.
• I continue to research and to be impressed with the work being done around the world by communities recognized as Intelligent Communities (www.intelligentcommunity.org) The Eindhoven region of the Netherlands is especially impressive. Continuing their tradition as a port city (both water and air), they now market themselves as the “Brainport” and as a broadband laboratory for new technology applications. Fredericton, New Brunswick is another place to check out.

Enjoy the summer, but do not let it pass by without some efforts to improve your community’s broadband efforts!

Thanks to Ann Higgins on the heads up on the new FCC National Broadband site. I love it!

First, I love the transparency. Second, there are loads of places on the site where they are asking for feedback. For example you can submit a question for the upcoming NTIA/RUS funding workshops.

Also if you’re creative, they are looking to host a logo contest.

They also have general information on broadband. They track the federal broadband initiatives and FCC broadband news. So information is very accessible. It will be interesting to see how the site is used in the future. I’d love to see drafts or outlines of the National Broadband Policy posted here as they work.