2nd Quarter 2010 Progress Report

Program Stakeholder Report

April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010

www.connectohio.org

© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 2

Foreword

July 15, 2010

Dear Connect Ohio Stakeholders,

The second quarter of 2010 was a productive time for Connect Ohio. With applications for two

grant opportunities, provider data collection completion, adoption project planning and our

ongoing community project planning, we have stayed busy.

The eCommunity Leadership Teams have shifted their focus to an exciting “grassroots” adoption

project that is planned to be launched across Ohio. With the application for funding approval

pending, we have decided to begin this project at a local level in order to generate local results,

identify issues and develop best practices. The State Operations Managers have engaged

community leaders in their four regions in order to launch the project, as a pilot, locally.

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Ohio's online broadband inventory map

was updated with data from participating broadband providers. The new map was delivered to the

NTIA in late April. Maps now include service coverage by technology type and layers that show

newer connectivity data as well as updated Connect Ohio research detailing demographic

information, average advertised speeds and adoption levels.

Connect Ohio is continuing its extensive provider outreach in an effort to identify every viable

company that offers high-speed Internet service and to encourage participation in the voluntary

mapping process. We are also strengthening relationships with providers as we provide aggregated

market information and provide local opportunities from businesses and consumers to them, to

encourage smart incremental investments.

Ohio organizations continue to benefit from broadband stimulus funding. $30 million will be received

by The Middle Mile Consortium, which will be used to expand broadband availability to 28 western

counties. The expansion is expected to bring 300 jobs to the state as well. Other projects are actively

being considered by the NTIA and RUS.

In June, Connect Ohio released its Residential Technology Assessment survey. The data revealed

technology use and broadband adoption in the state are consistently rising, as 66 percent of

Ohioans now subscribe to broadband service, compared to 60 percent nationally. In addition, 82

percent of state residents now have a computer in their homes.

Our mission is to continue to push for increased availability across the state and to demonstrate

broadband's value to those who haven't subscribed. We're pleased with the progress being made

across the state, but know there's more work to be done through our continued partnerships to lead

Ohio to a connected future.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tom Fritz

Executive Director, Connect Ohio


Purpose and Overview

This quarterly report outlines progress made in the second quarter of 2010 toward making

affordable high-speed Internet a reality in every Ohio home as well as the encouragement of

economic development initiatives in all counties.

In the past 90 days, the work of Connect Ohio has continued to develop relationships with

existing partners, as well as to seek out new opportunities to work with groups that share a

similar vision for Ohio’s broadband future.

This report includes:

• Operations and Management

Movement from assessment to implementation of county-level projects as well as our

state and federal grant applications

• Partnership Development

Work with providers through data collection along with a discussion of our June Technology Association meeting

• Marketing and Communication

Outreach through our website along with traditional and social media

• Technology Distribution

Computer distributions through the last quarter

• Localized Planning

Adoption project, RFPs and BroadbandStat inquiries

• Mapping

New information provided in our maps

• Research

Residential Technology Assessment released

• Outreach and Community Programs

RFPs, local pilot computer classes, transition to regional teams


Operations and Management

Connect Ohio was able to advance broadband availability and adoption initiatives with

members of its eCommunity Strategies project teams throughout the second quarter of 2010.

Connect Ohio is continuing its communication with partner organizations, including technology

providers, state officials and other stakeholders. Such efforts include weekly contact with the

Governor's office and the Ohio Office of Information Technology as well as regular

communication with the Ohio Telecom Association, the Ohio Cable Telecommunications

Association and a wide range of stakeholders through telephone, e-mail and in-person

conversations.

Locally, Connect Ohio's eCommunity meetings have resulted in many positive ideas to

improve broadband availability and adoption in each community. Our State Operations

Managers are currently taking these ideas from assessment to implementation and are working

with smaller, specialized teams to accomplish these tasks. Regional teams are also being

constructed to make more efficient use of participants’ time and to consolidate initiatives that

span multiple counties.

Development and Submission of Statewide grant applications

Connect Ohio finished the NTIA's due diligence process for its Ohio Public Adoption through

Libraries II/Every Community Online project. The project is the result of collaboration with

several state and community organizations which, if awarded, would benefit millions of state

residents who don't subscribe to high-speed Internet service.

Ohio Public Adoption through Libraries II/Every Community Online would provide the necessary

equipment, training, technical support, and public awareness components for a two-year

program designed to utilize Ohio’s public libraries and community colleges to educate new

computer users and help them become long-term subscribers to high-speed Internet service,

If funded, computers will be distributed to dozens of public library locations across the state

along with the necessary curriculum. The project would create over 100 jobs and provide

funding for local instructors in more than 80 counties.

Connect Ohio will also produce marketing and advertising for the project in order to educate

state residents about the benefits of home-based broadband service.

In June, Connect Ohio also applied for federal SBDD grant funding to continue work in data

collection, state broadband capacity building, last-mile technical assistance and local

regional technology planning teams. This opportunity would fund continuing work into 2014.


Partnership Development

Partnerships with our broadband providers and local communities were strengthened

significantly during the second quarter of 2010.

Various Connect Ohio representatives worked with broadband providers in the state to

provide up-to-date broadband service data, which resulted in our enhanced maps with

additional features including technology type as well as layers that better show connectivity

data. This has proven to be helpful for nonsubscribing consumers who can now find the service

providers available at their home address, as well as beneficial for providers who gain new

subscribers in the process. Broadband inquiries from consumers help Connect Ohio recognize

new areas of demand which can result in new and improved investments.

These updates are planned to continue biannually.

Connect Ohio also held its ninth meeting of its Technology Association on June 25, with about

70 stakeholders in attendance. At the meeting, Connect Ohio's 2010 Residential Technology

Assessment report was released, which tracked increases in technology use through the state.

The report also quantified barriers to computer ownership, perceptions of broadband

availability in Ohio, barriers to broadband adoption and technology use patterns among

various demographic groups. The meeting featured a review of Connect Ohio activities in the

second quarter of 2010, as well as a roundtable discussion with partners concerning the Ohio

Public Adoption through Libraries II/Every Community Online project. The discussion focused on

the role of each partner in the project from marketing to curriculum delivery and an overview

of project goals.

Marianne Townsend, Section Chief in the Telecommunications Division of the Utilities

Department at the Ohio Public Utilities Commission, spoke about the new Telecom Bill and its

effect on broadband providers. She said the bill provides balance between regulation and

competition in the industry.


Marketing and Communication

Connect Ohio's commitment to increasing public and industry awareness of its efforts

continues as it engages new stakeholders to support and participate in bringing broadband

and new technology to every Ohioan.

Chris Pugh was hired as the organization's new Public Relations Specialist. Pugh comes to

Connect Ohio with 13 years of experience in public relations, marketing and journalism.

Connect Ohio had more than 2.6 million positive media impressions in print and electronic

publications during the second quarter of 2010, including placements in the Columbus

Dispatch, the Toledo Blade, the News-Herald, Farm Bureau News as well as various broadband

Internet blog sites.

The organization enjoyed substantial coverage of its efforts related to bringing broadband to

unserved and underserved rural areas, its work with the Farm Bureau and the release of its

Residential Technology Survey results.

Connect Ohio's website had 4,563 unique visitors during the quarter, with 25,183 page views.

The BroadbandStat map recorded 1,487 page views, with 1,250 unique visitors.

The organization also relaunched its Facebook and Twitter pages in an additional effort for

awareness, sharing updates and broadband success stories as well as giving the public

another resource to ask questions and submit broadband inquiries. To date, nearly 300 people

have subscribed to Connect Ohio's Facebook feed, while its Twitter page has almost 150

followers.

RSS subscriptions are also offered for broadband news, stimulus reports and Connect Ohio's

mentions in the media. Nearly 250 people subscribe to these feeds.


A sampling of Connect Ohio’s technology distribution efforts during 2Q10 follows:

Distribution: Computer distribution in Garrettsville, Ohio (Portage County)

Date: June 25, 2010

COH Representative: Jeff Beebe, State Operations Manager, Northeast Ohio

Participants: Library staffers

Overview: Six computers will be distributed to be used in meeting rooms and other communal

areas. These will be used in an Every Citizen Online pilot program using the Learning Express library curriculum.

Distribution: Computer distributions in Williams, Fulton and Seneca Counties

Date: June 25, 2010

COH Representative: Heather Delany, State Operations Manager, Northwest Ohio

Participants: Library staffers

Overview: Six computers will be shared among partners with equipment needs within the region

in a mobile lab as part of the Every Citizen Online pilot program. Following the training, the

computers will be given away as an incentive for patrons to attend additional training in newly-

equipped facilities.

Distribution: Computer distribution in Tuscarawas County

Date: June 25, 2010

COH Representative: Bart Winegar, State Operations Manager, Southeast Ohio

Participants: Local officials

Overview: Six laptops will be used as part of a mobile adoption training kit that will be shared

between the Tuscarawas County Senior Citizens Center, Tuscarawas County libraries and the

Educational Service Center of East Central Ohio.

Event: Connect Ohio Quarterly Technology Association Meeting

Date: June 25, 2010

COH Representative: All Connect Ohio staff

Participants: About 70 stakeholders from across the state.

Overview: The meeting focused on the release of Connect Ohio's Resident Technology

Assessment, the recently-passed Telecom Bill as well as a round-table discussion of the Ohio

Public Adoption through Libraries II/Every Community Online project.

Applicable Program Milestones*

Milestone

Baseline

Finish

Actual

Finish

Status

Comments

Conduct Quarterly Steering

Committee Meetings

June 25, 2010

June 25, 2010 �

• Completed.

• Approximately 70

stakeholders in

attendance. * reported as of June 30, 2010.


Localized Planning

Connect Ohio is moving to the implementation phase for many local eCs teams through the

second quarter of 2010. Community plans are being converted to active projects.

Preliminary work is under way by each of the four State Operations Managers for Ohio on pilot

programs for Every Citizen Online computer classes. In some regions training is slated to begin

as early as September. Training will be held in various facilities including libraries and

community colleges. The successes and best practices learned through this pilot project will be

used to fine-tune statewide programming and execution in the event of OPAL II’s funding.

Southeast Region State Operations Manager Bart Winegar is working with six RFPs (Requests for

Proposal) in counties throughout his area. These documents create a format for public-private

collaboration to expand broadband availability through rural Appalachia. RFPs are helping

connect local communities with Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) to help drive specific

expansion plans for large unserved areas. Through the project plan, supporting documents

and face-to-face meetings, Connect Ohio is able to help bring broadband to large portions of

previously underserved counties with very minimal investments from local governments. Other

providers are encouraged to participate in the RFP and details are made available to help

them determine the best investment strategies for their companies.

Strategic Technology Plans developed during the initial eCommunity Strategy process are

available for download or review at:

http://www.connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/county_profiles/

Connect Ohio collects broadband inquiries, which are accessible on the organization’s

website, as a way to aggregate specific availability information from consumers about their

communities. Identifying this demand at a local level presents more opportunity for

broadband service providers to expand their current areas of service. This allows for more

availability and adoption throughout the state starting at a local level.

In order to continue efficient planning, Connect Ohio is shifting toward regional meetings for its

State Operations Managers and eCommunity Strategies teams.

Connect Ohio is continuing to assess and implement local strategies to ensure ongoing

development of projects which are supported and maintained by local communities.



Milestone

Baseline

Finish Actual Finish

Status

Comment

Local engagement in 88 counties on specific projects

Ongoing

• 88 counties engaged

in project management

initiatives.

Local teams meetings held Ongoing • 243 meetings held

* reported as of June 30 2010.


Mapping

Connect Ohio's new mapping data gives state residents a robust guide to available

broadband services. The maps are based on information derived through the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Data Improvement

Act and the State Broadband Data Development Program. New data includes

technology type, advertised speeds and layers that better show adoption data for

communities throughout the state. The information is designed to be useful to consumers

seeking new or improved broadband service. This data supplements February’s release

of BroadbandStat. Connected Nation, Connect Ohio’s parent organization, partnered

with ESRI to create the application.

The initial phase of data collection for the State Broadband Data and Development

Program was completed and submitted to the National Telecommunications and

Information Administration (NTIA) on May 31, 2010.

Information on cable, DSL, fiber, fixed wireless, and mobile wireless was provided by

companies that offer broadband service, and has been compiled into a state map,

allowing consumers to easily identify broadband providers that offer service at their

home address.

Ohio’s latest mapping research can be found at

http://www.connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/interactive_map.php

Connect Ohio is embarking on its BroadbandStat verification process which calls for Ohio

residents to validate the information found on the maps by phone or through the

website. If a resident doesn't have service, they are requested to fill out a form, or

provide information over the telephone which will be passed along to providers with the

goal of increasing private investment into unserved and underserved areas. These forms

allow citizens, consumers, and others to provide detailed feedback, which helps to

ensure the accuracy of our maps. In addition to having a direct line to supply

information about availability, consumers can use the site to ask questions, provide

feedback, and identify providers for their specific address. More than 2,300 inquiries

have been received to date, statewide.

Quarterly area service demands are also compiled, identifying available equipment

funding sources as well as conducting propagation studies. The maps are updated semi-

annually and include data provided by 101 broadband service providers across the

state.


Statewide and County Specific Broadband Availability:

This map depicts a geographic representation of provider-based broadband data

represented by cable, DSL, wireless, fiber, etc. This map also incorporates data such as

political boundaries and major transportation networks in the state. Included in this map

will also be the vertical assets that can be utilized for broadband network facilitation or

transmission.

Map Title: Broadband Service Inventory for the State of Ohio

URL: ftp://ftp.connectohio.org/COPublic/ConnectOhio_Mapping/StatewideMaps/OH_Statewide_Broadband.pdf

Map Title: Broadband Service Inventory for Ohio counties

URL: ftp://ftp.connectohio.org/COPublic/ConnectOhio_Mapping/CountyMaps/County_Broadband/

Statewide Unserved Households by Census Block (also available with density information):

This presentation of data uses the smallest geographic region that the U.S. Census

acknowledges, the Census Block, and the broadband data to create a representation

of how many households in any given Census Block do not have service available.

Density maps normalize the date by calculating the density of households per square

mile for each census block.

Map Title: Number of Households Unserved by a Broadband Provider by Census Block

URL: ftp://ftp.connectohio.org/COPublic/ConnectOhio_Mapping/StatewideMaps/OH_Statewide_Household.pdf

Map Title: Density of Households Unserved by a Broadband Provider by Census Block

URL: ftp://ftp.connectohio.org/COPublic/ConnectOhio_Mapping/StatewideMaps/OH_Statewide_Density.jpg

Interactive Maps

Connect Ohio provides BroadbandStat, an online tool, built and hosted by Connected

Nation, intended to allow users to create completely customized views and maps of

broadband infrastructure across the state. The self-service nature of this portal

empowers Ohio’s citizens to take an active role in seeking service, upgrading service, or

simply becoming increasingly aware of what broadband capabilities and possibilities

exist in their area, city, county, or state. Map: Interactive site screen shot of density of unserved households and Broadband available.

URL: http://12.180.242.34/OHBroadband/default.aspx


* reported as of June 30 2010.

Milestone

Baseline

Finish

Actual

Finish

Status

Comments

After release of first

statewide map, updated regularly.

Next update due July 2010

under current state contract

3Q09

Sept 30, 08 and

ongoing

• Updates posted April 30, 2010 and

ongoing

• Broadband Inquiry forms available online provide real-time data query.

• 90 providers reflected.


Research

Research continues to be a strong emphasis for Connect Ohio through the second

quarter of 2010.

Connect Ohio released its Residential Technology Assessment survey results, which

spotlighted use of technology and barriers to adoption throughout the state. Data was

collected through a random sample of 1,200 households between February and March

by the Thoroughbred Research Group in Louisville, Ky.

The research was designed to measure technology adoption and awareness of

available broadband service.

Complete survey results are available here:

http://www.connectohio.org/_documents/Binder1.pdf

In addition, Northwest Region State Operations Manager Heather Delany is continuing

work on a Technology Needs Survey for businesses.

This document is designed to measure broadband service use and the needs of Ohio

organizations. eCS county team meetings are being used to reach out to team leaders

and other professionals in the area in order for attendees to inform local economic

development, chamber of commerce, port authority and community improvement

centers of the survey and its benefits. These institutions will then pass along the

information to their membership, with the goal of implementing highly effective business

connectivity where it is needed.

The survey can be accessed on Connect Ohio's website at

http://www.connectohio.org/ecommunity_strategies/Technology_Needs_Survey.php



Milestone

Baseline

Finish

Actual

Finish

Status

Comments

Statewide consumer

survey to identify cultural

barriers to adoption.

June 20, 2010

� • Complete

Statewide business survey

to identify needs of Ohio’s

business community with regard to technology

planning and adoption.

July 31, 2010

• Summer of 2010

Individual county technology assessments

produced

June 30, 2011 • Scheduled for Spring 2011

* reported as of June 30, 2010


Outreach and Community Programs

Through RFPs, Connect Ohio State Operations Managers are actively working with

communities and community leaders on broadband availability proposals which add to

our goal of increased broadband availability and adoption throughout the state.

Assistance has ranged from consulting, identification of vertical assets to support in

writing the proposal itself.

State Operations Managers have also been active in the implementation of Connect

Ohio's Every Community Online pilot program, which is slated to start in September. Work

is being done to secure the equipment, computers, facilities, trainers, curriculum and

collateral materials necessary to launch the project and plan for the statewide execution

of the project.

The managers have also been transitioning meetings to a regional setting to enable

more efficient work with smaller county teams on individual projects. These meetings will

enable more collaboration between counties working on specific projects and will

capitalize on best practices identified as the individual projects progress.

From operations to publicity, Connect Ohio is committed to spreading the word about

Broadband inquiries, from homeowners questioning their level of service to others who

don't have access to broadband service. Increased participation from providers as well

as consumers leads to more efficient maps that offer better services for all.

Connect Ohio’s application for federal funding

Connect Ohio finished work in the second quarter of 2010 on two grant applications

which, if funded, will help expose millions of Ohioans to the benefits of broadband

service.

Ohio Public Access and Adoption through Libraries (OPAL II) has moved through the

NTIA’s due diligence process and is awaiting a final decision from the grant office. Due

date for a decision is Sept. 30, 2010. The two-year program is designed to utilize Ohio’s

public libraries and community colleges educate new computer users and help them

become long-term subscribers of high-speed Internet service. The $10 million project

would produce 136 jobs, train 209,000 consumers and produce 75,204 incremental new

subscribers. Public computing capacity would be enhanced by the placement of more

than 2,000 new public computers to be used in the training program.

In June, Connect Ohio also applied for federal SBDD grant funding to continue work in

data collection, state broadband capacity building, last-mile technical assistance and

local regional technology planning teams. This opportunity would fund continuing work

into 2014.


Reporting and Accountability

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Since Connect Ohio is the primary contractor for the Ohio Office of Information

Technology’s NTIA Broadband mapping project, which is funded by federal ARRA dollars,

additional reporting and accountability methods have been adopted during the second

quarter of 2010.

This award requires the recipient to complete projects or activities which are funded

under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act") and to

report on use of Recovery Act funds provided through this award. Information from these

reports will be made available to the public. The reports are due no later than ten

calendar days after each calendar quarter in which the recipient receives the assistance

award funded in whole or in part by the Recovery Act.

Additional reporting and accountability efforts

The Connect Ohio initiative depends on frequent communication as it works to enable

broadband deployment and usage through partnership building. Reporting and

accountability are key components to ensure that all stakeholders are engaged and

aware of opportunities, successes and potential hurdles encountered along the way.

This Connect Ohio second Quarter Progress Report has been produced to communicate

details of our work to the Advisory Committee, Stakeholders, and internal partners.

Updates to the Connect Ohio website now communicate the latest maps, research, staff

and contact information, and calendar of meetings. Weekly telephone conferences

have been established between the Ohio Broadband Council and the Governor’s Policy

Office, and local communities have received information tailored to their unique

characteristics in every Ohio county. A promotional information packet is available to

partners and media.

Presentations and public forums have enabled the program to extend its reach and form

new groups of supporters. These public meetings serve as another venue for progress

reports and as enlistment events to build a wider base of support and to distribute

information to media, stakeholder groups, and citizens about Connect Ohio’s activities.

In all, more than 4,200 Ohio stakeholders have directly contributed to the effort in local

and statewide efforts to build momentum in the program. All are kept abreast of our

developments through community activity reports, email and website communication,

print, telephone and personal contact. By continuing to offer top-quality

communication and the opportunity for involvement in the program, Connect Ohio looks

forward to completing the task of enabling complete statewide Broadband availability

and dramatically increased use of technology.

2nd Quarter 2010 Progress Report

Documents

Transcript of 2nd Quarter 2010 Progress Report