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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
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 3
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
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 4
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 5
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 6
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 7
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 8
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 9
Applicable Program Milestones*
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 10
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 11
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
Applicable Program Milestones*
* 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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 12
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
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 13
Applicable Program Milestones*
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
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 14
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.
© 2010 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 15
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.