3rd quarter 2011 progress report

Program Stakeholder Report

July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011

www.connectohio.org


Foreword

October 15, 2011 Dear Connect Ohio Stakeholders, The end of the third quarter of 2011 has been filled with achievements for the State of Ohio, as well as Connect Ohio. The details of our work to successfully plan, implement, and execute both the Every Citizen Online (ECO) and State Broadband Initiative (SBI) program extension are outlined in the report that follows. Our $10 million Every Citizen Online project is bringing free statewide computer classes to more than 200,000 residents over a two-year period and helping those students become long-term subscribers to high-speed Internet service. The program has seen great success, with 248 locations providing the training and 11,000 Ohio adults already taking advantage of the training. The Connect Ohio team works diligently toward fine-tuning the statewide execution of the ECO program. Connect Ohio will continue its efforts in the provision of last-mile resources. The technical assistance team currently has 13 county-level projects and one state-wide project underway and will continue to partner with county, city, and business leaders to increase broadband access across the state. Extensive Data Validation efforts have been undertaken this quarter, ensuring the accuracy of Connect Ohio’s mapping efforts, as well as broadband inquiry resolution efforts. We are continuing to emphasize broadband availability, awareness, adoption, affordability, and access to all state residents. Respectfully Submitted,

Stu Johnson Executive Director, Connect Ohio


Purpose and Overview This quarterly report showcases the progress made in the third quarter of 2011 toward bringing affordable broadband to all Ohio households and businesses, as well as continued economic development initiatives in the state. This report includes: · Operations and Management

An executive summary of Connect Ohio’s major projects and staff · Partnership Development

Continuing work with providers through data collection and recap of the September 2011 Technology Association meeting

· Every Citizen Online ECO program progress, computer distributions, and relationships built and maintained with grant sub-recipients and community organizations in support of the ECO program, as well as details of the ECO awareness campaign statewide

· Marketing and Communication

Outreach through our website, traditional and social media, and grass roots public relations efforts

· Technical Outreach

Last-mile initiatives, technical outreach assistance to communities, and Request for Proposals (RFPs)

· Mapping

Compilation and release of collected technology data, continual collection of provider data for ongoing mapping updates, data validation, biannual collection deadlines, and BroadbandStat inquiries

· Reporting and Accountability Connect Ohio’s use of multiple forms of reporting


Operations and Management Ohio’s investment in the Connect Ohio program has been leveraged substantially in order to provide ongoing support to the state and an expansion of services through federal funding. The commitment made by Ohio was leveraged to provide matching funds for two grants, which provide funding for the Every Citizen Online training program and for the mapping and data development program now required of the state. Ohio’s foresight into the development of these data has helped to put our state at the forefront of these efforts. Leveraging Connect Ohio’s past eCommunity Strategies program and current mapping programs already in place has allowed for the quick implementation of statewide training, as well as last-mile technical assistance initiatives, while maintaining and leveraging local community participation in Connect Ohio programs. Every Citizen Online (ECO) is a two-year effort to increase sustainable broadband adoption for more than 200,000 state residents by providing free computer training sessions at public libraries, community colleges, and educational and workforce centers throughout Ohio. ECO staff includes 3 state operations managers based out of our Ohio office and a compliance coordinator based out of Connected Nation’s office in Kentucky. Connect Ohio’s State Broadband Initiative (SBI) project assesses the rates of broadband subscription and the barriers to technology adoption and consists of broadband mapping, data collection, service area validation, and last-mile enablement efforts. We have provided broadband mapping for Ohio since 2008. A data validation intern position based out of our Ohio office is an integral part of our data collection and broadband inquiry resolution efforts. Connect Ohio’s technical assistance team provides last-mile assistance to communities lacking access to broadband by providing resources to identify, research, and map unserved areas, as well as business models to determine best practices to increase broadband capacity in the area. The technical outreach is comprised of a manager and a coordinator, both based out of our Ohio office. Other Connect Ohio staff includes those in our program office; executive director, administrative assistant, project coordinator, and public relations specialist, as well as a public relations/business affairs intern. At the end of third quarter 2011, Connect Ohio welcomed a new executive director, Stu Johnson. Mr. Johnson transitioned into the executive director seat in September as Don Shirley departed in order to launch the Connected Texas program as their new executive director. Mr. Johnson brings over 20 years of executive level telecommunications experience and joined Connect Ohio after serving as CEO of Network Advantage LLC, a nationwide contracted consulting company delivering Business Strategy, Capital Funding/M&A, Sales, Marketing, and Distribution Management Services, specializing in new ventures and turn-arounds with emphasis on technology and telecommunications.


Partnership Development Our partnerships with broadband providers and local communities were strengthened during the third quarter of 2011. Connect Ohio representatives have continued to work with broadband providers in the state to gather changes in broadband service areas and to update BroadbandStat, which releases mapping data in real time, as it is processed. This tool helps non-subscribing consumers find service providers available in their area and helps providers see where unserved areas still exist. Additional information on BroadbandStat is available under Mapping. As a way to strengthen the ECO program, Connect Ohio utilizes strong connections with broadband providers to provide consumer incentives to participants who successfully complete the ECO computer training offered throughout the state. Other partnerships with sub-recipients and community organizations continue to grow. These partnerships and updates on the program are detailed under Every Citizen Online. Connect Ohio holds a quarterly Technology Association meeting in order to continue relationships with stakeholders and sub recipients, as well as providing a platform to unveil new technology data, research, and program updates. Connect Ohio held its quarterly Technology Association meeting on September 30, 2011, with more than 50 stakeholders, broadband providers, and library and community representatives. The meeting detailed the current status of the Every Citizen Online (ECO) program and featured a presentation from ECO partner Tom Fortune the Social Security Administration’s District Manager of the Wooster Ohio District Office. Ashley Littell, Connected Nation GIS services manager, discussed Connect Ohio’s ongoing broadband infrastructure mapping and research project, which consists of compiling information from more than 100 broadband providers in the state and submitting the data to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) semi-annually. The information is also included in the National Broadband Map. Connect Ohio’s broadband availability research is also accessible for use by the public through the interactive online tool BroadbandStat at http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/_interactive_map_interface/?q=map. Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Manager Bart Winegar gave attendees an overview of current last-mile assistance projects in Ohio, which include the following 13 counties: Belmont, Carroll, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Noble, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, and Washington. The last-mile projects offer assistance to Ohio communities that lack access to broadband by identifying, researching, and mapping unserved areas and interacting with local planning teams to determine the best practices to increase broadband capacity in that area. Representatives from One Community, ComNet, CenturyLink, and Safe-t-net briefly discussed their current broadband expansion projects, as well.


Connect Ohio’s Amanda Murphy also recognized Rick Roell with a Broadband Hero award. Roell is a resident of Henry County and was presented with his award the week prior to the Technology Association Meeting during a short ceremony at the Liberty Center Public Library. Connect Ohio acknowledged Roell for his commitment to expanding the knowledge and use of technology in his community. Roell has been an Every Citizen Online (ECO) instructor at the Liberty Center Public Library since the program launched early 2011. While most ECO instructors are paid, Roell chooses to volunteer his time and knowledge and instructs most of the classes offered at the location. Roell has a master’s degree in software engineering and was an IT technician with the Air Force. Details of Roell’s efforts can be viewed at http://connectoh.org/in_the_news/broadband_heroes/. Applicable Program Milestones*

Baseline Finish

Actual Finish

Milestone Status Comments

* Completed

Conduct Technology Association Meeting- quarterly

30-Sept-11 30-Sept-11

* 51 Stakeholders in attendance

* reported as of September 2011.


Every Citizen Online Connect Ohio’s Every Citizen Online (ECO) program launched to the public in December 2010, after planning and infrastructure construction, which took place between March 2010 and the December launch date. The program encourages broadband adoption in Ohio by conducting training sessions at libraries, community colleges, educational institutions, and career centers throughout the state, as well as online self-paced training. The ECO website launched December 20 and is host to the ECO self-paced training program. The self-paced training can be completed online from any location with access to a computer and the Internet, allowing Ohioans to complete the training on their own schedule if they are unable to attend classroom training at sub-recipient locations. Contracts have been signed with more than 82 library systems, community colleges, educational institutions, and career centers to provide ECO training. There are currently 248 facilities throughout the state offering ECO training. Many sub-recipients began training classes in early January 2011. Sub-recipients receive a program manual, regularly updated program materials, and ECO print publications. Each sub-recipient assigns qualified instructors to provide the ECO training and an ECO SharePoint site is created for sub-recipients and ECO instructors to serve as a resource for program information. State Operations Managers conduct monthly meetings with ECO sub-recipients to ensure continued progress and ultimate success of the ECO program, which builds and maintains relationships between Connect Ohio and communities throughout the state. State Operations Managers are also working to ensure that all counties have access to a local facility offering the ECO courses. The ECO website is updated as sub-recipient contracts are completed and new locations are confirmed. It is our goal to have 300 locations providing ECO training and at least one training location in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. More than 2,000 laptop and desktop computers are being distributed to chosen sub-recipients in most need of computer labs in order to conduct ECO training and even to create mobile ECO training labs. 768 computers have been distributed to date. In order to leverage state funds for the program, Connect Ohio distributed computers from the Every Citizen Online portion of the state contract to sub-recipients and included them as matching contributions to the federal program. The ECO public awareness campaign officially launched on December 20, 2010, with TV and radio public service announcements. The PSAs include 15-, 30-, and 60-second radio and television spots. The PSA campaign also includes newspaper print PSAs, which are printed in 95 newspapers throughout Ohio each week. The PSAs will be in statewide broadcasts and publications for two years. To date, more than 125,000 radio and television spots have been aired in Ohio, together with 2,470 weekly newspaper spots and 144 press releases generating articles in local media, creating an estimated 400 million total media impressions.


ECO program publicity also continues on a grass roots level with localized media releases and compiled stories of ECO program launch dates and successes, which can be viewed on Connect Ohio’s website under Publications and Connect Ohio Blog. ECO print materials, including promotional posters, yard signs, computer station documents, and bookmarks, were produced to raise awareness of the program and are continually distributed through sub-recipients, community organizations, and larger partnerships growing throughout the program. Current partnerships include local Social Security Administration offices, community action agencies, various community council on aging offices, the Ohio Library Council, and the Ohio Seniors Network. These partners are helping to promote the ECO program through county-level outreach initiatives. All PSA campaign materials direct Ohioans to the Connect Ohio Every Citizen Online website or to 1-855-NOW-I-CAN (669-4226). Phone calls received to the 855 number go to a call center created through our partnership with GroundWork Group. The call center launched December 20, 2010. Callers have the opportunity to speak to a representative during normal business hours or use an automated phone system during or after-hours to receive contact information for sub-recipient training locations in their local area. The call center has received 5,147 calls inquiring about the ECO program. The calls represent 670 zip codes across the state. After completing the ECO program, participants are directed to complete a survey describing their training experience and the likelihood of adopting broadband use into their daily lives. Thus far, 2,721 surveys have been completed. From the survey data, 88% of respondents have expressed an interest in subscribing immediately to broadband provider services in their area and less than 20% of trainees currently have broadband subscription in their home. To date, more than 14,000 Ohio adults have been registered for ECO classes, more than 11,000 participants have taken advantage of at least a portion of the training, and 7,064 have completed the full 6-hours of training curriculum. Applicable Program Milestones*

Milestone

Baseline Finish

Actual Finish

Status

Comment

ECO participating location in all 88 counties

Ongoing

67 counties offering

ECO training

ECO regional meetings held Ongoing 58 meetings held

ECO participants trained 200,000+ 11,000 trained ECO sub-recipients and locations offering ECO training 300+

locations 248 sub-recipient

partner locations

* reported as of September 2011

Marketing and Communication

Connect Ohio continues to use traditional and new media sources to increase public and industry awareness of its efforts to engage new stakeholders and adopters in its mission of bringing affordable broadband to every Ohioan. Our marketing and communications outreach includes ECO, mapping, research, and last-mile assistance. Nearly 3.4 million positive media impressions were produced in print and electronic media publications in the third quarter of 2011, as well as 130 million impressions directly from the ECO PSA campaign. Positive media impressions included stories by Advertiser Tribune, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, Dayton Business Journal, Mansfield News Journal, Marion Star, Northwest Signal, Springfield News Sun, ThisWeek Community Newspapers, WAKR-AM, WDTN-TV, WHIO-AM, WTOL-TV, WTOV-TV, and more, as well as various social media and blog mentions. Connect Ohio's website had 11,298 unique visitors during the third quarter 2011, with 47,673 page views. The Every Citizen Online website had 3,081 unique visitors, with 29,735 page views. Program updates and broadband success stories are continuously posted on Connect Ohio's Twitter and Facebook pages. The public has taken advantage of the resources to ask questions and share broadband inquiries through these new media formats. As of the end of the third quarter 2011, 652 people are subscribed to Connect Ohio's Facebook feed, up 47 from the last quarter, while the Twitter page has 533 followers, which is an increase of 68. Applicable Program Milestones*

Baseline Finish

Actual Finish

Milestone Status Comments

ECO radio, TV and newspaper PSAs

4Q2012 ongoing * Ongoing

* Completed

ECO YouTube Video PSA Contest

1Q2011 21-Mar-11 * 2 Winners, 2 Honorable Mentions

* Distribution events July 2011

ECO Computer Giveaway

2Q2011 30-Jun-11 * 2 Self Paced Winners, 10 Class Training Winners



Technical Outreach

Connect Ohio’s technical assistance team offers technical last-mile design assistance and helps local communities prepare Request for Proposals (RFP) through consulting, identification of vertical assets, and support in the writing of proposals. They are actively working with communities and community leaders on broadband proposals, which add to our goal of increased broadband availability and adoption throughout the state. Belmont, Carroll, Gallia, Guernsey-Monroe-Noble (GMN), Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, and Washington counties are twelve current projects. In addition to these projects, the technical assistance team is working with the State Fire Marshal to extend broadband to Volunteer Fire Departments across the state. In July, Connect Ohio’s technical outreach team presented Gallia County officials with information that paves the way for greater broadband access for county residents. The plan provided a model for broadband expansion that is financially viable and sustainable including basic data collection, cost estimates, and propagation studies customized for Gallia County. Utilizing Connect Ohio’s research, JB Nets presented a broadband expansion business plan to Gallia County officials in September. According to Jake Kline, owner of JB Nets, the plan includes high-speed Internet coverage to 80% of the county within the next three years and the creation of at least two, but possibly three, full-time jobs. “These three initial towers should be able to expand (Internet coverage) to 450-500 households,” said Kline. “However, our proposal also included 30 additional secondary towers to fill in gaps. We estimate approximately 1,200-1,400 total additional households that could receive service from us with all 33 towers constructed.” Gallia County officials accepted the proposal and have signed lease agreements with JB Nets for the use of the three county-owned 911 communications towers, located in Gallipolis Township, Harrison Township, and Ohio Township. Applicable Program Milestones*

Milestone

Baseline Finish

Actual Finish

Status

Comment

Counties engages in last-mile technical assistance efforts

Ongoing

14 counties: Belmont,

Carroll, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, Vinton, Washington

Upcoming projects Ongoing State Fire Marshal,

expansion to volunteer fire departments


© 2011 Connect Ohio® www.connectohio.org 12

Mapping

The organization’s mapping data gives Ohio residents a robust guide to available service. The maps are based on information obtained through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Data Improvement Act, as well as the State Broadband Data Development Program. The information is designed to help consumers seeking new or improved broadband service. These maps are available for the state as a whole and also for each county, and can be accessed at www.connectohio.org by stakeholders, citizens, and technology providers. Connect Ohio also worked to make its BroadbandStat verification process more intuitive. BroadbandStat 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. A total of 2,926 inquiries have been received statewide. As of the end of the third quarter, 2,426 inquiries have been resolved and 500 inquiries are pending. Out of the 500 pending, 166 will require field research by the data validation intern. Through a partnership with Ohio University, Connect Ohio has an internship program wherein a technical student conducts data validation exercises throughout the state to ensure that the data given from broadband providers and distributed from Connect Ohio is accurate and complete. As of the end of this quarter, the total validations that have taken place to date is 371 which includes 100 broadband inquiries, 154 fixed wireless towers, 3 mobile wireless towers, 63 DSL, 18 Fiber, 10 backhaul, 1 cable and 22 vertical assets. The maps are updated semi-annually and include data provided by 115 broadband service providers across the state. Statewide and County Specific Maximum Broadband Download Speed: This map depicts the maximum advertised download speed by Census Block or wireless footprint across the state. The inclusion of maximum advertised speed data is a refinement made possible to the state by its participation in the SBDD program.

Map Title: Maximum Residential Broadband Download Speed URL: http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/speed_maps.php Map Title: Maximum Residential Broadband Download Speed for Ohio counties URL: http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/speed_maps.php


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: http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/Availability_Maps.php Map Title: Broadband Service Inventory for Ohio counties URL: http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/Availability_Maps.php

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 data 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: http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/Availability_Maps.php Map Title: Density of Households Unserved by a Broadband Provider by Census Block URL: http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/Availability_Maps.php

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

Applicable Program Milestones*


Milestone

Baseline Finish

Actual Finish

Status

Comments

After release of first statewide map, updated regularly. Next update October 2011

3Q09

ongoing

Updates posted April 2011 and ongoing

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

115 providers reflected.


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 continue to be adopted and executed. 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. Connect Ohio also has significant reporting requirements for its BTOP grant program from the NTIA. These funds are awarded directly to Connected Nation and their use and performance is reported separately, directly to the NTIA. Because significant linkages between the state’s ECS program and the ECO program exist, and because matching funds from the state’s original Connect Ohio program are utilized, a discussion of the progress of the ECO program has been included throughout this report. 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 Third Quarter Progress Report has been produced to communicate details of our work to the Advisory Committee, Stakeholders, and internal partners. The Connect Ohio website communicates the latest maps, research, staff and contact information, and calendar of meetings. Weekly telephone conferences have been established between Connect Ohio and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. In addition, regular meetings are held with the NTIA and its Program Officers. Local communities have received information tailored to their unique characteristics in every county in Ohio. 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, e-mail, 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.

3rd quarter 2011 progress report

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