Transcript No Slide Title

Rural Ohio
Technology Infrastructure Group
All Transportation Counts Conference
October 8, 2003
MISSION
To help communities develop
strategies for improving and
expanding telecommunications
infrastructure so that high-speed
Internet access and other advanced
telecommunication services can be
provided to government, business,
education, health care, families, and
individuals.
TIG MODELS
• Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group
(SCEIG)
– An association of federal and state agencies, local governments
and groups, service organizations, and educational institutions
designed to help small communities in meeting their
environmental infrastructure needs.
• LinkMichigan
– Part of a four-pronged effort initiated by the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation (MEDC) to bring broadband
networking and services to all areas of the State of Michigan.
The MEDC is providing funding, accompanied by a local match
of funds, to identify current infrastructure in the region,
anticipated demand for services and user needs, options for
meeting the need, and a plan to meet the need, including the
anticipated funding sources.
How Does TIG Work?
• Underlying Principle
region’s capacity to understand
broadband and its uses is critical to both planning and
implementation. Self-selected, motivated communities will be
given priority.
• DAS Appalachian Broadband Manager
• Planning
– 3 regional seminars describing program to public—Broadband
Cookbook to be presented as well as 2-3 best practices from
throughout the state
– Planning grant pool of funds
• Implementation
– Use plan to implement broadband services
– Potential funding sources will have been identified in Plan
PLANNING PROGRAM GUIDELINES
• Strong preference will given to multi county projects
• Maximum grant amount of up to $50,000 or 80% of
project, whichever of the two is the lowest
• Minimum local match (local, private or foundation
funds) is 20% of Total Project Cost
• Plan must be completed within six months
• Projects must have either an end result of job
creation/retention or area-wide benefit to low and
moderate-income people
• Planning projects focused on local municipal
ownership will be judged on a case-by-case basis
TIG PLANNING KEY ELEMENTS
• Scope of grants MUST focus on identifying existing
infrastructure, providers, demand and ways to link
into other publicly funded infrastructure
• One TIG member will be assigned to each region to
offer guidance
• Potential grantees will be provided with a partial list of
consultants
• NOI will be put on Internet for public to see in an
effort to build cross regional collaboration.
Planning Application
• Up to 5 projects will be selected for the
Planning process from the NOI
• These communities will be asked to submit a
full application.
• The application will verify information in the
NOI, provide additional information and detail
on project activities and tasks, provide
documentation on project participants and
funds; provide governing body resolutions
and certifications.
• Identify implementation steps of plan
What’s Next?
• Secure ARC funding for planning grants by
December
• Regional Grant Workships, DecemberJanuary
• NOIS due by February 1.
• 5 NOIS accepted by February 7.
• TIG members to help 5 Proposals submit full
applications.
• Release approval for one every two weeks
What’s Next Continued
• After plan is completed in 6 months, group
comes before TIG
• A TIG member will work closely with the
community on implementation of their plan
So, What Do We DO with Regions That
Are Ready to Implement?
• Regional Cluster MUST identify project leader
• Complete form similar to SCEIG (See
Handout)
• Schedule TIG meeting with regional cluster,
providers, funders, technical experts, etc.
• Coordinate with DAS Broadband Manager
and additional TIG member regularly
Questions? Comments?
GOA Technology Program Manager:
Jennifer Simon/GOA (614) 644-9228
Additional information
available at:
www.accessappalachia.org