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The National Broadband Plan

Alan S. Inouye [email protected]

June 24, 2010 Slides available at www.ala.org/oitp Go to Publications / Presentations

What is it?

• Plan “…to ensure every American has ‘access to broadband capability.’” – Mandated in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act • Noteworthy aspects – International comparisons … absence of a national plan –

Extensive

consultative process with the community – Very broad interpretation of FCC mission/scope • Released in March 2010 – now being discussed and implemented – It is a

plan

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What’s in it? (in general)

• Shift in emphasis from voice to broadband • Focus on – Robust competition – Efficient allocation and management of resources – Reform of the Universal Service Fund  Universal availability and adoption of broadband – Sectors for which the government has particular influence—public education, health care, public safety, energy, government • Long-term goals • Generally budget neutral 3

What’s in it? (for us)

• Extensive changes to the federal E-rate program • Increased funding to IMLS for library connectivity • Creation of digital literacy corps • Support organization for network capacity to serve community anchor institutions – UCAN concept • Other stuff 4

E-rate (1 of 4)

• “Good” news: Many of our long-standing issues are addressed in the plan – Raising the cap – Simplification – technology plans and procurement – Promoting cost efficiency, aggregation – Modify discount calculation so that libraries are not disadvantaged 5

E-rate (2 of 4)

• Not sure if these recommendations are good for us, or not – More support for internal connections – Fund wireless connectivity to portable learning devices • Students and educators could take devices off campus – More flexibility with respect to “lowest-cost broadband solutions” • Expanding access to low-cost fiber 6

E-rate (3 of 4)

• Not sure if these recommendations are good for us, or not – Collect and publish more specific, quantifiable and standardized data about applicants’ use of E-rate funds – Set goals for minimum broadband connectivity for schools and libraries and prioritize funds accordingly – Award some E-rate funding through competitive process 7

E-rate (4 of 4)

• Process for soliciting input, making decisions, and implementing changes – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) #1 – comments due July 9 – Process ahead: Order, NPRM #2, Order #2 • Devil in the details: Even “good” recommendations are not straightforward – and possibly not even good… – Example: Technology Plans – Need to ensure that revised rules are consistent with the conceptual intent of the changes 8

IMLS and library connectivity

• Additional funding to IMLS to increase the capacity of digital literacy partners – Improve connectivity, enhance hardware, and train staff – For libraries and other community-based organizations • Must develop “guidelines for public access technology” prior to possibility of additional funding • Discussions underway among IMLS, the Gates Foundation, and other partners in the library community 9

Digital literacy corps

• Conduct training and outreach in non-adopting communities – Target low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, senior citizens, people with disabilities… – A model cited in the plan: CyberNavigators program at the Chicago Public Library • Additional funding to NTIA to operate the corps, collaborating with Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) 10

Community anchor institutions and networking

• Facilitate demand aggregation and use of state, regional, and local networks when cost-efficient • Ongoing work coordinated through the Schools, Healthcare, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition – Developing the concept – Floating the idea inside the beltway 11

Other stuff

• The larger context of Universal Service Fund reform: Connect America Fund • Dept. of Education should provide additional funding to help schools training teachers in digital literacy • OMB, through IMLS, should develop guidelines to ensure that librarians and others can support next-generation e-government applications • Copyright… and more 12

Things to think about (1 of 2)

• Be aware of upcoming (probably major) changes to the federal E-rate program and the need to communicate and educate within your states • How should the digital literacy corps be designed to help your communities?

– Examples of effective programs would be helpful – What are the most critical gaps?

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Things to think about (2 of 2)

• Step up involvement in federal / national policy – Increase visibility, access to information, and influence of your library and the library community – Federal policy making: Happens in D.C. but also in Congressional districts and the states • Benefits: For your library and personally 14

Resources

• National Broadband Plan: www.broadband.gov

• Making Connections: Lessons from Five Shared Library Networks • Fiber to the Library • Checking Out the Future; There’s an App for That!

• Articles and other materials • Download from www.ala.org/oitp – contact me for print copies 15

The End

Alan S. Inouye [email protected]

June 24, 2010 Slides available at www.ala.org/oitp Go to Publications / Presentations 16