Transcript Appalachia’s Information Age Appalachia Harry L. Roesch Senior Telecommunication Advisor

Appalachia’s Information Age
Appalachia
Harry L. Roesch
Senior Telecommunication Advisor
RTC Conference
Springfield, Illinois
October 2007
The ARC has approved in
excess of $300 million in
support of telecommunications
projects since 1972
Appalachian States
Appalachian Region
 13 states
 410 counties
 200,741 sq. miles
 23 million people
 72 local development
districts
Facts and issues about the Region
• In 2002, 42% of the ARC population were classified as
being “rural” compared to 20% for the nation
• In FY 2007 – 78 /410 counties were classified as being
“Distressed” based on ARC criteria.
• DSL or cable modem access from a cable TV service
provider is generally the only affordable broadband
services in Appalachia.
1972 –1985 History
• ARC invested millions of dollars in satellite
down link and microwave equipment, early
generation “tapping” equipment, and nascent
network development [UK was the up-link site for
all educational programming]
• ARC underwrote the development of program
content, and facilitated simultaneous educational
programming provided throughout the region
1985 - 1990
• Throughout the 1980’s the ARC continued to
support the development / transmission of
expanded educational curriculum materials using
microwave technologies
• Numerous small educational networks began to be
developed and TVA was early partner in project
development and project management
• Many networks initially used T1 lines to facilitate
connectivity
• 10’s of Millions of dollars were invested
1991 Knoxville Conference
This jointly funded conference cosponsored by the TVA,
telecommunication service providers,
universities, and others attracted over
350 people – the conference….
Post the conference the ARC
reserved $265,000 to fund small MultiCounty Strategic Telecommunications
Plans throughout the Region.
1992 – 1993
10 strategic telecommunications
planning projects were funded: NY,
Ohio, PA, MD, VA, SC, NC, WV –
often more than one in a state
1992 –1994
Once the planning programs were
completed, numerous small
networks were funded by the
ARC - with NY funding 14
educational networks based on the
planning efforts
that were underwritten
ARC’s First Telecommunications
Regional Initiative Program
1995 - 1998
• Over 130+ projects were funded over the 4 year
period of time totaling over $12,000,000
• 5 new state “region-wide” strategic
telecommunications plans were approved: AL, Pa,
KY, TN, NC
• and numerous other special demonstrations
projects in education, telemedicine, business, and
government were approved
1999 - 2007
• More strategic telecommunications planning projects were
funded - GA, KY, AL
• Demand Aggregation projects were funded - NC, Ohio,
KY, MD, PA, KY
• Numerous multi sector user networks were funded - AL,
GA, NC, KY, PA, MD, NY, NC, VA, WV
• and, all types of innovative implementation and TA
projects were funded: Cyber Campuses – NC, several nonprofit ISPs established in GA, OH, and “Help Desks” –
TN, MD, OH
• E - demonstrations – PA, NY
• The ARC annually approves between $4-6 Million
dollars worth of telecommunications projects
Demand Aggregation projects and other
“state” efforts the ARC is closely monitoring:
• KY’s CITE / ConnectKentucky program, and Ohio’s
“Access Appalachia”
• NC’s - NC Rural Internet Access Authority
• NC’s -“Appalachian Access” project
• Mississippi’s -The Create Foundation’s - MEGAPOP
project to expand High-Speed Broadband connectivity
• Pennsylvania’s - 3 county wide demand aggregation
projects
• And Maryland’s –Allconet2 E-business network
ARC’s New Program
Information Age Appalachia
Approved 11/2001
A program to help the Appalachian
region to overcome the Digital Divide
and ensure that “affordable” highspeed telecommunications services
become a reality in the region
ARC’s IAA Program
focus………….
• Improve access to infrastructure through strategic planning
efforts, assisting with Demand Aggregation efforts, and in
some cases actually installing some critical necessary
infrastructure;
• Provide education, training, and workforce development
programs on IT to benefit all sectors of the economy with
enhanced educational and TA materials;
• Assist S & M size businesses with E-commerce readiness
training programs, working with trade associations, and
other organizations, and with specific business sectors in
developing overall improved IT utilization opportunities in
the region;
• Develop new Technology Sector strategies that will assist
the region in capturing more IT sector business.
IAA Program “In-house” program was
funded at $1,000,000 + over the period of FY
2002 - 2004
Guiding Principles
• Emphasis on the Distressed areas in the region
• Builds on ARC’s partnership model
• Funds only projects that are locally sustainable – 2
sector beneficiary required for all funded projects
• Assists the region to find affordable solutions
• Builds on local capacity in individuals /
organizations
• DA Workshops are still being offered
IAA In-house - Accomplishments
• 26 Aggregation of Demand Workshops have been held,
and 4 funding workshops, and 4 E-Rate workshops have
been held
• 5 Wireless Demonstrations projects are now underway in
NY, OH, and WV
• Carnegie Mellon U. TA contract approved WV / PA
initially –wireless demonstrations
• 6 - Conferences supported including: - 2 - Rural
Telecommunications Congress Conferences
• 5 E-commerce Tourism / Arts / Crafts projects funded in
2003
• Continued central office TA services
A special set-a-side of $2
Million was reserved for
telecommunications and
other initiatives projects
in FY 2005-2007
Types of projects funded under
the $2 M set-a-side:
• Improved access to infrastructure [AL, VA, PA, MD, MS, TN, NY, WV, NC]
• Improved education, training, workforce development [AL, NY, NC, MD, SC,
TN]
• Assisted businesses with E-commerce readiness programs [PA, MD, NY, AL,
VA, ]
• Assisted in Tech Sector development employment programs [WV,KY, TN,
KY]
• Expanded partnership arrangements were developed throughout the region to
enhance telecommunications improvements in the region [PA, KY]
• Worked with local stakeholders to improve their technical knowledge of the
“Information Age” issues through Strategic Telecommunications Planning
[AL, KY, VA, SC]
Appalachian Region
 13 states
 410 counties
 200,741 sq. miles
 23 million people
 72 local development
districts
Cable Internet
Access
Available, 2000
(In Parts or Whole of
County)
Cable Internet Access
Available
No Cable Access
Cable Internet
Access
Available, 2003
(In Parts or Whole of
County)
Cable Internet Access
Available
No Cable Access
DSL Internet
Access
Available, 2000
(In Parts or Whole of
County)
4 or More DSL-Ready
Telephone Switches
1 – 3 DSL-Ready
Telephone Switches
No DSL Access
DSL Internet
Access
Available, 2003
(In Parts or Whole of
County)
4 or More DSL-Ready
Telephone Switches
1 – 3 DSL-Ready
Telephone Switches
No DSL Access
Competition &
Service of HighSpeed Internet
Providers, 2000
(by ZIP Code)
No High-Speed
Provider
1 – 3 High-Speed
Providers
4 or More HighSpeed Providers
Competition &
Service of HighSpeed Internet
Providers, 2002
(by ZIP Code)
No High-Speed
Provider
1 – 3 High-Speed
Providers
4 or More HighSpeed Providers
ARC based activities that benefit
the states…
1.
2.
3.
The ARC continues to offer Aggregation of
Demand workshops throughout the region as
requested. [past recipients PA, MD, MS, OH,
VA, NY, AL, WV, KY, VA, GA]
ARC continues to expand its outreach /
working relationships with foundations, trade
associations, non-profits, industry,
businesses, etc. [Motorola / Microsoft]
ARC has created an On-line
telecommunication resource center within the
ARC WEB site www.ARC.GOV to
help the region find resources to fund
telecommunication related projects at the
local level.
Critical Types of Applications
Needed in Appalachian
Communities
Telemedicine, E-Commerce,
E-government, Distance
Learning
The ARC will fund all types of
projects that further the adoption
of “applications” in the region,
but projects must be multi - sector
in nature
Distance Learning
• ARC will fund Distance learning programs that improve
the quality of education curriculums for school system,
colleges and universities
• ARC will fund Advanced Placement / dual enrollment
programs that are offered by colleges / universities –
inspires students to go to college
• ARC will fund Community Access Centers that offer /
provide “in-place continuing educational” opportunities
for all residents
• ARC will continue to fund expanded Workforce training
and Adult Literacy programs
Telemedicine and Telehealth
Services
• It is now becoming a standard of practice for the
reimbursement industry to reimburse for telemedicine
services [ Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, etc.]
• Telemedicine programs improve the overall access and
delivery of quality health care
• Hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and doctor’s offices are
now routinely sharing patient information [Informatics]
utilizing Internet connectivity to improve the quality of
patient care and case management
• Disease Management and post operation follow-up
services are now being routinely facilitated by “in-home
telemedicine devices” using POTS lines
E-Commerce
• Businesses are discovering that a Robust WEB site means
potential new market penetration and new sales
• Many businesses are now being required to do business
on-line / ISO-9000 certified businesses now require
Electronic Commerce Interface with other ISO-9000
businesses
• Businesses are using video-conferencing: to market their
products, conduct routine administrative “in-house”
services, and provide continuing educational services to
staff
• Business assistance services offered by IDA’s, SBDC’s,
Chambers of Commerce, etc. are now being frequently
provided through routine on-line training and “Inhouse” training programs for businesses
E-Government
• Governments are now offering on-line services that
provide routine information on taxation, public hearings,
minutes and agendas of meetings, plans under review, etc.
• Governments are now offering all types of ways to do E –
Government business on-line: register cars, get license
plates, pay taxes, get business licenses, locate services
within the government, conducting surveys on-line, and
providing ways to contact elected officials on issues
• Criminal justice services are now routinely being done
through video conferencing services including
arraignments, and medical assessments, routine hearings,
pre-trial motions, expert witness testimony services
• Governments are now offering all types of economic and
social development services through WEB sites and online services
Where to get help from Federal
Programs that the ARC can
partner with:
. Rural Utilities Service Program – D O Agriculture
•
•
•
•
www.usda.gov/rus/telecom.dlt.dlthtm
Neighborhood Network Program & CDBG / Small Cities
Program - DHUD
Community Technology Centers, - DOED
Universal Service Fund Program / E-Rate - FCC
www.universalservice.org
Office for the Advancement of Telehealth OAT –
http://telehealth.hrsa.gov
How to apply for ARC funds:
• The ARC WEB site at www.ARC.GOV
should be first opened
• Look up state’s sub-directory AL – WV, and locate
the name of the State ARC Program Manager.
• Contact your State’s Program Manager and
discuss the nature of any project before you put
anything on paper!!!!! The states invite the
proposals / applications not the ARC!
Resources beyond Federal and
State funding are needed to close
the telecommunications gap…..
• Corporate and foundation funding will
continue to be sought by the ARC over the
coming years to augment ARC funding that
will be pledged to the implementation of the
IAA program.
This is clearly a Human Resource
Development / Economic Development
issue that applies to all sectors of the
Appalachian economy - High-speed
Broadband telecommunications services
will underpin all aspects of the
Information Age society in the
future……..
Thank You
Harry L. Roesch
Senior Telecommunications Advisor
Appalachian Regional Commission
1666 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C.
202-884-7774 phone
202-884-7682 fax