Website Launch

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• Website Launch Survey Kick-off
• Wednesday, January 29th
• Saginaw Valley State University

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Todays Agenda

• 800 A.M. - Welcome Introductions Steve Jonas
  Saginaw Future, Inc.
• 810 A.M. - Contributors Acknowledgement Jenee
  Velasquez Midland Economic Development
  Council
• 820 A.M. Town Hall Meetings Laura Ogar Bay
  County Environmental Affairs Econ.
  Development
• 825 A.M. - Featured Speaker Jeff Kaczmarek
  Senior VP Business Community
  Services Michigan Econ. Development Corp.
• 850 A.M. - Presentation of Website Survey
  Introduction Michael Demetriou
  Control Room Technologies
• 915 A.M.- Wrap-up/Questions

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• The Link Michigan Mission is to facilitate
  investments that help provide the most robust
  telecommunications infrastructure in the nation.
  
• The LinkMBS project is designed to facilitate
  investments that help provide the most robust
  telecommunications infrastructure in the state.

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State-Wide What were facing

• Cable modem penetration is positive but
  indications show it at national averages
• High-speed backbone support infrastructure
  sufficient in lower 1/3 of the state around major
  population centers but lacking elsewhere
• Michigan ranks 37th nationally in the percentage
  of residents and small businesses that utilize
  high-speed lines
• Michigan ranks 40th in the nation for the number
  of schools with high-speed access

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Regionally What were facing

• Broadband shortfalls identified in retention
  recruitment visits
• Service complaints rise as more businesses need
  to go on-line at faster speeds
• Lack of services in many areas of the region
• Inconsistent availability
• Lack of information from vendors supplying
  services
• Needs of education e-govt
• Competitive need to be better than average

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What companies are saying

• We need to send and download more complex
  documents
• DSL/Cable arent widely available
• We need T-1 installation in two weeks not several
  months
• More choices needed
• Community access needed for our employees
• What is available where?

• SPEED
• SPEED
• SPEED

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The LinkMBS Planning Grant Will

• Help the Tri-counties develop strategies for
  improving and expanding the regions
  telecommunications infrastructure so that
  high-speed Internet access and other advanced
  telecommunication services are available to
  government, business, education, health care,
  families, and individuals.

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Stakeholder Groups

• Business Industry
• Healthcare Providers
• Education Community
• Government/Residents/Public

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Taskforce Timeline

• January- Presentation to Vision TriCounty
• February-TriCounty Taskforce Formed
• Notice Of Intent Approved April 18th
• May-RFP/RFQ Process for Consultant Selection
• June/July taskforce reviewed and evaluated the
  proposals,
• Interviewed top 3 firms
• Grant Application submitted July 1st
• Grant of 192,500 approved August 1st
• Control Room Technologies (CRT) Selected
• September-Taskforce Secured Pledged Funding
• Consultant Contract Signed October 1st

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Regional Funding Sources

• Saginaw Valley State University
  
• Delta College
• Davenport University
• CMS Energy
• Bay-Saginaw-Midland MI-Works

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Bay County Local Match

• Bay Economic Development Corporation
• County of Bay
• Bay County Growth Alliance
• Gregory/Pumford Construction
• Gougeon Brothers
• MacMillan Associates
• Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation

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Midland County Local Match

• The Dow Chemical Company
• Northwood University
• The Dow Foundation
• Midland Chamber of Commerce
• Midland Cogeneration Venture

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Saginaw County Local Match

• Saginaw County Revolving Loan Fund Board
• Bridgeport Downtown Development
• Authority
• Pumford Construction
• Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce

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Town Hall Meetings

• Who An open invitation to interested residents,
  small business owners and technology related
  employees
• What A forum to express concerns, give
  feedback, address issues associated with High
  Speed Internet Access in the community.
• Where There will be a business forum in each
  county and a town hall meeting in each county
• When to be determined

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Town Hall Meetings - Format

• A.M. Business Forum
• Designed to engage local business leaders and
  Information Technology sector employees
• Direct mail campaign will invite business leaders
  from each county
• Evening Town Hall Meeting for Residents
• Provide a forum for residents and members of the
  educational community to express their concerns
  about high-speed Internet access
• Community bulletin boards, broadcast media and
  community news organizations

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www.linkmbs.org

• Open to the public
• Continuously Updated
• Source for Information
• Archive of Project
• Survey Results
• Provider Inventory
• In the news
• Final Report will be accessible here

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Residential Survey

• 400 Total residents
• Telephone survey
• Conducted by Public Sector Consultants
• Questions seek to determine
• Internet Access
• Type of Connection
• Level of Satisfaction
• Usage Related Data

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Residential Survey

• Sample Questions
• How many computers in your household are
  connected to the internet?
• Which method best describes your home connection
  to the Internet?
• How many days did it actually take for your
  Internet Service Provider to provide installation
  activate your Internet service?

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Sample Questions - Continued

• Are you satisfied with the following
• The monthly fee for your Internet connection?
• The speed of your Internet connection?
• The service quality of your Internet connection?
• The customer service from your ISP?
• Your choice of providers? (competition)

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Residential Survey
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Business Survey

• 300 Total Businesses
• Administered via email
• Preceded by Snail Mail Introduction
• Conducted by Public Sector Consultants
• Questions seek to determine
• Internet Access
• Type of Connection
• Level of Satisfaction
• Usage Related Data
• Anticipated Growth

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Business Survey

• Sample Questions
• How many computers are currently in use at your
  primary MBS Regional location?
• What is your monthly fee for your Internet
  Connection?
• What type of connection does your company use?

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Sample Questions - Continued

• Are you satisfied with the following
• The monthly fee for your Internet connection?
• The speed of your Internet connection?
• The service quality of your Internet connection?
• The customer service from your ISP?
• Your choice of providers? (competition)

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Business Surveys
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Project Outcomes

• 1st ever regional telecommunications plan
• Report outlining potential barriers to entry
  regulatory, permit and right-of-way fee
  requirements
• Detailed database of available telecom service
  providers with address level look-up
• Policy Technology recommendations for expansion
  of services and increase in availability
• Summary of the current state of infrastructure,
  stakeholder requirements, recommendations for
  Last Mile solutions

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Project Timeline

• Demand Analysis Completion - March 15
• Regulatory Analysis Completion Mid Feb
• Education/Outreach Through May (ongoing)
• Planning Effort Website Completion - Jan 1
• Broadband Web Tool Completion - April
• Final Plan Document Infrastructure
  Recommendations) Mid May

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Questions/Involvement

• Taskforce Members
• Steve Jonas, SFI
• 754-8222
• Jenee Velasquez, Midland EDC
• 839-0340
• Laura Ogar, Bay County
• 895-4135