Presentation to the Rainier Communications Commission on the Wireless Broadband Needs Assessment

1
Presentation to the Rainier Communications
Commission on the Wireless Broadband Needs
Assessment

• Presented by
  
  CBG Communications, Inc.
• Tom Robinson, Executive Vice President
  73 Chestnut Road,
  Suite 301
• CBG Communications, Inc.
  
  Paoli, PA 19301
• Phone [phone]
• Connie Book, Ph. D.
  
  Fax [phone]
• Elon University/Telecommunications
  robinson_at_cbgcommunications.com
• Research Corporation
• Rainier Communications Commission February 2007

2
Introductions

• Tom Robinson CBG Communications, Inc.
• Dr. Connie Book Elon University
• Workshop Attendees

3
Needs Assessment Study Tasks

• Analysis of Broadband Service Provider Climate
• Residential Community Survey
• Focused Discussions and Interviews with
  Representatives of various Communities of
  Interest
• County, Cities and Towns
• Information Technology
• Public Works/Assessors Office
• Public Safety
• Community Services/Human Services

4
Needs Assessment Study Tasks

• Communities of Interest, contd
• Municipal Utility
• Rainier Media Center
• Education
• Business Community/Economic Development
• Medical
• Military

5
Needs Assessment Study Tasks

• Compile and analyze findings
• Develop recommendations for a wireless broadband
  network concept to meet the needs assessed
• Review with RCC and associated entities

6
Public Policy Goals Concerning Wireless Broadband
System Development

• To efficiently deliver local government services
• To ensure equity among local residents
• To promote local economic development
• To effectively manage the public rights of way
  and public assets

7
Broadband Technologies and Providers Examples

• Technologies
• DSL
• Cable Modem
• Fiber Optic

• Providers
• Qwest, CenturyTel and Covad
• Comcast and Click! Network
• Optic Fusion, 360 Networks, Level 3, Qwest and
  CenturyTel

8
Broadband Technologies and Providers Examples

• Technologies
• Broadband Cellular
• Wi-Fi Hot Zone
• Wi-Fi/WiMAX
• Satellite

• Providers
• ATT/Cingular, Sprint/Nextel, Verizon and
  T-Mobile
• ATT and T-Mobile
• CenturyTel and Clearwire
• Starband

9
The Residential Community Survey was Designed to

• Gather reliable and valid data through
  appropriate sampling methods that would
  ultimately determine local needs and interests
  related to wireless broadband.
• Establish an understanding of existing wired and
  wireless broadband technologies, services and
  networks available to and being used by residents
  of the RCC-member area and planned acquisitions
  of new technology and services.
• Determine current and potential residential
  wireless broadband applications (extension of
  office, home-based business, economic
  development, quality of life) and thereby
  establish current and potential market
  characteristics that would drive network
  development.

10
The Residential Community Survey was Designed to

• Establish current and planned availability and
  adoption of wireless network compatible hardware.
• Measure any concerns regarding establishment of
  wireless broadband in the jurisdictions of the
  RCC.

11
Responses by Community
Community Households (based on 2.64 average) Sampling Size of Total Returned (N2075)
Bonney Lake 5,769 900 5
Carbonado 252 75 1
Dupont 2,754 850 6
Edgewood 3,602 900 5
Gig Harbor 2,818 850 5
Lakewood 24,521 3,000 11
Milton 2,145 645 1
Orting 2,106 630 9
Pierce County (Unincorporated) 134,503 3,000 21
Ruston 280 90 0.5
Steilacoom 2,348 705 3
University Place 11,795 3,000 0.6
Wilkeson 170 60 lt1
Total Returned 100 N2,075
12
Demographics of Responding Sample
Age Range 18 to 92 years old Mean Age53 years
old
55 responding.
13
Demographics Continued
Average Household Income 110,000
93 report owning home
14
Telecommuting in Responding RCC Communities
Additionally, 19 of total sample reported home
based business activity.
15
Access to Computers and Technology
83 reported owning a cell phone
16
Significantly less likely to own a cell phone in
responding RCC communities

• Persons who had lived in the community longer.
• Older persons in the community.
• Persons who dont have children under 18 in the
  home.
• Persons with less formal education.

17
PC Ownership
87 of laptops have wireless capabilities
18
Significantly less likely to own a desktop
computer in responding RCC communities

• Older persons in the community.
• Longer term residents.
• Persons renting their home.
• Persons reporting being Latino or Hispanic.

19
Significantly more likely to own a laptop
computer in responding RCC communities

• Younger persons with more formal education.
• Persons who have young people under the age of 18
  in the home.

20
Wireless Online Activity

• Almost 3 of 4 laptop owners with wireless laptops
  indicated having used wireless Internet in the
  last 7 days.
• Where Used
• Home
• Work
• Other Locations
• Hotel
• Coffee shops
• School
• Traveling

21
Internet Access
22
Home Wireless Environment
Those without indicated plans to establish a
wireless environment 7 Within the next 6
months 8 Within the next year 11 I
will when I buy my next computer 37 I have
not considered establishing a wireless
network 38 Im not interested in
establishing a wireless network
23
Current ISP Service Ratings

• Service Positive Rating
• Speed 77
• Rates 49
• Billing Practices 86
• Reliability 87
• Ease of Use 90
• CSR Knowledge/
• Courteousness 66
• Install Tech Ability 65

24
Where and How RCC Residents Use the Internet

• 68 used Internet away from home
• Of those
• 87 used at work (1 in 10 are computer
  professionals)
• 32 used at school
• 40 used at Public Library
• 48 used at a friends house
• 25 at a retail location (i.e. coffee shop)

25
Time Online Away from Home, Work or School in
Last 7 Days

• 45 indicated 0
• Of the 55 indicating time online
• 15 indicated 1 hour
• 8 indicated 2 hours
• 5 indicated 3 hours
• Average 4 hours 32 minutes time on line not at
  work, school or home

26
E-Mail Accounts and Activity
How often do you use email? 77 At least once
a day 18 Weekly or several times per week
5 Less than once a week
27
Philosophy Regarding Access to Technology and
Internet
28
Importance of Individual Wireless Access
29
Local Government Wireless Access
30
Internet Activity in Last 7 Days

• Keep in touch with family and friends 88
• Research retail prices and product
  information 72
• Used the Internet to purchase goods and
  services 67
• Online banking 67
• Share photos 66
• Get local news 64
• Retrieve local business information 62

31
Wireless Internet Applications of Most Interest

• Check e-mail 36
• Keep in touch with office 24
• Work from home 13
• Conduct research 13
• School work 13

32
Areas of Community Where Most Interested in
Establishing Wireless

• Home 65
• Everywhere 18
• Gig Harbor 10
• Libraries 3
• South Hill 1

33
Concerns About Establishing Wireless Broadband in
the Area

• 27 expressed concerns (1 in 4)
• Security of network 78
• Costs of establishing 12
• Increase in taxes 6

34
Likely Use of Online and Potential Online Local
Government Services

• Report a problem with street lights, bus service
  or
• other government related services 68
• Apply for a license or permit 62
• Vote on issues 60
• Receive E-mail notices on topics that you select
  58
• Pay local government bills, fees, or taxes 52
• Check an event or meeting schedule 52
• Contact a public official to express your
  opinion 48
• Reserve a room, picnic site, ball field or other
  local government facility 43

35
Likely Use of Online and Potential Online Local
Government Services

• Comment at a public hearing online
• (testifying) 27
• Watch a local community event
• streamed online. 25
• Watch education videos produced by
• the local school district. 22
• Watch a local government meeting
• streamed online, like the County
• Council meetings. 20

36
Preferences for Accessing Government Services
37
Effectiveness of Electronic Government
Communication
38
Final Comments

• 10 of respondents added final comments
• Establishing wireless in the
• RCC-member area is a good idea 45
• Not needed/negative comment 14
• Dissatisfaction with current costs
• of high speed broadband 13
• Should not create new taxes 12
• Concerns about privacy of network 9

39
Key Residential Community Findings

• Significant level of interest in broadband
  wireless in the RCC-member area.
• Significant community commitment to everyone
  having computers and Internet access.
• Significant support exists for wireless broadband
  for local government public safety and other
  services (77).
• Two of the most frequent places respondents
  indicated as desirable for wireless Internet
  service include their homes (which 65 of
  respondents indicated as desirable) included
  everywhere in Pierce County and Gig Harbor.

40
Key Residential Community Findings

• Internet and wireless broadband interests related
  to telecommuting and support for home based
  businesses in the area.
• Almost half of respondents (46) think it is
  important that they have access to the Internet
  in a wireless environment.
• Positive characteristics of such a wireless
  broadband environment would be its 24/7 nature
  and the ability to do business while out and
  about or at home in the community, making
  business and life in general more efficient and
  productive in the RCC-member area.

41
Key Organizational Findings

• Public agencies would benefit from a wireless
  broadband system that had high capacity and broad
  coverage, specifically concerning
• Telemetry and system monitoring and control data
• Interagency communications
• Mobile data, especially in-transit applications
• New applications such as a variety of forms of
  video surveillance, incident,
  videoconferencing, broadcast quality, etc.
• Additional ways of providing access to the public
• Aid to fieldworkers and teleworkers

42
Key Organizational Findings

• Businesses would benefit from a wireless
  broadband system that would provide
• New, accessible, competing broadband service
  options for small and home-based businesses
• Enhanced portable and mobile broadband access
• Differentiation versus existing offerings
• Could be capacity, reliability and/or
  affordability

43
Key Organizational Findings

• Health professionals would find the following
  broadband wireless network applications useful
• With enough coverage and capacity,
  hospital-to-hospital, incident scene-to-hospital
  and medical professional-to-hospital
  communications, including interconnection between
  the various parties.
• Remote assistance with high volume triage,
  including use of video and telemetry

44
Key Organizational Findings

• For Educational entities, applications would
  include
• Redundant, high-capacity internet connections
• Provision of services to and throughout the
  community
• Expanded use of video
• For the Rainier Media Center, applications would
  include
• Expansion of remote video origination
• Development of an Emergency Communications video
  network
• Expansion of training, videoconferencing and
  interactive video content development

45
Key Concerns of the Organizational Community

• Secure transport for sensitive communications
• Provision of reliable, seamless service
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that have
  specific, objective, measurable operational
  requirements
• Including, priority access for critical
  communications
• Initial utilization of accessible transport
  technologies with technology refresh cycles that
  ensure advancement and guard against obsolescence
• Enhance competitive environment
• Ensuring continuous use, even in the case of
  system abandonment

46
Key Concerns of the Organizational Community

• Cost of access and use
• System coverage should ideally be Countywide.
  Other useful, but less desirable coverage
  scenarios include
• Broad coverage that interfaces with other systems
  in use
• Member Municipality-wide
• Unserved and underserved areas
• Necessary funding for end user equipment
• System implementation should not complicate other
  initiatives such as School District compliance
  with CIPA
• Overall, public safety entities would need to
  coordinate the design of any system designed for
  widespread public safety use

47
Recommended Wireless Broadband Concept Elements

• A wireless broadband system should be developed
  as broadly as possible across the RCC-member
  jurisdiction area, wherever access to broadband
  communications would be useful to the
  organizational and (as described in the companion
  residential community needs assessment)
  residential populations.
• The system should provide the highest available
  bandwidth through continually advanced
  technological means.
• The system should be a highly reliable system
  with secure transport for sensitive
  communications.

48
Recommended Wireless Broadband Concept Elements

• The system should be designed to facilitate the
  field work, remote access, and mobile access
  needs of public agencies.
• The system should be built in areas to help
  reduce the digital divide.
• The system must be constructed and operated in
  such a way so as to not compromise existing
  requirements that must be met by public agencies.

49
Recommended Wireless Broadband Concept Elements

• For the system to be useful to public safety
  agencies, pilot projects should be developed that
  specifically test public safety applications
  (both existing, like mobile data, and new such as
  video), and, before a widespread system would be
  built for primary public safety use, it must be
  designed and engineered in concert with LESA and
  the agencies that it represents.
• The maximum value should be gained for the use of
  public vertical assets, taking into account the
  public policy goals espoused by the RCC and its
  member jurisdictions and public agencies.

50
Compensation

• Compensation for use of public assets could
  consist of one or more of the following
• An upfront cash payment.
• Cash payments for each asset on a monthly or
  annual basis.
• Revenue sharing.
• In-kind services for government functions, such
  as no or low cost public agency accounts and
  utilization of a separate 4.9 GHz public safety
  system.
• Added value to the community, including service
  to geographic and economic populations that are
  underserved or unserved by current broadband
  networks.

51
Wireless Broadband Network Development Models

• Public/Private Partnership any combination of
  public and private involvement to successfully
  deploy the wireless broadband system.
• Non-Profit Owned the development of a public
  non-profit or private non-profit to spearhead
  system deployment and manage system operation and
  service provision.
• Commercial a commercially sponsored and
  implemented model, including a model designed to
  be self-sustaining at some level of no or low
  cost user access by, for example, selling
  commercial advertising as the underlying support
  mechanism.

52
Wireless Broadband Network Development Models

• Public Utility Model paid for, developed and
  managed by the member jurisdictions.
• Private/Internal Network wireless system
  deployment for the sole use of the jurisdiction
  and its allied public entities. This model,
  though, would not meet a number of the needs
  assessed.
• Hybrid Model CenturyTel model blends
  public/private partnership and commercial model.

53
Next Steps Based on the Needs Assessment

• Continue with pilot projects to demonstrate proof
  of concept
• As the proof of concept demonstrates viability to
  meet the needs assessed, implement on-going
  operations as feasible in line with the concept
  elements identified.

54

• Thank you!