• Background
• Members
• Findings

• Letter from the Co-chairs
• Report to the Governor
• Re-cap of Activities
• Mapping
• Community Broadband Tool-kit
• Resource Documents
  

Mapping

Mapping – Service Availability

Determining where broadband services exist is one of the most difficult activities cited by planners.  On small scale, anectdotal information can provide a great deal of information regarding where services are available and where they are not.  As the geographic area of interest broadens, the challenges get larger and the reliability of anectdotal and provider website availability data as a clear indicator of service availability decreases dramatically. 

Numerous mapping initiatives have been undertaken in an attempt to isolate areas of need, however none have been able to deliver data at a level that is significantly beneficial to planners.  The most widely recognized (and debated) broadband data resides at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The data and related maps they produce are based on information reported by broadband service providers (FCC Form 477).  The data, while national in scope, does not provide data at a level that can be relied upon for detailed broadband planning.  Additionally, the threshold speed the Commission uses is to define broadband is 200Kbps – a speed that most now agree is far below what is reasonable to support advancing uses and applications.   Click to view a map of the FCC Data Reported for Virginia (PDF) showing the number of broadband holding companies that reported having at least one high-speed customer in a zip code (as of  June 30, 2007).

In the absence of readily accessible broadband availability information, broadband planners are forced to do original research through citizen surveys and/or canvassing in order to make a “best guess” about where services are available.  This process takes a great deal of time and effort, significantly increasing he amount of time and man-hours that must be allocated to the initiative.  Recognizing the need the for detailed data and the cost and time benefits that could be realized should adequate data be readily available, leaders at the state level have initiated initiatives of their own.  ConnectKentucky is one of the most well known initiatives – having crafted a model that is now being offered to other states (West Virginia, Ohio and Tennessee are clients) through an organization called Connected Nation

On May 14, 2009, Governor Tim Kaine announced the Commonwealth’s first broadband availability map (read the press release).  The Commonwealth of Virginia now joins the ranks of those who have successfully undertaken broadband mapping initiatives. 
Through the broadband roundtable, the Commonwealth identified existing assets including the Center for Innovative Technology, and the Virginia Information Technology Agency -VGIN that offered specific characteristics and services that facilitated the exchange and mapping of address-level broadband data (where available) at no cost to the citizens of the Commonwealth.  More than 25 providers offering services in the Commonwealth executed non-disclosure agreements with the Center for Innovative Technology and voluntarily provided data in support of the initiative.  Ultimately, it is anticipated that mapping will play an important role in defining eligibility for broadband funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Commonwealth is now poised to fully participate in proposed funding activities.  Download the map (4,827k .pdf) Take a closer look

While mapping broadband service availability has been the “gold standard” for broadband data for many years, there are those that now argue that the speed and cost of the connection are equally important.   The contention is that even if a connection is available if it lacks adequate capacity/speed to accommodate readily available applications or the connection cost exceeds the market’s ability to pay,  the connection is veritably useless.  There are two groups that are currently undertaking the task of mapping broadband speeds in the Commonwealth (and nationally) – Speed Matters and Virginia Tech’s eCorridors.  Both groups are utilizing a self-reporting model and offer online maps depicting the data that has been collected to date.

In recognition of the need to insure adequate connectivity speeds in addition to availability, the Broadband Roundtable has adopted the FCC’s new definition of 768 Kbps as the threshold for a “basic broadband connection”. The current map produced by the Commonwealth is based on this standard .1 .

 

Mapping – Vertical Infrastructure

Accurate mapping of service availability is crucial to the successful planning and deployment of community-led broadband initiatives.  For those communities considering wireless solutions, however, availability of information (mapping) about vertical infrastructure becomes an equally important planning tool.  Many areas maintain some level of tower location data, but stop short of documenting detailed information such as tower ownership, type(s) of installed equipment, load capacity, etc.  With the number of wireless deployments on the rise, the need for detailed vertical infrastructure data is on the rise.  To meet this need, CIT has partnered with Digital Bridge Services and AfterImage to develop a baseline of vertical infrastructure availability that communities can use to evaluate their assets and leverage in their broadband planning initiatives.  Additionally, the Center has asked the team to develop a detailed tower infrastructure demonstration (5.88 MB, PPT) for Prince George County to illustrate how vertical infrastructure information can be used to expedite and demystify design and deployment of community-led wireless initiatives. *Note: To view the PowerPoint presentation you may need to download "PowerPoint Viewer 2007".

In a related initiative, Virginia Tech eCorridors, Region2000, VITA and the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance to have partnered to develop the architecture for a vertical infrastructure data repository that communities will be able to enter and maintain vertical infrastructure data on sites located in their area.  The architecture will be tested and validated using data gathered as part of a Region2000 broadband planning initiative.  A portion of the funding for the architecture development and validation is being provided by the Commonwealth’s Productivity Investment Fund.

Mapping – Economic Development Sites

In 2006, Governor Kaine unveiled Virginia’s Economic Development Strategic Plan that included a goal of having broadband connectivity to every Virginia business by 2010.  In 2007, the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance and the Offices of the Secretaries of Technology and Commerce and Trade partnered with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and broadband providers around the Commonwealth to evaluate and determine the level of broadband availability at each of the more than 4200 industrial properties listed in the VAScan database. 

The evaluation and mapping process (view map PDF) was completed early 2008, and at the time of publication, there were only 15 properties that could not be identified as having access to broadband connectivity.  These properties will be individually evaluated and plans made to resolve any remaining cover shortfalls and meet the Governor’s goal.