Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting – Draft

May 27, 2021 Virtual Meeting

Attendance Members Present: Kurtis Danka, Joseph Franell, Wade Holmes, Lonny Macy, Galen McGill, Rick Petersen, Jeremy Pietzold, Dave Sabala, Oregon Public Utility Commissioner Mark Thompson and Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto.

Staff Present: Daniel Holbrook and Christopher Tamarin of Business Oregon

Guests: Trevor Beltz of Tillamook Creamery, Barbara Cannady, Alexandra Corvello of AmeriCorps, Peter Cohen of Marion County Economic Development, Ayreann Colombo of Columbia Pacific Development, Steve Corbató of Link Oregon, Charles Deister of , Maggie Emery, Diane Garcia of Calix, Cynthia Gaffney, Lori Gleichman of Jefferson County, Danielle Gonzales of Marion County Economic Development, Jennifer Groth of Rural Development Initiatives, Paul Grove of , Shelley Imholt, Jenna Jones of the League of Oregon Cities, Josh Kvidt of Alyrica Networks, Ellen Miller, Keith Mobley of Q-Life Networks, Pritam Kerkar of PEAK , Kathy Tate of OnlineNW, Stuart Taubman of Zayo, and Aaron Woods of Clackamas County Community College .

The meeting was called to order at 9:15 am.

Welcome, Introductions Chair Joe Franell called the meeting to order and asked for guest introductions.

Minutes Dave Sabala moved that the April 22, 2021 minutes be approved as distributed. Kurtis Danka seconded the motion. The council approved the motion.

National Broadband Activity Updates Daniel Holbrook reported on the following national broadband activity regarding infrastructure deployment, technology, market trends, public policy, and illustrations of the value of broadband adoption and utilization since the council’s last meeting.

Pandemic Broadband Bump Tier-1 and rural companies enhanced their broadband speeds to meet the needs of consumers who relied on Zoom conferencing, remote learning, video streaming and the use of multiple internet-connected devices when the COVID-19 pandemic turned their lives upside down. The broadband industry, including Tier-1 internet providers, telephone cooperatives and broadband support vendors benefited significantly from customers sequestering.

Draft Minutes Leichtman Research Group (LRG) studied data from 16 of the largest cable and wireline broadband providers, which provide service to about 96 percent of internet subscribers in the United States. It discovered these companies acquired about 4.86 million additional broadband internet subscribers last year compared with about 2.55 million subscribers in 2019. In addition, Leichtman found overall broadband additions in 2020 were up 190 percent over 2019.

• Verizon recorded strong sales in its 2020 fourth-quarter report and posted a 5.1 percent increase in FiOS internet subscribers over 2019. Even Verizon’s slower DSL offering grew year-over-year by 2.8 percent. Tier-1 operators such as Verizon typically forecast closer to 1 percent growth to accommodate for housing and population increases in service areas, so these bumps are noteworthy.

• AT&T also saw broadband gains during the fourth quarter. For AT&T, 2020 was the year of fiber; the telco added 1 million fiber broadband subscribers in 2020. As AT&T hits its fiber-to- the-home (FTTH) milestone, the provider has plans to deepen penetration in existing and new markets.

• enhanced its FTTH reach in 2020, passing an additional 400,000 homes with fiber to reach 2.4 million homes, up from 2 million at the end of 2019. In all, Lumen added 54,000 subscribers who purchased 100 Mbps and higher speed tiers. However, it lost a total of 19,000 broadband subscribers. This was due to a loss of 57,000 subscribers to plans of 20 Mbps and slower and 20–99 Mbps.

• Large broadband providers weren’t the only beneficiaries of the pandemic. Many telephone cooperatives and smaller telos that offer broadband to more rural areas saw a bump in new broadband connections. “Telcos had positive net annual broadband adds for the first year since 2014. Many didn’t spend any additional marketing dollars to acquire the connections. The increases came from having a network in place, which in essence provided the supply to meet the demand. https://www.bbcmag.com/multifamily-broadband/pandemic-spurs-broadband-bump

Space X Starlink Space X is on a roll, at least at the FCC. The company received a favorable ruling yesterday, despite vehement opposition that will likely improve the performance of its emerging Starlink satellite broadband service. The ruling will allow Space X to use Starlink satellites in a lower orbit and allows a lower elevation angle for its earth-based antennas and receivers, thus potentially improving performance and latency for the satellite broadband service.

Starlink beta testers are reporting download speed ranges of 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps or more. Space X CEO Elon Musk has promised those speeds should hit 300 Mbps soon and promised complete national coverage by the end of 2021. https://www.telecompetitor.com/space-x-notches-another- win-at-the-fcc-for-improved-starlink-satellite-broadband/

According to Ookla, U.S. subscribers using Space X’s Starlink non-geostationary satellite broadband service experienced median download speeds between 40 and 93 Mbps in the first quarter of 2021, according to tests conducted using Ookla’s speed test technology. Median latency for the service varied from 31 ms to 88 ms. These findings suggest that unless something changes,

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 2 of 17 Draft Minutes Starlink could have trouble meeting its service performance commitments in the FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program. The FCC tentatively awarded SpaceX nearly a billion dollars to cover some of the costs of providing above-baseline, low-latency service to 642,000 unserved locations in 35 states.

Many eyes are on Starlink, as Dish, , Viasat, Hughes, and others have questioned whether Starlink will be able to meet RDOF requirements and some have argued that the FCC should not approve SpaceX’ s RDOF long-form application, which would finalize the company’s ability to receive RDOF funding. SpaceX recently revealed it has 500,000 pre-orders for the service. https://www.telecompetitor.com/ookla-finds-starlink-speeds-would-have-trouble-meeting-fcc- rdof-requirements/

Space X is also partnering with Google Cloud to deliver data, cloud services and applications to customers at the edge of the network. The new capabilities are expected to be available in the second half of this year. Under terms of the Space X-Google Cloud partnership, Space X will place Starlink ground stations in Google data center facilities. With the ground stations, the data center facilities will be able to securely deliver data from more than 1,500 Starlink satellites launched to- date to network edge locations via Google Cloud. The partners see organizations with broad footprints, like public sector agencies, businesses with presences at the network edge, or those operating in rural or remote areas as the primary prospects that can benefit from such services. https://www.telecompetitor.com/google-cloud-spacex-team-up-for-network-edge-services/

“Smart City” technology can benefit rural areas “Smart” communities are emerging around the world, as technology becomes increasingly integrated into our public spaces and services. Cities and urban areas are the first to benefit, given their population density, but rural areas which make up more than 95% percent of land area in the United States stand to benefit just as much from the wave of “smart” technology.

Smart Agriculture The importance of agriculture to rural communities cannot be overstated — and smart technology enriches the agriculture industry with its ability to provide insight and actionable data quickly and efficiently to increase output and productivity.

Telehealth Using smart technology’s data collection capabilities to support long-distance clinical health care reduces the need to travel to doctors’ offices from distant rural locations. By reducing travel, critical information can be gathered efficiently and safely, lower risk of exposure to contagious diseases, and provide significant cost savings for both patients and medical professionals.

Remote Learning As recent experiences have shown, broadband to the home is a critical necessity when it comes to in-home learning. Smart technology relies on that same broadband infrastructure to help manage many aspects of the remote learning experience.

Citizen Services Reliable and accessible data that can be quickly acted upon represents enormous time and cost savings for our local governments. There’s almost no aspect of city management and maintenance

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 3 of 17 Draft Minutes that’s not improved and made more efficient by the proper use of smart technology — and this is every bit as true for small rural towns as it is for large cities.

Economic Development Smart initiatives also drive economic development by positioning smart communities as desirable places to live and conduct business. The development of Smart Rural Communities and smart technology will have an enormous impact on the future of rural life. The most recent round of funding from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) is aimed at narrowing the digital divide by enabling these communities with better connectivity and technology. https://www.corning.com/optical-communications/worldwide/en/home/the-signal-network- blog/smart-and-rural-future-networks.html

Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 4.0 The DOCSIS 4.0 specification, published last year, is designed to support speeds as high as 10 Gbps, including symmetrical speeds, which traditionally haven’t been an option for cable companies. The hybrid fiber coax infrastructure that underlies the typical cable network was originally designed to support video programming delivery and therefore to provide more in the downstream direction. In recent tests, Comcast reported achieving upstream and downstream throughputs exceeding 4 Gbps. Comcast Senior Vice President of Next Generation Access Networks Elad Nafshi says that DOCSIS 4.0 will give cable operators the ability to use existing network infrastructure to support multi-gigabit speeds “without the need for massive digging and construction projects.” https://www.telecompetitor.com/comcast-docsis-4-0-test-puts-fiber- broadband-competitors-on-notice/

Cyber Security Colonial Pipeline paid hackers a $4.4 million ransom in Bitcoin. Last week's closure of the 5,500- mile system was the most disruptive cyberattack on record, preventing millions of barrels of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from flowing to the East Coast from the Gulf Coast. At one point more than 16,000 filling stations were without fuel, and at one point approximately 90% of gas stations in , D.C., were without fuel. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/colonial-pipeline- nomination-system-shut-tuesday-market-sources-2021-05-18/

The State of Wyoming Data Breach suffered a major data breach. State CIO Gordon Knopp, along with Health Director Michael Ceballos, resigned their positions following a high-profile leak of sensitive health-care data. The leak impacted more than one-quarter of Wyoming's population. Personal details such as addresses, birth dates and names were included with the improperly published test results. The data breach has led to new scam attempts, with fraudsters masquerading as health department officials in phone calls to victims. https://www.govtech.com/workforce/knopp-resigns-as-wyoming-cio-after-major-health-data- leak?utm_term=READ%20MORE&utm_campaign=Wyoming%20CIO%20Resigns%20After%20Major %20Health%20Data%20Leak&utm_content=email&utm_source=Act- On+Software&utm_medium=email

A new Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) report has found that spending on cyber security is set to exceed $200 billion a year by 2024. Increased remote working due to the pandemic is partly responsible for the expansion of the market, which was worth around $132 billion last year, but cloud-based software was already expanding in the security space before the Covid-19 pandemic,

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 4 of 17 Draft Minutes replacing traditional infrastructure. In addition, BI believes security spending will take a larger share of IT budgets, as companies try to fend off more sophisticated and growing numbers of cyber-attacks and manage cyber security risks. https://www.information-age.com/cyber-security- spending-heading-for-200-billion-year-bloomberg-123494864/

Supply Chain Strain Internet providers are the latest victim of the ongoing Global Chip Shortage after reports reveal that router orders have been delayed for more than a year. The news proves how the struggling global supply chain pushed tech companies' backs against the wall. A source who spoke to Bloomberg revealed that broadband providers' router orders have been quoted with 60 weeks lead-time, which is more than the wait time prior to the global chip shortage. According to their report on Apr. 8, Taiwan-based router-maker Zyxel Communications confirmed that the crisis had become a headache on their supply chains. Zyxel, head of European regional business Karsten Gewecke said that the shortage is due to the prolonged surge in demand for better home broadband equipment and 2020's manufacturing shutdowns, which were both caused by the pandemic. In an effort to curb the issue, Zyxel had asked its customers to place orders a year in advance due to the anticipated shortage.

U.S.-based network equipment maker Adtran also warned their customers about the lead-time extensions and supply chain risks, a spokesperson to the company said. After picking up the European market share from China-based Technologies, Adtran expanded its warehouse facilities in an effort to avoid problems by double its inventory and logistics capacity. The White House is stepping in to help address the issues caused by the global chip shortage, Reuters reported on April 9. According to the report, almost 20 major companies will send senior executives to a White House summit scheduled on Monday, Apr. 12. The summit billed as the "CEO Summit on and Supply Chain Resilience," will include National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Nineteen companies have agreed to send executives to the summit, including Dell Technologies, Intel Corp, Samsung, and Google- parent Alphabet. U.S. automakers are also expected to attend, including Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV, General Motors, and Ford Motor. https://www.techtimes.com/articles/258966/20210411/isps- suffers-severe-delays-as-the-global-chip-shortage-causes-router-orders-to-remain- unfulfilled.htm

Federal Broadband Funding The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set May 12 as the first date that eligible households can begin enrollment in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. The program gives eligible households discounts of as much as $50 per month for broadband service. The discounts are $75 for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households also will get a one-time discount of as much as $100 for a computer or tablet. The law defines eligible households as those that participate in existing low-income or pandemic relief programs offered by a broadband provider; Lifeline subscribers including those on Medicaid or that accept SNAP benefits; those with kids receiving and reduced-price lunch or school breakfast; Pell grant recipients and those who have lost jobs and seen their income reduced in the last year. More than 900 broadband providers are in the program and more than 1 million households signed up for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program during the first week of its availability. https://www.telecompetitor.com/emergency-broadband-benefit-enrollment-date-set/

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 5 of 17 Draft Minutes

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the availability of $288 million in grant funding for the deployment of broadband infrastructure, which was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The grants will be awarded to partnerships between a state, or political subdivisions of a state, and providers of fixed broadband service. Applications will be prioritized for projects in the following order: those that are designed to provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible area; those that provide broadband service to rural areas; those most cost-effective in providing broadband service; and those that provide broadband service with download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps.

The announcement comes alongside President Biden’s recent infrastructure plan, in which over $100 billion is proposed to help build broadband infrastructure over the next eight years. https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2021/05/ntia-puts-up-288-million-in-broadband-infrastructure- grants/

Fixed A fixed wireless forecast from the Carmel Group and the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association predicts improved economics and average revenue per user, as well as strong subscriber and revenue growth. Fixed wireless providers increasingly are using a hybrid approach in which fiber is used for backhaul connectivity. The researchers use the term “fixed wireless- centric” to describe a category of service providers that use fixed wireless or a hybrid approach to provide broadband service. There are about 2,800 such providers in the U.S. today, according to the report, and the number of subscribers served by these providers is expected to increase from 6.9 million in 2020 to 12.7 million by the end of 2025. Revenues are expected to grow from approximately $4.4 billion in 2020 to $10.9 billion over the same time period, according to the fixed wireless forecast. https://www.telecompetitor.com/fixed-wireless-forecast-12-7-million- subscribers-by-2025-with-improving-arpu/

5G UScellular said that it has achieved sustained average downlink speeds of approximately one gigabit per second using millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum and fixed on a commercial network over a distance of 7 kilometers (more than four miles). The speed was achieved using a 400 MHz swath of spectrum, a UScellular spokesperson told Telecompetitor in an email. Average uplink speeds were in the range of 55 Mbps and instantaneous peak downlink speeds exceeded 2 Gbps, UScellular said. The news is important because although the wireless industry recognizes that millimeter wave spectrum supports some of the highest possible speeds, though some stakeholders are concerned that its range is too limited. Even when there was no clear line of sight between the access point and the end user, UScellular saw sustained downlink speeds of approximately 730 Mbps and sustained average uplink speeds of approximately 38 Mbps over a distance of 1.75 km (just over one mile). UScellular’s news about gigabit fixed wireless comes at a time when the industry is debating whether the technology will be practical for serving rural areas and whether companies that won funding in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program to deploy gigabit fixed wireless will be able to meet performance requirements. https://www.telecompetitor.com/uscellular-hits-gigabit-5g-fixed-wireless-speeds-at-a-range-of- over-four-miles/

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 6 of 17 Draft Minutes Verizon reported this month that it achieved 5G speeds of 4.3 Gbps in a lab trial using a combination of millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum and C-band spectrum. Verizon initially deployed 5G using mmWave spectrum, which supports the highest speeds but over relatively short distances. Recently, the company was the biggest winner in the C-band spectrum auction and is getting set for deployments in the band beginning early next year. C-band spectrum is considered mid-band spectrum, which is seen by many stakeholders as offering the mixture of speed and coverage. Verizon announced that it plans to make 5G service available in the first quarter of 2022 using C-band spectrum in all 46 markets where the satellite providers that currently use the spectrum have agreed to early clearing. At that point, the C-band service will be available to 100 million people. “Over 2022 and 2023, coverage is expected to increase to more than 175 million people and by 2024 and beyond, when the remaining C-band spectrum is cleared, more than 250 million people are expected to have access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband service on C- band spectrum,” Verizon said in a press release. https://www.telecompetitor.com/verizon-sees-5g-speeds-of-4-3-gbps-by-combining-spectrum- bands/

T-Mobile US has extended its 5G fixed wireless home internet service to every US state except Alaska, the company told Mobile World Live. The company offered its LTE fixed wireless pilot to 20 million households in 450 towns last October, in a move targeting internet subscribers who might be losing service in places where AT&T was discontinuing DSL home broadband service. The following month, T-Mobile US expanded the fixed wireless pilot to 130 additional cities and towns. Then in April 2021, T-Mobile US officially launched T-Mobile Home Internet, offering fixed wireless access broadband for $60 per month (with auto pay) and access to 5G speeds where available. The company said more than 30 million households were eligible for the service. https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/t-mobile-us-hails-nationwide- home-internet-service

State Broadband Activity Updates Daniel Holbrook reported the following state broadband activity regarding infrastructure deployment, technology, market trends, public policy, and illustrations of the value of broadband adoption and utilization since the council’s last meeting.

Beacon Broadband Breaks Ground on New Fiber Network Broadband owned by Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative officially broke ground in April in Brookings. Beacon Broadband is building a high-speed fiber-optic to the premises network that will span the Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative footprint and include surrounding areas that currently have very little . The upcoming fiber to the premises network will close the digital divide between broadband access available in urban areas compared to the southern Oregon Coast. Having the ability to access 21st Century digital services such as telemedicine, remote teleworking and distance learning will greatly improve the quality of life for those who live, work in and visit the rural communities.

Beacon Broadband plans to connect the first homes and businesses by the fourth quarter of 2021 and have the entire network built over the next three years. Upon the final completion, Beacon Broadband will operate a fiber optic network covering Curry County and portions of Coos County.

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 7 of 17 Draft Minutes The project is moving forward in partnership with Conexon, a leader in helping electric cooperatives build fiber networks in rural areas. Visit www.beaconbroadband.com to learn more and pre-register or sign up for email notifications about the progress. https://www.currypilot.com/news/beacon-broadband-breaks-ground-on-new-fiber- network/article_6f19ba1a-a38f-11eb-bbe7-172a1122b234.html

Download Speeds by State HighSpeedInternet has compiled the fastest and slowest average download speeds for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Rhode Island beat out two-time winner Maryland. According to this data, the national average internet speed is 99.3 Mbps.

Speeds indeed are increasing. In the organizations 2020 report, the top ten finishers had average speeds ranging from 67.2 Mbps to 84.1 Mbps. This year, 34 states beat the previous average speed leader and all but seven exceeded 67.2 Mbps.

The Ten Fastest States are: • Rhode Island 129.0 Mbps • New Jersey 120.4 Mbps • Delaware 119.1 Mbps • Maryland 118.2 Mbps • Washington, DC 117.7 Mbps • Virginia 116.7 Mbps • Massachusetts 116.4 Mbps • Texas 110.7 Mbps • California 110.0 Mbps • New York 108.8 Mbps

The Ten Slowest States are: • Montana 54.4 Mbps • West Virginia 55.2 Mbps • Idaho 55.4 Mbps • Maine 56.3 Mbps • Wyoming 60.0 Mbps • Alaska 61.5 Mbps • Arkansas 64.9 Mbps • South Dakota 70.8 Mbps • Iowa 71.7 Mbps • New Mexico 72.2 Mbps

Oregon ranked 19th with average download speeds of 97 Mbps.

HighSpeedInternet conducted the speed tests in 3,105 cities from February 1, 2020 to March 16, 2021. A total of 1,761,079 results were generated. Cities must have included at least 100 tests to be included. Incomplete, duplicate and cellular phone data was filtered out in an effort to isolate data from laptops, desktops and home-connected devices. https://cdgportal.com/blog/index.php/2021/04/27/download-speeds-by-state-rhode-island-fastest- montana-slowest/

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 8 of 17 Draft Minutes

White House Releases State-by-State Fact Sheets The White House released state-by-state fact sheets that highlight the urgent need in every state across the country for the investments proposed by President Biden in the American Jobs Plan. The fact sheets highlight the number of bridges and miles of road in each state in poor condition, the percentage of households without access to broadband, the billions of dollars required for water infrastructure, among other infrastructure needs. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing- room/statements-releases/2021/04/12/white-house-releases-state-by-state-fact-sheets-to- highlight-nationwide-need-for-the-american-jobs-plan/

The Oregon Fact Sheet may be found reports that 9.8% of Oregonians live in areas where, by one definition, there is no broadband infrastructure that provides minimally acceptable speeds. And 44.5% of Oregonians live in areas where there is only one such internet provider. Even where infrastructure is available, broadband may be too expensive to be within reach. 11% of Oregon households do not have an internet subscription. The Oregon Fact Sheet may be found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AJP-State-Fact-Sheet-OR.pdf

Ziply Fiber to Bring FTTH 22 New Markets in 2021 Ziply Fiber announced plans to bring gig-speed fiber Internet service to an additional 22 markets across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana this calendar year. This expansion will focus mostly on smaller and rural towns, and is part of the company’s multi-year $500 million investment in its network and improved service in both urban and rural settings throughout the region.

Ziply Fiber is in early-stage planning and permitting in these markets, but expects to turn-up service by Labor Day. The communities in Oregon include Brookings, Enterprise, Gold Beach, Lakeside, Myrtle Creek, Port Orford and Reedsport. Additional builds are planned in all four states.

Ziply Fiber is local in the Northwest, headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, and has major offices in Everett, Washington; Beaverton, Oregon; and Hayden, Idaho. Most of Ziply Fiber’s executive team, which consists of former executives from AT&T, CenturyLink and , either grew up in the Northwest or have spent the better part of 30 years living here. That local ownership and market familiarity is an important part of the company mindset and culture. https://www.bbcmag.com/breaking-news/ziply-fiber-to-light-22-markets-with-ftth

Blue Mountain Networks Blue Mountain Networks recently completed fiber-to-the-home infrastructure deployments in Fossil, Spray and Mitchell. These cities are all in Wheeler County which is larger than the State of Rhode Island and is Oregon’s least populace county with a population of 1,415. The level of need and demand for broadband in rural and frontier areas is illustrated by a 70% take rate for the newly available broadband services.

Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program As noted earlier the EBB was launched on May 12th. There are thirty-eight service providers participating in Oregon https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-providers#Oregon

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 9 of 17 Draft Minutes

Broadband Provider Name Service Type

Access Wireless Mobile

Alyrica Networks Fixed

AT&T Mobile

Beaver Creek Cooperative Telephone Company (BTC) Fixed

Boost Mobile Mobile

Cal-Ore Communications Fixed

Charter (Spectrum) Fixed

Cintex Wireless Mobile

Coltontel Fixed

Comcast () Fixed

DirectLink Fixed

Douglas Fast Net Fixed

enTouch Wireless Mobile

FastMesh Internet Fixed

Fidelity Communications Fixed

good2go mobile Mobile

human-I-T Mobile

Molalla Communications Fixed

Monitor Telecom Fixed

Native Network Fixed

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 10 of 17 Draft Minutes

PCs for People Mobile

PEAK Internet Fixed

Pioneer Connect Fixed

PocketiNet Communications Fixed

Q Link Wireless Mobile

Ready Wireless Mobile

Red Pocket Mobile

Sano Health Mobile

Selectel Wireless Mobile

Sparklight Fixed

StandUp Wireless Mobile

TDS Telecommunications Corporation Fixed

T-Mobile USA Fixed/Mobile

TracFone Wireless Mobile

TruConnect Mobile

U.S. Cellular Fixed/Mobile

Verizon Fixed/Mobile

Ziply Fiber Fixed

TDS Bend Broadband owner TDS reported first quarter results last week and revealed that the carrier’s total broadband customer base surpassed 500,000 for the first time (including residential and business). TDS is high on fiber and is also seeing gigabit penetration of 17%.

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 11 of 17 Draft Minutes Fiber expansion at TDS began a few years ago and the company reports fiber is now available at 321K locations, or 38% of its wireline footprint. TDS fiber penetration currently comes in at 36%. The company is planning to reach an additional 150K coming on line in 2021.

Gigabit-capable broadband is now available to 55% of TDS properties. The company grew its broadband subscribers by 9% in 1Q 2021. https://www.telecompetitor.com/tds-sees-gigabit-penetration-of-17-total-broadband-surpasses- 500k/

Presentations

American Connections Project Trevor Beltz , Manager of Government Affairs & Public Relations at Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) provided the Council with a briefing on the American Connections Project https://www.americanconnectionproject.com/. Made up of more than 150 companies and organizations from many industries, this coalition advocates for policies to bring high-speed internet access to all Americans. Land O’Lakes, Inc. has been a key organizer and proponent with a focus on rural areas and agriculture.

The coalition is advocating for • Increased funding Federal funding of at least $80 billion is needed to fill the gap in poor infrastructure, an investment supported by both FCC and USDA reports

• Better mapping More accurate and granular reporting of broadband coverage data is necessary to highlight service gaps and efficiently deploy scarce government resources to the areas that need it most. The Broadband DATA Act is a great start to address this problem, and Congress and the federal agencies should swiftly implement this law.

• Coordination Stronger government coordination must occur at the federal level, as well as with states and localities, to effectively deploy these limited resources. We support efforts to provide leadership and coordination across the executive branch in the federal government, to position our country as a technology leader, ensure our economic competitiveness and maintain strong national security.

• Expanding telehealth access We support the continued expansion of telehealth access, with an emphasis on quality and equity, so that patients can continue to receive the right care at the right time in the right setting.

One of the initiatives has been to help users identify free sources of WiFi access to the internet https://www.americanconnection.io/map

Another initiative is the American Connection Corp program. Trevor reported that Lead For America (LFA) and the American Connection Project (ACP) are teaming up to mobilize leaders to

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 12 of 17 Draft Minutes return to their hometowns to coordinate broadband development and digital inclusion locally and across the country by sponsoring local Fellows that will serve their home communities in locations nationwide through high-impact, high-urgency two-year placements focused on closing the digital divide and building the next generation of leaders. The inaugural class of fellows will be deployed to urban and rural towns in Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Kansas and Oregon. During their two years as American Connection Corps fellows, they will work to increase digital access and inclusion in their communities by coordinating with local partners to tap into federal and state resources for broadband access or delivering digital literacy to marginalized members of the community. In addition, fellows will receive training from higher education institutions in their region on technical assistance, research and innovation. Fellows will also connect young people in the community with newly identified opportunities, mentoring them in starting businesses, nonprofits and community groups that address local needs with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Applications for Oregon Fellows are due by June 15th. Fellowship service will begin on August 16. https://www.americanconnectionproject.com/articles/apply-to-acp-corps-here/

Trevor noted that Oregon is the only state west of Nebraska that has participants in the coalition and said that, “We should stand up Oregon as the Beacon of the West.”

Program Contacts: Tillamook County Creamery Association Trevor Beltz Manager, Government Relations & Public Affairs [email protected]

Land O’Lakes Inc. Matthew Wohlman Sr. Director of State and Industry Affairs [email protected]

Commissioner Yamamoto commended Tillamook Creamery for its engagement and also recognized the widespread local business support for broadband in the County. He noted that now is an historic time and opportunity to address the digital divide given the current federal funding programs being introduced. He is also a member of the Association of Oregon Counties and wants to make that organization a champion for broadband.

Trevor asked for the Council’s support for this program. Dave Sabala moved the OBAC support and be a resource for the American Connection Project activities in Oregon. Commissioner Thompson seconded the motion. The Council approved the motion.

Business Oregon Daniel Holbrook of the Oregon Broadband Office provided the Council with an overview of the Oregon Business Development Department known as “Business Oregon.” The new Director of Business Oregon, Sophorn Cheang, introduced herself to the Council and affirmed the agency’s commitment to broadband and infrastructure development in Oregon.

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 13 of 17 Draft Minutes

Daniel shared the agency’s vision and mission. The vision is “Prosperity for all Oregonians,” and the mission is to invest in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy.

Business Oregon’s strategic priorities are to innovate Oregon’s economy, grow small and middle- market companies, cultivate rural economic stability, advance economic opportunity for underrepresented people, and ensure an inclusive, transparent, and fiscally healthy agency.

In addition to administering over 80 programs, Business Oregon houses eight Boards and Commissions in addition to OBAC: • Oregon Business Development Commission • Infrastructure Finance Authority • Oregon Innovation Council • Oregon Growth Board • Oregon Arts Commission • Oregon Cultural Trust • Business Finance Committee • Seismic Grant Committee

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 14 of 17 Draft Minutes Business Oregon has been very active in the state’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Oregon legislature directed Business Oregon to stand up many programs using CARES Act and state funding • $43.1M // Emergency Grants for Small Businesses (Approx. 7,500 grants through 5 rounds) • $5M // Technical Assistance Providers targeting underrepresented businesses • $34.8M // Rural Hospitals Impacted by COVID • $20M // Broadband Development ($1.1 million passed through to ODE) • $26M // Statewide Cultural Support • $14M // Personal Protective Supplies for Small Businesses • NEW $100M // Commercial Rent Relief for businesses impacted by COVID

Daniel noted that 26 of the 28 broadband projects funded in 2020 from the Coronavirus Relief Fund have been completed. The agency will continue to play a key role going forward given the Governor’s proposed budget of $1.2 billion for infrastructure including water, waste water, broadband ($100 million) and public improvements.

Chair Franell was impressed by the scope of work taking place at Business Oregon and said that this story needs to be shared more widely.

Work Session

2021 Legislative Session Daniel Holbrook presented an update on broadband related bills and resolutions introduced. He cited bills that had recent activity. A report on all the broadband related bills and resolutions followed will also be posted under this meeting date.

HB 2507 Decouples Oregon Telephone Assistance Program from funding offered by Federal Communications Commission. Modifies sunset provisions applicable to Oregon Telephone Assistance Program. Sponsored by Representative MARSH. Status: Governor signed into law 5/21/21. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2507/Enrolled

HB 2508 Requires Oregon Health Authority to ensure reimbursement of health services delivered using telemedicine. Modifies requirements for health benefit plan coverage of telemedicine. Declares emergency, effective on passage. Status: Signed by the Speaker 5/20/21. Signed by the Senate President 5/25/21. Pending signature into law by the Governor. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2508/Enrolled

HB 2654 Authorizes electric utility to use or allow for use of electric easement in provision of broadband services. Provides process for property owner to bring action for damages if use in provision of broadband services results in expanded use of easement. Sponsored by Representatives SMITH DB, MARSH, Senators BEYER, FINDLEY; Representative OWENS. Status: Passed by the House 4/16/21.

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 15 of 17 Draft Minutes Passed by the Senate 5/20/21. Signed by the Speaker 5/25/21. Pending signature into law by the Governor. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2654/Enrolled

SB 629 Allows pharmacist to use telepharmacy to deliver pharmacy services to patient at remote location. Defines “telepharmacy.” Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die. Sponsored by Senator HANSELL. Status: Introduced, referred to Senate Committee on Health Care 1/19/21. Work Session held on 4/5/21. Do-Pass recommendation 4/5/21. Passed by the Senate 4/19/21. Referred to the Speaker’s desk 4/29/21. House / Assembly recommendation: Do pass 5/25/21. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB0629/Introduced

OBAC Sponsorship of Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference The conference scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2021 in Ashland was discussed. Dave Sabala moved that OBAC participate as a sponsor this year using funds from Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Fund. Jeremy Pietzold seconded the motion. The Council approved the motion. Conference information may be found at www.oregonconnections.info.

Public Questions / Comments Danielle Gonzales of Marion County Economic Development reported that Marion County will be hosting a new Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program position focusing on broadband and agriculture. The mission of the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program is to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social, and environmental conditions, through the assistance of trained graduate-level members who live and work in communities for 11 months https://rare.uoregon.edu/about/

Danielle also noted that Marion County will be issuing a Call for Broadband Projects in response to the new funding programs, and will be issuing a Request for Proposal for agricultural broadband projects.

Diane Garcia of Calix noted that recent launch of the EBB and that bad actors are emerging in response to all the federal programs and funding. Care and effort and supervision is required to ensure that the funds are productively spent for long term results.

Steve Corbató of Link Oregon announced that Link Oregon is interested in exploring partnerships for funding opportunities. He also noted that Link Oregon is hosting its Network Lighting Celebration as part of this year’s annual Member Meeting on Monday, June 7 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. (PDT) to commemorate our having reached an important milestone — completion of the initial two phases of our statewide network backbone and the successful deployment of 50 access locations across Oregon. There will be speakers sharing their perspectives on the positive impact that reliablebroadband access for public and non-profit organizations can have on communities across Oregon — in healthcare, education, research, public service, and economic development. Link Oregon will also share what's next on its roadmap for network development and services https://www.linkoregon.org/.

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 16 of 17 Draft Minutes

Meeting Schedule The May 27, 2021 meeting of the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council was held as a virtual on-line web-conference. The next meeting of the council will be held on June 24, 2021 as a virtual on-line web-conference. Meeting information will be posted on the council website.

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 am.

Approved by:

Joseph Franell, Chair Date Oregon Broadband Advisory Council

Daniel Holbrook Date Business Oregon

Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, May 27, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 17 of 17