in Michigan and Livingston County

Status, Developments and the Future

DAN MANNING COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR – SOUTHERN MICHIGAN CONNECT MICHIGAN Discussion topics I. Intro to Connect Michigan/Connected Nation II. Broadband status in Michigan III. Broadband status and work in Livingston County IV. Recent developments V. Q&A

We value the information Connect Michigan offers to townships around the state, and looks forward to the continuation of Connect Michigan’s mission to facilitate the expansion of broadband access and use throughout the Great Lakes State. – Michigan Townships Association Who we are .Connected Nation, non-profit dedicated to expanding broadband access, adoption, and use. Core competencies include: . Network mapping, validation, and analysis . Residential and business adoption research . Local, state, and national policy analysis and capacity building . Community technology planning Community Mapping .Connect Michigan, subsidiary of Connected Nation Planning (Access) . Partnered with the Michigan Commission . Collaborate at all levels with a diverse group of stakeholders Research (Adoption & Use) . Broadband mapping, research, and community planning . Host the annual Michigan Broadband Conference in Lansing . Tasked with facilitating the expansion of broadband throughout Michigan

We have found Connect Michigan to be an independent, reliable source of information and technical assistance in the realm of broadband issues. – Northern Lakes Economic Alliance Current state of broadband access in Michigan - definition

FCC Definition History Household Availability

100%

2009 – 768Kbps/200Kbps

90%

2012 – 4Mbps/1Mbps

80%

99.1% 98.4%

2014 – 10Mbps/1Mbps 70% 96.8%

93.6%

92.7%

89.7% 88.7% 2015 – 25Mbps/3Mbps 60% 86.7% 50%

National Broadband Plan 40%

Goals: 30% 20%

2015 – 100m homes with 11.4% 50Mbps/20Mbps 10% 4.3% 0% 2020 – 100m homes with 768 Kbps 3 Mbps 10 Mbps 25 Mbps 50 Mbps 100Mbps/50Mbps October 2010 October 2014

There remains a strong grassroots constituency for broadband coverage across our southwest Michigan region. Connect Michigan will continue to be our first choice as an expert partner in our progression toward complete regional broadband coverage. – Southwest Regional Planning Commission

Current state of broadband access in Michigan

Broadband Growth (Since October 2010)

We partnered with Connect Michigan to create a pilot program to help communities create local task forces to improve their small businesses’ use of technology – with great success. We hope to work on similar collaborative projects in the future. – Community Economic Development Association of Michigan Current state of broadband access in Michigan

3Mbps/768Kbps (October 2014)

Their leadership in creating a connected state through broadband access is critical to Michigan’s continued economic revitalization. With Connect Michigan leading the charge, we’ll transform ideas and aspirations into reality, creating a prosperous and thriving Michigan. – Prima Civitas Foundation Current state of broadband access in Michigan

10Mbps/1.5Mbps (October 2014)

We knew we had a problem, but it sat unaddressed for a number of years. We didn’t address it because we didn’t know how to start, where to go for help and besides most of our peers (rural counties) had the same issue. This is where Connect Michigan came in. – Osceola County Current state of broadband access in Michigan

25Mbps/3Mbps (October 2014)

Connect Michigan is constantly working to boost Michigan’s standing in the digital economy and accelerates technology economic growth in local communities across Michigan by applying proven solutions to shared challenges. – Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission Current state of broadband access in Michigan

Unserved Household Density 25Mbps/3Mbps (October 2014)

Information Technology is generally a competitive and guarded field. Our committee attendees stated they appreciate and benefit from hearing what their peers are doing in a setting championed by a neutral party – St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission Current state of broadband adoption in Michigan 1.9 Million Non-Adopting 53,000 Non-Adopting Michigan Adults in 2014 Businesses in 2014 We don't need 37% broadband/Internet Awareness 37% No computer 18% Broadband is not 2% available Cost 14% Too much of a distraction/ would… 3% Too expensive 3% Digital Literacy 12% It is too complicated 4% Access Elsewhere 10% Other Not Available 8% 9% Illness/Disability 2% Don't know/Refused 24% Don’t Know/Other 17% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

It has been through the assistance, leadership, and guidance of Connect Michigan that our community has been able to gain the much needed knowledge to begin to move forward with a clear understanding of our current service levels and the development of a plan. – Barry County Chamber of Commerce Current state of broadband adoption in Michigan

By accelerating technology access, adoption, and use at all levels, Connect Michigan drives innovation, creates jobs, maximizes scarce resources, improves education, and increases personal incomes. – Library of Michigan Broadband Impact on Small Business Annual Business Revenue

Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center http://www.michigangetonline.com/

© CONNECT MICHIGAN DO NOT COPY WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION Connected Community Engagement Program Local technology planning program . Establish community team of diverse stakeholders . Assess the local broadband/technology landscape against standards based on the National Broadband Plan . Develop a plan to fill gaps and local technology issues identified through the assessment process . Implement projects to increase the access, adoption, and use of technology and broadband throughout the community . Achieve Connected Certification

Connect Michigan’s community outreach and education programs, policy analysis, and broadband mapping initiatives have proven to be highly effective tools in Michigan’s continued strides toward more broadband connectivity and, ultimately, our state’s economic prosperity. – Frontier Communications Connected Community Engagement Program

. Connected Certified Residential Broadband Adoption Communities have a 90% higher broadband adoption rate than the 85% 85% state as a whole and the 80% 79% US average. 75% 72% . Communities with plans, 70% (but without certification) 70% are advancing broadband 65% adoption at a rapid pace. 60%

. Connected participating 55% communities have a higher 50% rate of businesses with an 2010 2011 2012 2013 online presence than the Statewide Broadband Adoption Communities with Plans state as a whole Connected Certified Communities US Average*

Connect Michigan is an important organization that makes significant contributions to Michigan and its citizens. It is a vital organization that will help Michigan become a leader in broadband development and a haven for technology companies to bring their businesses and jobs to Michigan. – Spring Arbor University Connected Community Engagement Program . Projects being implemented include: . Website and social media classes for businesses . Digital literacy campaigns . Residential and business surveys to better identify access issues and areas of demand . Zoning ordinance language review and updates, and other regulatory language modifications to lower barriers to expansion . Awareness and support campaigns for educational one-to-one device programs . Support for local placemaking initiatives . Public-private partnerships for infrastructure expansion

. Increasing use of residential surveys to more precisely identify local demand to support provider business cases (and continually refine Connect Michigan maps) . Trend toward more localized, township-level action planning as broadband coverage increases across counties

Through Connect Michigan we devised a project plan to assist our county, our businesses and residents to enter into the global arena. Without the guidance of Connect Michigan our County would not have had access to the knowledge base that enabled us to complete the assessments needed for certification. – Roscommon County Economic Development Corporation Connected Community Engagement Program . Clare County Example . collaboration between schools, libraries, local government (cities and townships), and broadband provider resulted in public-private partnership for expanding service in rural areas . leveraged unused portions of existing fiber ring to increase capacity for spurs to rural areas, townships shared the cost of tower construction, ISP installed equipment and provided service

Unserved Household Density: October 2011 69% of households with access to 3 Mbps

Unserved Household Density: October 2012 88% of households with access to 3 Mbps

It is our sincere conviction that the Connect Michigan program has made a significant difference throughout Michigan in expanding access to broadband Internet service and also by expanding the knowledge and use of this very important communication system. – City of Clare Livingston County A CERTIFIED CONNECTED COMMUNITY Connect Michigan and Livingston County

Livingston County joined Connect Michigan’s “Connected Community” program in May 2012 o The “Connected Community” broadband program was adopted by Advantage Livingston’s Placemaking Committee Key program components: 1) Form a team of community leaders/stakeholders 2) Conduct an Assessment of the county’s current broadband environment 3) Compare the Assessment vs. nationally established criteria 4) Develop and execute a Technology Action Plan for Livingston County Connect Michigan encourages a comprehensive view of broadband

Assess and improve the existing broadband infrastructure for residents and businesses Access by working with internet service providers, key decision makers and local beneficiaries.

Assess and expand the adoption of broadband service by local residents and businesses by Adoption reducing barriers and increasing awareness of the internet’s value to their .

Assess and expand the use of broadband capabilities and applications (websites) for Use the greatest benefit to residents, businesses and the overall community. Advantage Livingston has recognized broadband as a Placemaking strategy o Identified additional key contacts/stakeholders across the county for input on current broadband concerns and plans o Reviewed current broadband coverage maps, list of broadband service providers, data on broadband speeds and other information regarding the county’s broadband infrastructure o Conducted an organizational survey of each township, village and city, including major libraries, chambers of commerce and school districts to assess broadband use, needs and satisfaction o Introduced local internet service providers to the community to help expand coverage and improve service to residents and businesses o Gathered additional community data and information to complete the Assessment process for evaluation by Connect Michigan and Connected Nation The Community Broadband Assessment evaluates the community’s access, adoption and use of broadband Livingston County’s Community Technology Scorecard Community Champions: Ceci Marlow Broadband Assessment Community Advisor: Dan Manning MAXIMU FOCUS ASSESSMENT M DESCRIPTION SCORE scores reflect strong AREA CRITERIA POSSIBLE SCORE Broadband 98% to 100% of households have 10 10 broadband support Availability access to 3 Mbps 75% of households with access to Broadband Speeds 5 5 at least 50 Mbps 90.0% to 94.9% of households with Scoring criteria established by Connected Broadband access to more than 1 broadband 4 5 Competition Nation and the National Broadband Plan ACCESS provider Availability of middle mile fiber Middle Mile Access infrastructure from more than 1 10 10 provider 99.0% to 100.0% of households Total score of 100 or more with at least 10 10 Availability with access to mobile 32 points per focus area qualifies as a ACCESS SCORE 39 40 Program grads are greater than 10 “Certified Connected Community” Digital Literacy per 1000 residents over the past 10 10 year Public Computer 500 computer hours per 1000 low 10 10 Centers income residents per week Does NOT imply that no issues exist or ADOPTION Broadband Campaigns reach 100% of the 10 10 that all residents have access to Awareness community Vulnerable 4 groups 8 10 broadband Population Focus ADOPTION SCORE 38 40 Economic 4 advanced, 4 basic uses 10 10 Opportunity Certification recognizes “best equipped” Education 2 advanced, 8 basic uses 10 10 communities; there are now 13 other USE Government 2 advanced, 4 basic uses 8 10 certified communities in Michigan Healthcare 1 advanced, 6 basic uses 8 10 th USE SCORE 36 40 (Livingston County was 4 ) COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT SCORE 113 120

A Technology Action Plan has been developed for Livingston County to expand broadband access and use

Priority Projects Other Suggested Actions 1. Complete a Vertical Assets Inventory 1. Study and Possibly Reassess Major Telecom Purchase Contracts 2. Perform an Analysis of Local Policies and Ordinances 2. Initiate a Community Computer Refurbishment Program 3. Perform a Broadband Build-out Analysis in Unserved Areas 3. Develop a Technology Mentorship Program 4. Develop Public-Private Partnerships to Deploy Broadband Service 4. Improve Online Business Services Offered by the Government 5. Assess the Need for a Broadband Training and Awareness Program for 5. Promote Telemedicine in Remote Small Businesses Areas

Livingston County Availability of 3 Mbps Broadband Service - 2012 Livingston County Availability of 3 Mbps Broadband Service - 2014 Livingston County Availability of 10 Mbps Broadband Service - 2014 Livingston County Density of Broadband Service Providers - 2012 Livingston County Density of Broadband Service Providers - 2014 Interactive Map – Available Providers by Address 4363 Buno Road, Brighton www.connectmi.org/interactive-map Livingston County Current Internet Service Providers

Cable Providers Providers Charter Air Advantage Comcast FreedomNet Wide Open West (WOW) Hidden Lake Wireless Invisalink DSL Providers Tri-County Wireless ACD.net AT&T Mobile Providers Cavalier Telephone (Windstream) AT&T Frontier MetroPCS Iserv Sprint MegaPath T-mobile TDS Telecom Verizon

© CONNECT MICHIGAN DO NOT COPY WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION Barriers to the Expansion of Broadband Access Survey of providers of all technology types Asked to identify barriers preventing them from further developing their networks:

Hard Barriers Soft Barriers 1. Low density of households 1. Real or perceived cost of broadband 2. Cost of middle mile access 2. Lack of awareness of broadband’s 2. Tower restrictions or permitting benefits 3. Pole restrictions or permitting 2. Digital literacy skills of the public 4. Physical geography and terrain 3. Real or perceived cost of computer ownership 5. Trenching restrictions and permitting 4. Concerns related to online security

© CONNECT MICHIGAN DO NOT COPY WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION General Approach for Addressing Broadband Access Needs

. Review and assess current high-level broadband coverage maps and data for your community . Refine coverage maps and data with local input and information . Conduct local broadband surveys to further refine data and support business case for potential expansion . Identify and get to know your current broadband providers . Share information about currently available providers in the community . Solicit provider input on issues/concerns regarding broadband service for your community

General Approach for Addressing Broadband Access Needs

. Explore potential solutions for identified needs . Existing or New Providers . Technology types . Partnerships (schools, libraries, state/county, etc.) . Identify potential funding sources . Assess solution costs and other considerations . Identify potential funding sources . Grants and loans . Local budgets . Public/private partnerships . Develop solution plan and execute

Recognized Needs and Active Efforts Livingston County

. Strong need for new and improved broadband access in northern and western townships . Cohoctah, Conway, Iosco, Tyrone . Townships and Connect Michigan working with providers to encourage and support expansion . Need to attract additional providers to the area . FreedomNet now upgrading tower equipment and looking for locations to mount “micro-pops” in Cohoctah Township . Iosco Township has been investigating a fiber-to-the-home project with Pulse Broadband

Michigan Public Act 564 of 2014 . opens the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) towers to colocation by other entities . area must be unserved at 3Mbps/768Kbps to qualify for colocation

Connect Michigan continues to provide leaders at all levels with neutral, candid broadband advocacy and information, and convene stakeholders across multiple sectors in launching collaborative models of broadband and technology expansion. – Lansing Economic Area Partnership Michigan Connects Fiber Map . first publicly available map of fiber routes . voluntary participation from carriers . when clicked or address entered, lists carriers: . w/ fiber within a ¼ mile . w/ 100mbps service . known to have fiber in the municipality . www.miconnects.org

As we embark upon the many initiatives identified in our Technology Action Plan and beyond; it is crucial that the services of Connect Michigan remain viable to maintain the forward momentum required to resolve our issues with broadband access, adoption, and use. – Harbor Area Regional Board of Resources, Inc. Broadband Build-out programs . Connect America Fund . Transitions subsidies from supporting phone systems to broadband build-out . Mobile and wired support . Frontier and CenturyLink have accepted subsidies for build-out in Michigan

We truly appreciate the support that Connect Michigan has awarded us in this process; we are committed to continue our advancements, with the continued expertise of Connect Michigan – Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce Broadband Build-out programs Rural Broadband Experiment Expressions of Interest in Michigan Agri-Valley Services, Inc./AVCI.net ISP Management Inc. Rural Broadband Experiments AirNorth Communications, Inc. Lennon Allband Communications Cooperative Lennon Telephone Company and TVC, . New program created during the Inc. Baraga Telephone Co. M-22 Internet Project, LLC CAF transition Barry County Telephone Company Merit Network, Inc. Blanchard Telephone Company Michigan Broadband Services . Supports new and innovative Bloomingdale Communications, Inc. Michwave Technologies, Inc. Carr Telephone Company Midwest Energy Cooperative deployments of broadband with Cherry Capital Connection Ogden Telephone Company Clear Rate Communications, Inc. Pasty.NET, Inc. funding available to previously Cloverland Electric Cooperative & RuralReach.com Lighthouse.Net . Several initial applications Comlink LLC Sand Creek Telephone Company Crystal Automation Systems, Inc. (Casair) Sebewaing Light and Water selected in Michigan, waiting on Delmerico, Dan; Iasco Township Clerk, SpeedConnect LLC Livingston County FCC to decide on waivers, DMCI Broadband, LLC Springport Telephone Co. Freedomnet Solutions Shorewaves LLC additional rules, path forward, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative SyncWave, LLC Harbor Area Regional Board of Vergennes Broadband LLC etc. before deployment Resources, Inc. (HARBOR, Inc.) Hiawatha Communications Inc. Waldron Telephone Company Hidden Lake Wireless, Inc. Westphalia Telephone Company Holland Board of Public Works

We have a Technology Action Plan, completed a county-wide broadband survey, and now have maps that resulted from the survey. Without a doubt, we would not have come this far without Connect Michigan – Ogemaw County Economic Development Community Broadband Initiative January 2015, President Obama announced a number of initiatives to expand broadband networks . Community Broadband Summit in June 2015 . BroadbandUSA technical assistance program to communities from the NTIA . Revamp of USDA-RUS broadband loan programs . Formation of Federal Broadband Opportunity Council . Call to end state laws restricting municipal broadband initiatives (impact on Michigan Telecommunications Act) . Dan Manning (Southern LP) – [email protected] . Tom Stephenson (Northern LP/UP) – [email protected] . Eric Frederic (Executive Director) – [email protected] . Maps, research, and information – www.connectmi.org . Michigan Fiber Map – www.miconnects.org Questions?

3rd Annual Michigan Broadband Conference now being planned for October 19-20, 2015 in Lansing