Marathon County Broadband Gap Analysis October 2009 Prepared by: Wendy Chretien, Elert & Associates Peter Gray, Elert & Associates Michael Bradley, Bradley & Guzzetta Dick Treich, Front Range Consulting Bunnie Riedel, Riedel Communications Elert & Associates 651-430-2772 www.elert.com Marathon County Broadband Gap Analysis Table of Contents 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................ 3 2 RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY ..................................................................................................... 3 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................. 5 3.1 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION ................................................................................................ 6 3.1.1 Short Term Activities .............................................................................................................. 7 3.1.2 Strategic Plan ......................................................................................................................... 7 3.1.3 Priorities ................................................................................................................................. 7 4 PROCESS ............................................................................................................................................ 8 4.1.1 Phase 1 – Inventory, Needs Identification and Gap Analysis ................................................. 8 4.1.2 Phase 2 - Cost Estimating and Potential Utilization of County’s Public Safety Wireless Backbone ............................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1.3 Phase 3 - Ownership/Operations Models and Potential Partnerships ................................... 9 5 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................................... 9 5.1 DEMOGRAPHICS ........................................................................................................................... 9 5.2 TERRAIN/TOPOGRAPHY ...............................................................................................................10 5.3 ELECTRIC UTILITIES ....................................................................................................................10 5.4 CURRENT INTERNET SERVICES IN MARATHON COUNTY .............................................................11 5.4.1 Available Broadband Services ...............................................................................................12 5.4.2 Affordability ...........................................................................................................................12 5.4.3 Speed/Bandwidth ...................................................................................................................13 5.4.4 Coverage Areas .....................................................................................................................14 5.4.5 Internet via Cable Modem .....................................................................................................15 5.4.6 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) ...............................................................................................16 5.4.7 Fixed Wireless Service ...........................................................................................................17 5.4.8 Mobile/Cellular Wireless .......................................................................................................20 5.4.9 Satellite-based Internet Service .............................................................................................21 5.5 BUSINESS BROADBAND FINDINGS ...............................................................................................22 5.5.1 Interviews/Meetings ...............................................................................................................22 5.5.2 Agri-business .........................................................................................................................23 5.5.3 Business Survey Results (Appendix A) ...................................................................................24 5.6 RESIDENTIAL BROADBAND FINDINGS .........................................................................................25 5.6.1 Residential Survey Results (Appendix B) ...............................................................................25 5.6.2 Public Libraries .....................................................................................................................25 5.6.3 Higher Education ..................................................................................................................26 5.6.4 School Districts......................................................................................................................26 5.6.5 Public Input Meetings ............................................................................................................26 5.6.6 Municipality Meetings ...........................................................................................................28 5.6.7 Other Gathered Information ..................................................................................................30 5.7 FIBER FACILITIES (KNOWN OR DISCOVERED) ..............................................................................30 5.8 REGULATORY CLIMATE ..............................................................................................................31 5.8.1 Federal Rules and Regulations ..............................................................................................31 5.8.2 Recovery Act Grant Opportunities ........................................................................................32 5.8.3 State Rules and Regulations ..................................................................................................33 5.8.4 Local Ordinances ..................................................................................................................33 6 POTENTIAL BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES ..........................................................................37 6.1 4G (WIMAX AND LTE) ..............................................................................................................37 6.2 BROADBAND OVER POWER LINE (BPL) ......................................................................................38 Elert & Associates October 2009 Page 1 Marathon County Broadband Gap Analysis 6.3 FIBER TO THE HOME/FIBER TO THE PREMISE ..............................................................................38 7 VIABLE COUNTY OPTIONS .........................................................................................................40 7.1 PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT EXISTING OPTIONS ...........................................40 7.2 MAKE USE OF EXISTING COUNTY/MUNICIPAL TOWERS .............................................................40 7.3 SUPPORT EXPANSION OF BROADBAND WIRELESS COVERAGE BY COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS .....41 7.3.1 Service to end users ...............................................................................................................41 7.3.2 Middle mile infrastructure .....................................................................................................41 7.3.3 Apply for grant funds to subsidize pole installations .............................................................42 7.4 ENHANCE PUBLIC ACCESS ..........................................................................................................42 7.5 IDENTIFY POTENTIAL COLLABORATIVE GRANT PROJECTS..........................................................43 7.6 CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH LOCAL INCUMBENT PHONE COMPANIES ......................................43 GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................................44 APPENDIX A – BUSINESS SURVEY REPORT APPENDIX B – RESIDENTIAL SURVEY REPORT APPENDIX C – CENSUS SUMMARY FOR MARATHON COUNTY APPENDIX D - CENSUS URBAN AREA MAP APPENDIX E – CENSUS BUREAU MAP OF MARATHON COUNTY APPENDIX F – INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS IN MARATHON COUNTY APPENDIX G - KNOWN AND ASSUMED WIRED BROADBAND COVERAGE APPENDIX H – CLAIMED WIRELESS BROADBAND COVERAGE MAP APPENDIX I – KNOWN AND ASSUMED GAPS IN BROADBAND COVERAGE APPENDIX J – TERRAIN CHALLENGES – FOREST AND SLOPES APPENDIX K – TELEPHONE COMPANY SERVICE AREAS APPENDIX L – FORESTED AREAS OF MARATHON COUNTY Elert & Associates October 2009 Page 2 Marathon County Broadband Gap Analysis 1 Acknowledgements The study team (Elert & Associates, Bradley & Guzzetta, Front Range Consulting, and Riedel Communications) wishes to thank all the residents, businesses and municipal officials who took part in meetings and interviews and/or completed surveys. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Wausau Regional Chamber of Commerce in inviting and encouraging its member businesses to participate in the online survey. Within Marathon County government, our special thanks to Ed Hammer, Gary Hetzer, Gerry Klein, Loretta Schultz and Diane Wessel. We also wish to thank the broadband providers who provided information about their services and coverage areas. These included AirRunner, Cellcom, Country Wireless, Network