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Post subject: Dade not on the list for Rural Broadband
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:44 pm
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I had heard from a few that either Dade or Trenton telephone had applied for a grant. It doesn't look like we got anything. This brings up another question. In the last two or three years after all the promises on grants that occured during campaigning how many new grants have we gotten? How many have we applied for? If our win percentage is zero or not to high maybe we need to get someone to look at the aplications other than the ones that are looking at them now? (ie SEIDA). Well here is the info
Georgia Counties to Benefit from high Speed Internet Projects
By Tammy Terry | Associated Press Published: August 05, 2010
Quote:
Georgians in rural parts of the state will soon have access to high-speed internet thanks to $13 million in federal grants. T
he state will start three new broadband projects with the money. the projects will affect about 75,000 people and 2,700 businesses. Georgia has received nearly $110 million in federal grants to expand broadband internet services in the state since 2006.
Quote:
Selected to receive funds are:
Windstream Georgia Communications, LLC - $5,129,575 grant to provide service to over 18,500 homes and over 2,000 businesses in these twenty counties: Baldwin, Berrien, Brooks, Chattooga, Colquitt, Dodge, Dooly, Irwin, Jones, Macon, Meriwether, Pickens, Schley, Stephens, Talbot, Telfair, Thomas, Turner, Wheeler, and Whitfield. Windstream proposes to use industry standard ADSL2+ (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line) protocols that will allow customers to enjoy broadband at speeds of up to 12 Mpbs. Windstream is contributing $1,709,859 towards project costs.
Windstream Standard, LLC - $6,940,375 grant to provide service to approximately 12,000 people, 750 business and 50 other community institutions in these counties: Banks, Dawson, Fannin, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Towns, Union, and White. The company will contribute $2,313,458 towards project costs.
Blue Ridge Telephone Company - $853,768 grant to provide service to 362 homes and businesses in Fannin, Gilmer and Union counties. Blue Ridge Telephone is contributing $2,320 towards project costs.
“Broadband services are critically needed in rural areas,” said Donnie Thomas, acting state director of USDA Rural Development. “State-of-the-art technology allows rural businesses can compete in the worldwide market place. Children can access educational resources and receive specialized classes.”
These projects were among the 126 projects in 38 states announced nationwide on August 4. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan, grant or loan/grant agreement. Georgia was selected to receive a total of $56.7 million in loans and grants in the first two rounds of Recovery Act funding for broadband.
Not only does the county need to look at bringing traditional utilities in like sewer and water but it also needs to bring in competition on broadband/cable/voip type services.
Post subject: Re: Dade not on the list for Rural Broadband
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:18 pm
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Here is a little something different: APPALACHIAN VALLEY FIBER NETWORK Looks like they are trying to copy Blue Ridge
Quote:
Regional broadband network still a possibility by Diane Wagner 07.07.10 - 09:28 pm A $21 million grant application to expand broadband access in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama remains alive and well.
“It’s under active consideration by the federal government,” said David Howerin, planning director of the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission.
The NWGRC spearheaded a public-private partnership that allowed the Appalachian Valley Fiber Network LLC to apply for the grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The proposed service area covers Floyd, Bartow, Chattooga, Polk, Walker, Dade, Gordon, Paulding and Haralson counties in Georgia and Calhoun, Clay and Cleburne counties in Alabama.
Broadband is available to only about 50.5 percent of the households in the region, but extension of an existing fiber network would bring the service within reach of another 144,082 households and 8,327 businesses, according to an executive summary of the application.
A regional data center in Rome would be linked to facilities in Atlanta and Chicago, and the northern end of the fiber would terminate in Chattanooga.
Additionally, the build into Alabama is a major step toward a link with Birmingham, which then links to central and South America, the report states.
Floyd County’s planned $26 million countywide emergency communication system also would be looped into the system, setting up the county as a potential nexus for regional 911 centers.
President Barack Obama included awards totaling $48.5 million to two other Georgia projects — a partnership between Lincoln, Taliaferro and Wilkes counties and service to Sapelo Island — among the 66 he announced July 2.
Howerin said the Appalachian Valley application is under consideration for a subsequent round of awards expected later this year.
The ARRA appropriated $7.2 billion for two broadband initiatives aimed at expanding access across the country. The goal is to increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits.
If approved, the Appalachian Valley project is expected to create 75 direct jobs, 74 indirect jobs for suppliers and 83 induced jobs when the wages from the other jobs are spent, according to the application.
Broadband USA Applications Database Applicant Name: APPALACHIAN VALLEY FIBER NETWORK Project Title: Appalachian Valley Fiber Network ("AVFN") Project Type: Comprehensive Community Infrastructure _______________________Executive Summary_______________________ The Opportunity & the Challenge The lower Appalachian Valley is a historically impoverished area, lagging behind the rest of the country in such areas as education, healthcare, delivery of public services & job creation. During the past decade, the economy of the lower Appalachian valley was decimated by job losses in the manufacturing sector. In this primarily rural part of the country, unemployment is above the national average. For northwestern Georgia & eastern Alabama, the path towards economic recovery lies in providing a world-class infrastructure that will improve quality of life, thereby attracting new employers & fostering growth of small businesses. Providing affordable access to high-quality broadband is an important part of the solution to these long-term regional problems. Appalachian Valley Fiber Network (AVFN) is a unique public/private partnership spanning two states that is committed to expanding & enhancing existing middle-mile fiber optic infrastructure. Building on the recommendations of a 2009 study conducted by the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute, AVFN joins with the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority, the Alabama Broadband Initiative, the East Alabama Regional Planning & Development Commission, Floyd County, Citizens for a Digital Future, Georgia Institute of Technology & Trenton Telephone Company to provide high-capacity broadband throughout the proposed service area. AVFN member, Parker Systems/Fibernet (Parker), now provides middle & last mile service in the northwest Georgia portion of the proposed service area. Regional last-mile providers have agreed to subscribe to AVFN middle-mile service so community anchor institutions & businesses will be able to readily access the high-capacity broadband needed to support the widest possible variety of applications. Interest in AVFN's proposed middle mile service is strong, with 185 community anchor institutions expressing need for the broadband service. The opportunity presented by this public/private collaboration with an existing broadband provider translates into connecting the entire proposed service area to global broadband access. Service Area The proposed service area is comprised of nine counties in Georgia (Bartow, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk & Walker) & three counties in Alabama (Calhoun, Clay & Cleburne). The proposed service area totals 2,653 square miles, with a combined population of 383,859. The largest city in the GA segment is Rome, population 34,980. The largest city in the AL segment is Anniston, population 24,276. The area as a whole is primarily rural. The 24-month unemployment average is 8.61%. Broadband penetration is approximately 50.5% of households. Cable modem, tailored to residential rather than high-capacity institutional use, is the primary broadband source. Other types of available broadband are DSL & Ethernet, which lack speed & flexibility to support many applications. Households & Businesses Passed The proposed middle-mile service will be proximate to 144,082 households & 8,327 businesses. AVFN can reach these subscribers through its last-mile service provider customers. Community Anchor Institutions 185 community anchor institutions have expressed interest in AVFN's enhanced broadband services. Specifically, 16 schools (k-12), 11 libraries, 40 healthcare providers, 47 public safety entities, 4 community colleges, 5 institutes of higher learning, 15 community support organizations & 49 government facilities will benefit from AVFN's proposed services. Floyd County will also integrate AVFN fiber into its public safety backhaul network & initiate a regional broadband project linking 911 centers. Proposed Services & Applications AVFN will offer expanded & enhanced broadband connections for community anchor institutions & businesses to access new &/or improved services. Among the proposed services & applications are state-of-the-art telemedicine, e-government, distance learning & business-grade broadband. The Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute created for AVFN the Success in Education & Economic Development (SEED) program. SEED is a tele-mentoring program aimed at high school & community college students to provide economic opportunity. Nondiscrimination & Interconnection Obligations AVFN commits to (1) adhere to the principles contained in the FCC's Internet Policy Statement or any subsequent ruling/statement; (2) not favor any lawful Internet applications & content over others; (3) display any network management policies in a prominent location on its Web page & provide notice to customers of changes; (4) connect to the public Internet directly or indirectly, such that the project is not a closed network; & (5) offer interconnections, where technically feasible without exceeding current or reasonably expected capacity limitations, at reasonable rates & terms to be negotiated with requesting parties. This includes both the ability to connect to the public Internet & physical interconnection for traffic exchange. Type of Broadband System to be Deployed AVFN will build a middle-mile fiber optic broadband network that expands the infrastructure of a pre-existing middle-mile network owned by Parker. The network will consist of a fiber ring spanning the Georgia portion of the network, seven nodes located in the most populous areas & terminal points in Atlanta & Chattanooga. The nodes will be supplemented by POPs and SPOPs to satisfy demand for connectivity. Additional network redundancies & bandwidth will be created through three sub-loops. An existing data center in Rome will become a fiber hotel/collocation facility for northwest Georgia & northeast Alabama. AVFN will use SONET connectivity & Wave Division Multiplexing. Border Gateway Protocol will be the core Internet product, peered with multiple tier 1 Internet providers. Telephony will be supported by three independent switch providers & multiple connections to AT&T. These technology solutions promote extremely high speed, scalable & dependable broadband. AVFN also provides for future expansion and network security. With a regional data center in Rome interconnected to facilities in Atlanta and Chicago, there is back up in the event of system failure. The build into Alabama provides a major step towards interconnection with Birmingham, which then links to Central and South America. Qualifications of Applicant AVFN LLC is an alliance of Blue Streak Cable & Telecommunications (Blue Streak) & Parker. Blue Streak was formed when two leaders in their respective fields decided to combine resources to create a national leader in telecommunications. Founded in 1936, Beauchamp Construction Co., Inc. (BCC) has a decorated & trusted reputation as a proven industry leader. BCC has been a premier commercial construction company for decades. From its roots in Washington D.C., to its current home base in Coral Gables, Florida, BCC brings financial strength (over $200M in bonding capacity), extensive government contracting experience & skilled managers to the partnership. Cable Connections & Utilities (CCU), was founded in 1985 as a provider of cable infrastructure. CCU is a leading contractor for, among others, Comcast, A.T.& T, the Department of Defense, Level 3 and Sprint. CCU has installed 3,200+ miles of
aerial & 8,500+ miles of broadband fiber. Parker was founded in 1985 by David Parker & is a leading broadband technology provider in northwest Georgia. Parker received its CLEC & OCC status in 1998. Parker has installed 2,000+ miles of fiber & 700+ miles of aerial. Combining the financial & institutional power of Blue Streak with the intimate local knowledge of Parker Systems gives AVFN complete confidence it can deliver results. Parker's long-term experience as a regional broadband operator provides a sound basis for long-term network sustainability. Overall Infrastructure Cost Construction of system infrastructure will involve installation of 960,701 feet of cable & ducts, 72,072 feet of aerial, 200 hand holes, plus boring, trenching & splicing. Materials & labor costs are estimated at $17,702,862.00. Subscriber Projections AVFN is providing a middle-mile only service. AVFN subscribers will thus be lastmile & middle-mile providers. While community anchor institutions have already expressed interest in benefiting from AVFN, access will come through a last-mile provider. Note that AVFN member Parker is also a last-mile provider & will be an AVFN subscriber. By the end of year 8, AVFN projects that it will serve 19 subscribers. Number of Jobs Created or Saved Relying on the Council of Economic Advisors formula, we estimate creation of 75 direct jobs, 74 indirect jobs & 83 induced jobs.
Post subject: Re: Dade not on the list for Rural Broadband
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:34 pm
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Ted on "Tha Fluffer" this morning going over the agenda for tonight said they would be discussing with the County Attorney about meeting with your employeer about broadband and franchise fees.
Post subject: Re: Dade not on the list for Rural Broadband
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:59 pm
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:34 pm Posts: 369 Location: Rising Fawn, GA
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I for one am happy we didn't get any money stolen from my grandkids to upgrade everyone's internet service. Stealing is stealing even if you benefit from it.
_________________ Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. .. those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. C.S. Lewis
Post subject: Re: Dade not on the list for Rural Broadband
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:01 am
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I just wonder how many people wouldn't drink from the water tap if they were thristy and the tap was just sitting there running? My point being that if the Goverment is giving away money (Grants and such) to everone who would get one if they applied how many wounld not apply? They would be giving it to someone.... There is always a hand out for a handout....
Post subject: Re: Dade not on the list for Rural Broadband
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:46 am
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Peter says he looks at us getting 500k as money they shouldn't have taken in the first place. I guess I eat crow. We got according to the air 500k out of a 21 Million dolar grant.
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