Title: Appalachia
1Appalachias Information Age Appalachia
- Harry L. Roesch
- Senior Telecommunication Advisor
- RTC Conference
- Springfield, Illinois
- October 2007
-
2The ARC has approved in excess of 300 million in
support of telecommunications projects since 1972
3(No Transcript)
4Appalachian States
5Appalachian Region
- 13 states
- 410 counties
- 200,741 sq. miles
- 23 million people
- 72 local development
- districts
6Facts and issues about the Region
- In 2002, 42 of the ARC population were
classified as being rural compared to 20 for
the nation - In FY 2007 78 /410 counties were classified as
being Distressed based on ARC criteria. - DSL or cable modem access from a cable TV service
provider is generally the only affordable
broadband services in Appalachia.
7 1972 1985 History
- ARC invested millions of dollars in satellite
down link and microwave equipment, early
generation tapping equipment, and nascent
network development UK was the up-link site for
all educational programming - ARC underwrote the development of program
content, and facilitated simultaneous
educational programming provided throughout the
region
81985 - 1990
- Throughout the 1980s the ARC continued to
support the development / transmission of
expanded educational curriculum materials using
microwave technologies - Numerous small educational networks began to be
developed and TVA was early partner in project
development and project management - Many networks initially used T1 lines to
facilitate connectivity - 10s of Millions of dollars were invested
91991 Knoxville Conference
- This jointly funded conference co-sponsored by
the TVA, telecommunication service providers,
universities, and others attracted over 350
people the conference.
10Post the conference the ARC reserved 265,000
to fund small Multi-County Strategic
Telecommunications Plans throughout the Region.
- 1992 1993
- 10 strategic telecommunications planning projects
were funded NY, Ohio, PA, MD, VA, SC, NC, WV
often more than one in a state
11 1992 1994 Once the planning programs were
completed, numerous small networks were funded by
the ARC - with NY funding 14 educational
networks based on the planning effortsthat were
underwritten
12ARCs First Telecommunications Regional
Initiative Program1995 - 1998
- Over 130 projects were funded over the 4 year
period of time totaling over 12,000,000 - 5 new state region-wide strategic
telecommunications plans were approved AL, Pa,
KY, TN, NC - and numerous other special demonstrations
projects in education, telemedicine, business,
and government were approved
131999 - 2007
- More strategic telecommunications planning
projects were funded - GA, KY, AL - Demand Aggregation projects were funded - NC,
Ohio, KY, MD, PA, KY - Numerous multi sector user networks were funded -
AL, GA, NC, KY, PA, MD, NY, NC, VA, WV - and, all types of innovative implementation and
TA projects were funded Cyber Campuses NC,
several non-profit ISPs established in GA, OH,
and Help Desks TN, MD, OH - E - demonstrations PA, NY
- The ARC annually approves between 4-6 Million
dollars worth of telecommunications projects
14Demand Aggregation projects and other state
efforts the ARC is closely monitoring
- KYs CITE / ConnectKentucky program, and Ohios
Access Appalachia - NCs - NC Rural Internet Access Authority
- NCs -Appalachian Access project
- Mississippis -The Create Foundations - MEGAPOP
project to expand High-Speed Broadband
connectivity - Pennsylvanias - 3 county wide demand aggregation
projects - And Marylands Allconet2 E-business network
15ARCs New ProgramInformation Age Appalachia
Approved 11/2001
- A program to help the Appalachian region to
overcome the Digital Divide and ensure that
affordable high-speed telecommunications
services become a reality in the region
16ARCs IAA Program focus.
- Improve access to infrastructure through
strategic planning efforts, assisting with Demand
Aggregation efforts, and in some cases actually
installing some critical necessary
infrastructure - Provide education, training, and workforce
development programs on IT to benefit all sectors
of the economy with enhanced educational and TA
materials - Assist S M size businesses with E-commerce
readiness training programs, working with trade
associations, and other organizations, and with
specific business sectors in developing overall
improved IT utilization opportunities in the
region - Develop new Technology Sector strategies that
will assist the region in capturing more IT
sector business.
17 IAA Program In-house program was funded at
1,000,000 over the period of FY 2002 -
2004Guiding Principles
- Emphasis on the Distressed areas in the region
- Builds on ARCs partnership model
- Funds only projects that are locally sustainable
2 sector beneficiary required for all funded
projects - Assists the region to find affordable solutions
- Builds on local capacity in individuals /
organizations - DA Workshops are still being offered
18IAA In-house - Accomplishments
- 26 Aggregation of Demand Workshops have been
held, and 4 funding workshops, and 4 E-Rate
workshops have been held - 5 Wireless Demonstrations projects are now
underway in NY, OH, and WV - Carnegie Mellon U. TA contract approved WV / PA
initially wireless demonstrations - 6 - Conferences supported including - 2 -
Rural Telecommunications Congress Conferences - 5 E-commerce Tourism / Arts / Crafts projects
funded in 2003 - Continued central office TA services
19A special set-a-side of 2 Million was reserved
for telecommunications and other initiatives
projects in FY 2005-2007
20Types of projects funded under the 2 M
set-a-side
- Improved access to infrastructure AL, VA, PA,
MD, MS, TN, NY, WV, NC - Improved education, training, workforce
development AL, NY, NC, MD, SC, TN - Assisted businesses with E-commerce readiness
programs PA, MD, NY, AL, VA, - Assisted in Tech Sector development employment
programs WV,KY, TN, KY - Expanded partnership arrangements were developed
throughout the region to enhance
telecommunications improvements in the region
PA, KY - Worked with local stakeholders to improve their
technical knowledge of the Information Age
issues through Strategic Telecommunications
Planning AL, KY, VA, SC
21Appalachian Region
- 13 states
- 410 counties
- 200,741 sq. miles
- 23 million people
- 72 local development
- districts
22Cable Internet Access Available, 2000 (In Parts
or Whole of County)
Cable Internet Access Available
No Cable Access
23Cable Internet Access Available, 2003 (In Parts
or Whole of County)
Cable Internet Access Available
No Cable Access
24DSL Internet Access Available, 2000 (In Parts or
Whole of County)
4 or More DSL-Ready Telephone Switches
1 3 DSL-Ready Telephone Switches
No DSL Access
25DSL Internet Access Available, 2003 (In Parts or
Whole of County)
4 or More DSL-Ready Telephone Switches
1 3 DSL-Ready Telephone Switches
No DSL Access
26Competition Service of High-Speed Internet
Providers, 2000 (by ZIP Code)
No High-Speed Provider
1 3 High-Speed Providers
4 or More High-Speed Providers
27Competition Service of High-Speed Internet
Providers, 2002 (by ZIP Code)
No High-Speed Provider
1 3 High-Speed Providers
4 or More High-Speed Providers
28ARC based activities that benefit the states
- The ARC continues to offer Aggregation of Demand
workshops throughout the region as requested.
past recipients PA, MD, MS, OH, VA, NY, AL, WV,
KY, VA, GA - ARC continues to expand its outreach / working
relationships with foundations, trade
associations, non-profits, industry, businesses,
etc. Motorola / Microsoft - ARC has created an On-line telecommunication
resource center within the ARC WEB site
www.ARC.GOV to help the region find resources to
fund telecommunication related projects at the
local level.
29Critical Types of Applications Needed in
Appalachian Communities
- Telemedicine, E-Commerce, E-government, Distance
Learning
30The ARC will fund all types of projects that
further the adoption of applications in the
region, but projects must be multi - sector in
nature
31Distance Learning
- ARC will fund Distance learning programs that
improve the quality of education curriculums for
school system, colleges and universities - ARC will fund Advanced Placement / dual
enrollment programs that are offered by colleges
/ universities inspires students to go to
college - ARC will fund Community Access Centers that offer
/ provide in-place continuing educational
opportunities for all residents - ARC will continue to fund expanded Workforce
training and Adult Literacy programs
32Telemedicine and Telehealth Services
- It is now becoming a standard of practice for the
reimbursement industry to reimburse for
telemedicine services Medicare, Medicaid, Blue
Cross, etc. - Telemedicine programs improve the overall access
and delivery of quality health care - Hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and doctors
offices are now routinely sharing patient
information Informatics utilizing Internet
connectivity to improve the quality of patient
care and case management - Disease Management and post operation follow-up
services are now being routinely facilitated by
in-home telemedicine devices using POTS lines
33E-Commerce
- Businesses are discovering that a Robust WEB site
means potential new market penetration and new
sales - Many businesses are now being required to do
business on-line / ISO-9000 certified businesses
now require Electronic Commerce Interface with
other ISO-9000 businesses - Businesses are using video-conferencing to
market their products, conduct routine
administrative in-house services, and provide
continuing educational services to staff - Business assistance services offered by IDAs,
SBDCs, Chambers of Commerce, etc. are now being
frequently provided through routine on-line
training and In-house training programs for
businesses
34E-Government
- Governments are now offering on-line services
that provide routine information on taxation,
public hearings, minutes and agendas of meetings,
plans under review, etc. - Governments are now offering all types of ways to
do E Government business on-line register
cars, get license plates, pay taxes, get business
licenses, locate services within the government,
conducting surveys on-line, and providing ways to
contact elected officials on issues - Criminal justice services are now routinely being
done through video conferencing services
including arraignments, and medical assessments,
routine hearings, pre-trial motions, expert
witness testimony services - Governments are now offering all types of
economic and social development services through
WEB sites and on-line services
35Where to get help from Federal Programs that the
ARC can partner with
- . Rural Utilities Service Program D O
Agriculture www.usda.gov/rus/telecom.dlt.dlthtm - Neighborhood Network Program CDBG / Small
Cities Program - DHUD - Community Technology Centers, - DOED
- Universal Service Fund Program / E-Rate - FCC
www.universalservice.org - Office for the Advancement of Telehealth OAT
http//telehealth.hrsa.gov
36How to apply for ARC funds
- The ARC WEB site at www.ARC.GOV should be first
opened - Look up states sub-directory AL WV, and locate
the name of the State ARC Program Manager. - Contact your States Program Manager and discuss
the nature of any project before you put anything
on paper!!!!! The states invite the proposals /
applications not the ARC!
37Resources beyond Federal and State funding are
needed to close the telecommunications gap..
- Corporate and foundation funding will continue to
be sought by the ARC over the coming years to
augment ARC funding that will be pledged to the
implementation of the IAA program.
38This is clearly a Human Resource Development /
Economic Development issue that applies to all
sectors of the Appalachian economy - High-speed
Broadband telecommunications services will
underpin all aspects of the Information Age
society in the future..
39Thank You
- Harry L. Roesch
- Senior Telecommunications Advisor
- Appalachian Regional Commission
- 1666 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
- Washington, D.C.
- 202-884-7774 phone
- 202-884-7682 fax