RE: Letter of Interest – Rural Broadband Experiments and ... · Palm Beach County was the first local government to be approved by FLR as an aggregator, or reseller of their services

March 6, 2014

Ms. Marlene DortchSecretaryFederal Communications Commission445 12th Street SWWashington, D.C. 20554

RE: Letter of Interest – Rural Broadband Experiments and the “Glades Broadband Initiative”

Dear Ms. Dortch,

This Letter of Interest is submitted on behalf of the Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition – a combination of government, education and non-profit organizations committed to bringing high-speed broadband network access to the residents and public sector organizations of theGlades Region. Bordering Lake Okeechobee, this area is highly rural in nature with the vast majority of its citizens residing in Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay. These communities have historically ranked among the poorest regions in the United States.

Through the years, local, state and federal programs have sought to improve housing, education, medical facilities, drinking water quality and employment opportunities, but little has been done in terms of providing affordable Internet access to the citizens of the Glades region. High-speed networks are now essential for government, education and health care. Internet access and computer literacy are considered basic necessities for citizens in advanced societies, such as the United States. Yet the majority of people living in this area do not have access to the Internet. With this level of unserved population, the Glades region is an ideal candidate for a Rural Broadband Experiment and we hereby seek Connect America funds to assist our initiative.

This project may be summarized as follows:

I. Project Sponsor: Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition

Member Agencies

Steven L. AbramsChairman: Palm Beach County

Broadband CoalitionCommissioner, District 4

Board of County CommissionersPalm Beach County

Sponsoring the Glades Broadband Initiative

LETTER to: Federal Communications CommissionRE: Rural Broadband ExperimentsMarch 6, 2014Page 2

The Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition was formed by seven agencies: Palm Beach County School District, Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, Palm Beach State College, Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach County Education Commission, Florida LambdaRail, and South Florida Water Management District.

A formal agreement for interagency cooperation was adopted in 2007 for the purpose of sharing network infrastructure and promoting broadband network access for the various constituent populations served by the member agencies. In 2010, Palm Beach County Broadband was formally incorporated as a 501(3)c non-profit organization.

The sole focus of the Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition for this year and the foreseeable future is to foster the development of affordable high-speed network access in the Glades region.

I. Project Description

The Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition seeks to expand broadband infrastructure to anchor institutions in the rural Glades region bordering Lake Okeechobee. The project will renovate an abandoned Level3 telecommunications hut for purposes of activating an additional and diverse connection to the Florida LambdaRail near the City of South Bay. From that point, a fiber optic network will be built – the “Glades Fiber Loop”, to connect the cities of South Bay, Belle Glade and Pahokee. A map showing the route of the fiber loop and detail of the hut interconnection is included under ATTACHMENT 1.

This will bring critical network infrastructure to this economically distressed and geographically isolated area and deliver the bandwidth needed for education, government and health care institutions and providing the fiber backbone for free public WiFi service.

An existing hut owned by Level3 Telecommunications is located on Rock Road near South Bay in western Palm Beach County. Considerable work is necessary in order to make this site an optical add-drop “on-ramp” to the Florida LambdaRail, LLC. Depending on Level3’s cost and availability of resources at the Rock Road site, the Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition may extend its fiber network to another Level3-owned facility where the FLR network is already available. Originating from the hut,


fiber optic cabling will be routed to nearby South Bay, and then continue eastward to connect Belle Glade and Pahokee. The Florida LambdaRail (FLR) will work with Level3 Telecommunications to refurbish this hut and make it compliant with FLR network standards capable of providing broadband infrastructure services to the Glades communities.

The FLR is an independent research and education network owned and operated on behalf of the FLR partner institutions and affiliates of the Florida LambdaRail, LLC, a not-for-profit limited liability corporation. Created to facilitate advanced research, education, and 21st century economy initiatives in the State of Florida, utilizing next generation network technologies, protocols, and services, FLR provides opportunities for Florida university faculty members, researchers, and students to collaborate with colleagues in-state, across the country, and around the world.

Each connecting community anchor institution (CAI) will be responsible for last mile costs to connect to the fiber loop. The proposed service area covers approximately 35 square miles with approximately 57 linear miles of fiber optic cable comprising the loop. Identified CAIs include 15 public PreK-12 schools, Palm Beach State College, Lakeside Medical Center, 31 government buildings, 7 public safety facilities and 3 public libraries.

The Glades Fiber Loop will establish a backbone from which lateral lines can link school and government towers for WiMax wireless network projects. We will also seek pole rental agreements to allow the mounting of radio antennas to provide mesh WiFi coverage in the cities’ downtown districts and targeted neighborhood areas, including multi-family housing units. These free WiFi zones will be phased in as funding becomes available.

III. Palm Beach County Fiber Optic Network

Palm Beach County manages the largest local government network in the state with more than 400 miles of fiber-optic cable serving 380 County facilities and interconnecting 36 community anchor institutions. A list of connected government, education and non-profit organizations is included as ATTACHMENT 2.

The County’s network utilizes a high speed MPLS Gigabit Ethernet backbone running over fiber optic cabling to central switching points or points of presence (POP).


Individual facilities are connected to these core switching points with a variety of technologies, including Gigabit Ethernet over private optical fiber, frame relay, and metro Ethernet. The fiber network is composed of more than 400 miles of 24, 48 and 96 strand fiber runs. This robust bandwidth has the network capacity to accommodate all government, education and healthcare operations.

Portions of the County’s fiber network are installed above ground (attached to existing FP&L utility poles) and portions buried underground. Currently, the network bandwidth capacity, based on the Cisco products used, is at Multi-Gigabit speeds, varying from 1 to 10 Gbps. If future bandwidth increases are necessary, this will be achieved through the use of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing without adding any additional strands of fiber.

Palm Beach County has a long history of collaboration through membership in the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition and through the formation of interlocal agreements for IT services (primarily network services) with numerous community anchor institutions in Palm Beach County. Further, Palm Beach County is an approved E-rate service provider (SPIN #14303412) which already provides network services to the County’s libraries and some schools.

Since 2008, Palm Beach County’s network has been interconnected with the Florida LambdaRail (FLR), www.flrnet.org, a statewide research and education network owned and operated by 12 higher education institutions (nine Public and three Private) partner members in the State of Florida.

Palm Beach County was the first local government to be approved by FLR as an aggregator, or reseller of their services.

IV. Target Geographic Area – The Glades Region

The cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay are the three westernmost communities in Palm Beach County. At 2,268 square miles, Palm Beach County is geographically the largest of Florida’s 67 counties and one of the largest counties east of the Mississippi River. With most of the population located in the coastal cities, the Glades cities are in a rural, isolated area. Belle Glade is more than 30 miles distant from its nearest neighbor to the east – Wellington, Florida.


Bordering Lake Okeechobee, this beautiful region has been reclaimed from the Everglades and the lake’s flood basin. Decades of drainage projects exposed “muck” –the black organic soil which constitutes some of the most productive crop land in the nation. Thus agriculture has always been the mainstay of the area. The topography is extremely flat and a drive through the sugar cane fields offers an impressive panoramic vista that stretches to the horizon. Lake Okeechobee is a monumental presence but invisible to motorists due to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding it.

Population Statistics

The 2010 Census reported the following population and land area statistics:

JurisdictionPopulation

(Permanent Residents)Estimated Seasonal

PopulationLand Area

(in sq. miles)Belle Glade 17,467 281 5.68Pahokee 5,649 22 4.97South Bay 4,876 0 2.05Total County 1,320,134 143,837 1,976.56

The Glades region falls entirely within the census tracts eligible for Rural Broadband Experiments.

A Vulnerable Population

The Glades Region, including Belle Glade, South Bay, Pahokee, is one of the most impoverished areas in the nation and is remote, 30 miles from eastern Palm Beach County. The population is almost entirely vulnerable. The region can best be characterized as an agricultural community with large minority and migrant populations.

Statistics from the 2010 Census showed the median household income in Belle Glade was $29,673, with more than one-fifth of the households earning less than $15,000 annually and 32% of the population below the poverty line. Per capita annual income averaged $11,025. Compare these figures to the countywide median household income, per capita income and percent of persons below poverty level of $42,806, $33,239 and


14%, respectively. For the residents, economic opportunities are lacking with the unemployment rate at 18% - almost triple the average of the County as a whole.

Students struggle tremendously in remote isolation. All of the schools in the Gladesregion are Title I schools. More than 96% of the students are on free/reduced lunch programs, a full 37% higher than the remainder of the County. Only 62.6% of the children graduate from high school, 20% less than the graduation rate in other District schools. Countywide, the graduation rate is 82.4% and the free/reduced lunch rate is 59%. Percentages of students on the free and reduced lunch program in the Glades schools are detailed in ATTACHMENT 3.

School age children are behind in education and there are challenges with language barriers. Lagging statewide test scores, low enrollment in college, active gang activity, high teen pregnancy rates and high incidents of violent crime are all indicators of severe challenges of this rural community. The drive from either coast of Florida to the Glades Community winds through nearly 40 miles of sugar cane fields and agricultural farmland to this geographically isolated region. Available Internet access is limited and the cost is largely unaffordable, compounding the feeling of isolation.

Without proper education, extra-curricular activities, and engaging digital connections, too many of these children are resorting to crime. The violent crime rate in Belle Glade at 2,115 incidences per 100,000 (population) exceeds the crime rates experienced in large cities such as Detroit, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Miami.

Of course, education is but one of the multiple challenges confronting Glades residents, including housing, nutrition, preventive medical care and family support. The children in the Glades need more opportunities which broadband access could provide by enabling them to receive the same educational programming choices enjoyed by their peers in other areas of the county. This is currently not possible due to the restricted broadband capabilities in this rural, remote region.

Another vulnerable group is senior citizens. Seniors are an extremely isolated population who often do not own a car or have access to public transportation. Technology will open up access to government services, information, and the rich resources provided through the Internet. Additionally, seniors are less likely to be computer literate and do not own computers. With a disproportionate share of


households (averaging 13% across the region) with grandparents raising grandchildren, these children are more dependent on access to public broadband services from schools, libraries and community colleges. Agriculture is the primary industry in the region today. With vast fields of sugar cane and winter vegetable crops, a large supply of unskilled workers is required. The labor force was largely comprised of African-Americans in the first half of the 20th century, transitioned to Caribbean guest-workers and then, more recently, to Hispanicimmigrants. Although mechanized harvest methods have greatly reduced the need for manual labor, the agriculture industry still employees between 9,000 and 13,000 laborers countywide with 85% to 90% of this workforce, full-time and seasonal, utilized in the Glades region. About 460,000 acres of land are devoted to agricultural purposesin Palm Beach County’s portion of the Glades region with 300,000 acres planted in sugar cane crops. Significant acreage in this area is also used to grow sweet corn and a variety of winter vegetables.

With the relatively low wages paid to agricultural laborers, the local population has perpetually struggled with the challenges that accompany poverty – malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment and high crime.

The isolation, limited public/private transportation, and limited access to primary health care and specialty physicians create a major challenge to the residents of the Glades communities. There is a shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals. A new publicly funded hospital services the Glades region and addresses some of the primary care deficits, but specialized physicians are often either not available or unwilling to commute to this area.

V. Project Objectives

A. Provide affordable high-speed broadband service via a fiber-optic network to community anchor institutions, including schools, public safety facilities, other governmental facilities, health care facilities, non-profit organizations, and other qualifying organizations.

B. Provide no-cost wireless Internet access to target communities in the

Glades area using the fiber-optic network and school tower infrastructure as backhaul points.


C. Develop measurable criteria to evaluate broadband benefits in terms of

educational performance, job creation, health care and life enrichment.

D. Support the mission of the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance (http://lorealliance.org/) which states “as the key public and private stakeholders of the tri-cities region (Pahokee, Belle Glade and South Bay) of the western Palm Beach County “Glades” region, LORE’s mission is to initiate, advocate, publicize, incubate and coordinate public and private endeavors to further the economic and general well-being of the people of the Glades region.

VI. Project Sustainability Factors

A. The Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition represents large government and educational institutions with extensive experience in community network projects as well as staff resources and the financial wherewithal to maintain a complex public sector network.

B. All members of the Palm Beach Broadband coalition are interconnected through cooperative agreements for network sharing.

C. The Palm Beach County fiber-optic network has been constructed over a 20-year period and is administered by a highly trained staff of network engineers and technicians.

D. Palm Beach County’s Department of Information Systems Services (ISS) will be responsible for primary technical support. ISS manages a large analog telephone consisting of 80 different PBXs and 10,000 nodes. Palm Beach County has initiated a project to convert all legacy PBXs to a single enterprise VoIP platform.

E. The members have jointly completed two existing “Digital Divide” projects to bring free wifi access to impoverished neighborhoods in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach. The West Palm Beach service has been operating continuously since 2009 and the Delray Beach project came on line in 2013.


VII. Project Benefits

The increased bandwidth provided to public anchor and support institutions will enable economic development and workforce agencies to dramatically improve assistance to low-income, unemployed and under-employed citizens. Communication and coordination between all public agencies and services will be enhanced as their broadband services improve. Anchor institutions will receive increased bandwidth allowing libraries, schools, hospitals, public safety, colleges, county, and city offices to improve service to their communities. Broadband education, awareness, access, equipment, training and support will be provided through the outreach efforts of the local public schools, libraries, hospital and college.

A. Public Safety

A significant benefit of the project is the ability to leverage the fiber optic network to support multiple uses including public safety (fire-rescue, law enforcement and emergency management), transportation, education, health care, workforce preparation and economic development in these rural communities. It will provide the network bandwidth necessary for facilitating Internet access, critical off-site data storage, inter-agency communication, and coordination with public safety agencies, particularly for hurricane preparedness and disaster recovery.

B. Education

Today’s students learn, collaborate, and communicate digitally and very soon all Florida K-12 students will be learning from digital media not textbooks as mandated by Florida Law. These positive and progressive changes create an even a larger gap for the Glades students as they do not have access at home or in their community to learn anywhere anytime via the Digital Connection. This project will aid in addressing these critical factors and connect them to the World.

With increased broadband to preK-12 public schools, the college and other anchor institutions, this project will offer children and adults on-line instruction, ability to enroll in GED classes and workforce training. The local community college campus will offer classes via live video feeds from coastal campuses including health programs, the RN


program, courses related to biomass production, green construction, power plant technology and other green industry occupations.

The School District of Palm Beach County, with over 150 career academies, and Palm Beach State College (PBSC), are working together to offer education and training for new career opportunities. The School District’s Adult Education Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program started in November 2013 at a former technical school. This program has 40 enrollees with a waiting list of some 80. Additionally, a branch campus of the Palm Beach State College, formerly known as Palm Beach Community College, is located in Belle Glade and is one of the anchor institutions that will receive upgraded broadband service via the new fiber network. PBSC is also a charter member of the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition.

PBSC is investing in technology enhancements including a sugar mill simulation and robotic patients for health programs so that students have access to the same tools as those on other campuses. PBSC has invested heavily in new online educational programs, with the intent to offer them to Glades residents. Nursing, patient care, Health Information Management, Medical Coding, and other curriculum will equip the employees to support the new hospital’s focus on telemedicine and online services. Increased broadband capacity is a critical component to training and education, as on-line and video based courses/conferencing, Internet research, even social and educational networking becomes an important component of the educational experience.

C. Health Care

The increased bandwidth provided to the hospital will enable medical professionals to use telemedicine for medical supports including patient evaluations, diagnosis, andconsultation, monitoring of patient status, and accurately managing patient records. The Glades Broadband Initiative could be the catalyst for using broadband generated resources to improve patient care in rural and economically challenged areas.

D. Economic Development South Bay has been identified as a contender for the location of a new “inland port” proposed by the Port of Palm Beach, which will serve as a transportation hub and


warehousing facility for east, west and south shipping purposes. A robust and affordable broadband network infrastructure would be a critical asset to such a facility.

The planned fiber optic network extension will expand service to the region and facilitate the interconnection of regional networks. Direct connectivity will be provided from Palm Beach west with future potential to interconnect other regional networks to circle Lake Okeechobee and serve the rural heartland areas of south central Florida (represented by the Florida’s Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative –FHREDI). Palm Beach County has already connected its network to Martin County.

E. Wireless Internet Access

One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the planned implementation of wireless network zones to serve the citizens, businesses and public sector agencies located within the coverage zones. In conjunction with the installation of the fiber loop, the Palm Beach Broadband County Coalition will sponsor projects to bring Internet access to a large portion of the Glades population. Both the public and small businesses will benefit from free wireless Internet access in areas where public WiFi service will be provided.

Another goal of the PBCB Coalition is to make free WiFi service available to residents in identified low-income neighborhoods and housing developments through Digital Divide projects.

The WiFi service can also be configured to establish secure sub-nets which can only be accessed by user ID and password credentials. These private wireless networkscan be used to support the operations of public safety, general government, education and health care.

VIII. Project Design Elements

A. Connection to Florida LambdaRail Network at South Bay

Depending on available Level3 resources at its site SBAYFLW (Rock Road), FLR will convert that in-line amplifier (ILA) site, or existing FLR in-line amplifier (ILA) site SBAYFLAJ located at 22679 US Highway 27 South, South Bay, FL 33430 to an “on-


ramp” to its network. This new connection will provide Palm Beach Broadband a diverse connection to its community at its most western point of network reach.

B. Glades Fiber Loop The proposed Glades Fiber Loop will act as an extension to the existing Palm Beach County infrastructure. A map showing the proposed route of the fiber loop is attached. Pertinent environmental and architectural studies of were completed in 2010. Palm Beach County utilizes the services of outside contractors for installing the fiber optic cable.

C. Public WiFi Service In conjunction with the installation of the fiber loop, the Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition will sponsor projects to bring Internet access to a large portion of the Glades population. Both the public and small businesses will benefit from free wireless Internet access in areas where public WiFi deployments are targeted.

Each school site has an existing 90’ monopole tower from which wireless transmitters can be installed as we have done in the past at other school sites. We will seek to extend our existing pole rental agreements with Florida Power & Light to include street lights in the tri-city area from which wireless radio antennas can be mounted. These backhaul points will enable the County to deploy the latest WiFi standard – 802.11AC which can deliver speeds up to 1 gigabit to individual users.

The WiFi service can also be configured to establish secure sub-nets which can only be accessed by user ID and password credentials. These private wireless networks can be used to support the operations of public safety, general government, education and health care.

The flat terrain and sparse green coverage make the Glades area an ideal space for wireless network coverage.


D. Digital Divide Projects

Another goal of the PBCB Coalition is to make free WiFi service available to residents in identified low-income neighborhoods and housing developments. Working with the Palm Beach County School District and the Palm Beach County Housing Authority, we will identify target areas to sponsor “Digital Divide” projects. Free wireless Internet access and computer training will help bridge the existing gaps in computer literacy. As in past Digital Divide projects, this initiative will involve multiple support agencies to install and manage the network, donate and refurbish computer equipment, and provide computer training. The School District and Palm Beach County government are the two lead agencies on Digital Divide projects.

E. Partnership with Investor-Owned Telecommunications Company

The Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition will seek an interested telecom service provider from the private sector to engage in a public/private partnership to help promote the adoption of new communication technologies. In particular, this partnership will help facilitate the testing of the technology shift from legacy analog voice services to modern voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone systems. Palm Beach County is currently managing a project to convert its own internal telephone system to a Unified Communications platform which will include VoIP telephone service.

Further, Palm Beach County is currently in the final stages of a project to implement a next generation 911 (NG911) system which can pinpoint the location of cellular calls and accept voice, text and video messages.

IX. Data Collection

The Palm Beach County Coalition is aware of the FCC’s requirement that the successful grant applicant collect specific data relevant to the assessment of technology transitions. We are capable of compiling and reporting information about our IP-based network service, including network capacity, call quality, device interoperability, service to persons with disabilities, system availability, 911 and PSAP service, cyber security, call persistence, call functionality, and service coverage. We understand the importance


of evaluating performance results by including a “control group” by which to assess the performance of the “experimental group.”

Palm Beach County would serve as a rich environment for the planned FCC experiment given our the breadth of services administered by its information technology department – “Information Systems Services” which includes managing a fiber optic network, wireless networks, NG 911 system, and VoIP telephone systems.

X. Preliminary Cost Estimate

Project Component Cost Estimate

Comments

South Bay ILA Conversion

$1,120,000 Does not include annual O&M costs or monthly recurring charges for rack space and power

Glades Fiber Loop $2,000,000 57 miles of fiber-optic network connecting the tri-cities to the FLR hut

Public WiFi Projects $300,000 WiFi service for schools, libraries and public places

Digital Divide Projects $100,000 Target neighborhoods to be identifiedPublic VoIP Telephone Service

To be determined

Total Estimated Costs $3,520,000

X. Local Resources Available for Project Support

Members of the Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition are capable of committing resources toward this project, including funds for construction costs and staff for planning and managing the project, as well as operating and maintaining the network on an ongoing basis.

Most of the PBCB Coalition members have agreed to include funding requests to pay for a portion of the project start-up costs (or grant match) in their fiscal year 2014-2015 budget cycles.


XI. Summary

Extension of the County’s fiber optic network to the isolated and impoverished Glades area is a prototypical Rural Broadband Experiments project. Tying to the Florida LambdaRail and building the 57-mile local fiber loop will connect South Bay to Belle Glade and Pahokee, linking dozens of community anchor institutions, including libraries, a community college, schools, city halls and office buildings, fire and police stations, and the Lakeside Medical Center, a public hospital.

The long-term sustainability of the Glades Fiber Initiative is evidenced by Palm Beach County’s 20-year proven record as a provider of enterprise class network services to a large county government. The County has built an enterprise-class network capable of providing the technical support to maintain a community open access network in the Glades area. This project is a natural extension of Palm Beach County’s and Palm Beach County Broadband’s program. Over the past six years, the County’s network has been leveraged to provide connectivity to 37 public sector organizations with the number of connecting agencies growing each year.

We look forward to competing for the Connect America grant funds offered for Rural Broadband Experiments. The Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition needs financial assistance in order to provide sixty six (66) anchor institutions with substantially upgraded network services. These include local government, public safety, education, health care, and qualifying non-profit organizations. An equally important objective isto make wireless Internet access available to thousands of Glades residents.

Of course, we will be prepared to provide the specific information requested by the FCC to help measure technology transitions involving the migration of analog telephone systems to SIP/IP networks, the adoption of NG911 technology, and the evolution of last mile transport methodologies. Further, the County’s networks are designed and built to public safety standards with secure and redundant features. All fire-stations and some sheriff substations are currently utilizing the County’s data and voice network services.

Lastly, please be aware that the County will apply for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity as well as apply for status as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier, if these are requirements to qualify for grant subsidies


from the FCC’s Connect America Fund. We have staff in place, poised and ready to proceed with this experimental project. The enclosed letters of support indicate the broad support for the proposed Glades Broadband Initiative to benefit the residents and anchor community institutions in the Glades Region.

Please let me know if you there any questions or requests for additional information associated with this Letter of Interest. The Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition stands ready to proceed with the next steps of the grant application.

Sincerely,

Steven L. AbramsChairman: Palm Beach County Broadband CoalitionCommission, District 4Board of County CommissionersPalm Beach County, Florida Attachments

c: Members of the Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition

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Rural Broadband Experiment ATTACHMENT 2 IISS Service Agreements with External Agencies

As of March 2014:

Municipalities

1. Boynton Beach2. Delray Beach3. Greenacres4. Juno Beach5. Jupiter Beach6. Lake Worth

7. Lantana8. Palm Beach 9. Palm Beach Gardens10. Riviera Beach11. Village of Royal Palm Beach12. West Palm Beach

Educational Institutions

1. Early Learning Coalition2. Florida Atlantic University3. Lake Worth Christian School4. Learning Excellence (Imagine) School5. Oxbridge Academy6. Palm Beach State College7. School Board of Palm Beach County

Non-Profit Organizations

1. The Scripps Research Institute2. Alzheimer’s Community Care3. ARC of Palm Beach County4. Boca Raton Regional Hospital5. Center for Family Services6. Families First of PBC7. Jewish Federation of Palm Beach

County

8. Kravis Center9. Lupus Foundation of America10. Nonprofits First11. Primetime12. South Florida Fair13. Workforce Alliance

Other Taxing Authorities

1. Children’s Services Council2. Health Care District3. Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District4. Seacoast Utility Authority5. South Florida Water Management District

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I I

Palm Beach Broadband Coalition Support Letter

As President and CEO of the Business Development Board ot Palm Beach County. I wish to express my support for the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's (PBBC) proposal to extend high quat~y broadband access to the rural Glades communities' area of Palm Beach County, Florida under the Federal Communications Commission. Rural Broadband Experiment Program. This area has historically lacked atrordable, quality, large bandwidth internet service and its citizens continue to pay the economic, educational, human services and safety price. The PBBC is a group of government, education. not for profrt and state entities that have collaborated over the years to maximize public and philanthropic funds to decrease networ1< costs. increase access and share scarce resources for maximum benefit to the citizens of Palm Beach County, including wireless access in some of our most impoverished urban commun~ies. Broadband access has achieved substantial strides in the heavily populated eastern side of the county, but the western rvral communities on the east side of the Lake require a substantial infrastructure investment that languishes in great part because of the long distances. challenging topography and lingering effects of the recession on public funds. This proposal in addition to local funds. expertise and sustainability can provide the leverage nee<:led to overcome those baniers, creating expanded opportunities and a more level playing field countywide.

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. has a oirect interest in increase<J internet broadband for these rural citizens because of projected business expansion and new commercial and industrial development specifically related to the proposed South Florida lntermodal Logistics Center {SFILC). The 850 acre SFILC will be able to accommodate up to 10 million square feet of office, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution space creating thousands of new jobs for the Glades communities. Access to broadband service will be key to corporate decisions on siting new facilities in the Glades tegion of Palm Beach County. The opportunity to access information or conduct enterprise from a school. wllege and other agencies opens doors for students and clients while improving services and lowering administrative costs.

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County appreciates the opportunity to provide this letter of support to further the collective regional work of many governmental. educational and not-for-prof~ partners through the Rural Broadband Experiment on behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

Sincerely,

-l!riftr4m~ Kelly Smallridge President & CEO

310EVERf'\IA STRE~T. ••VCST PALMB:.iAC:H, 1-1, $$.11•,1 T~L\~1}635·~0C~ FPX(561)8351100 V«IW.~db.e<g

• CareerSource • -PALM BEACH COUNTY

March 4, 20i4 ·


. CareerSpurce Palm Beach County wholeheartedly supports the Palm Beach County Broadband

Coalition's _{PBBC) proposal to provide residents in Palm Beach Countv's western communities with

· acc.ess to high quality broadband. As the steward of Palm Beach County's workforce development

. system~ we are keenly aware of the crltlca l.link between broadband access and emnomic inclusiOn~ it's nearly impossible to attain the latter without the former. · For those living i!l Palm Beach County's rural,

western region (i.e. BeiJe·G_Iade, Pahokee; etc) access to· affordable, reliable large bandwidth internet

services has remained elusjve. The PBBC proposal, which is:a product ofthe collective wisdom of key

stakeholders from a variety of sectors, promises t~ close the digital divide that has affected this region

for years;

careerSour.ce Palm ~ach County looks forward to working in partnership with the PBBC and other

stakeholders to create a more level playing field in our western communities.

Slneerely,

~··_d.~ Steve Cr'a:ig ·. · · ~7

. President/Chief Executive Officer

Central Career Center/Administration .1 34(>o Belvedere Road I west Palm Beach, FL 33406. I p:. 561 :340.1 061 Center for Business Excellenee 1951.-Yamato .Road, Suite 100 I Boca Raton, FL 3343.1 j.p: ·561 .853.0181

·West Career Center 11085 S. Ma~n Street 1 Belle Glade, FL 33430 1 p: .561.829.2040 · 800.556.JOBS (5627) 1 www.careersourcepbc.com ·

~)~~~\ ~~y;icesCoundl Hearthy. Safe. Strong.

March 3, 2014

Palm Beach Broadband Coalition letter of Support:

2300 High Ridge Road Boynton Beach, Fl33426 Tel: 561.740.7000 Fax: 561.835.1956

As CEO of Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, 1 wish to express my support for the P~lm Beach Broadband Co~lition's {PI~BC) proposal to extend high·quality broadband access to the rural Glades communities' area of Palm Beach County, Florida under the Federal Communications Commlsslol'f, Rural Broadband Experiment program. This area has historically lacked affordable, qualitv, large bandwidth Internet service and its citizens continue to pay the economic, educational, human services and safety price. The PBBC is a group of government, education, not-for-profit and state entitles that have collaborated aver the years to maximize public and philanthropic funds to decrease network costs, intrease access and share starce resoul'(es for maximum benefit to the citizens of Palm Beach County, including wireless access in some of our most impoverished urban communities. Broadband access has achieved substantial strides in the heavllv populate(! eastern side of the county, but the western rural communities on the east side of the lake require a substantial infrastructure Investment that languishes in great part because of the long distances, challenging topography and lingering effects of the recession on public funds. This proposal, in addition to focal funds, expertise ancl sustainablffty, can provide the leverage needed to overcome those barriers, creating expanded opportunities and a more level pl&VIIl$ field oountywide.

Childnen's Services Council has a direct interest In Increased internet broadband for these rural citizens because the children and famlli~s w& work with in the Glades need a level playing field when it comes to education, resources, job opportunities and community empowerment.

The opportunities to access inform~tion or conduct enterprise from a school. agency, college, and other agencies opens doors for students and clients while improving services and lowering administrative costs.

Children's Services Council appreciates the opportunity to provide this fetter of support to further the collective regional work of many governmental, educational and not-for-profit partners through the Rural Broadband Experiment an behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

~fnte\,

/h .. r tl-• CEO

Children's Sl!rvices Council Palm Beach County

Executive Comminee Ken Kahn, Chairperson

Frank Compiani, Vice Chairperson

Tana Ebbole, Treasurer

George Elmore

Dennis Galton

E. Wayne Gent

Patrick Franklin, Past Chairperson

Board of Directors

Jorge Avellana

Cathy Anaya-Wolf

Thomas Bean

Karen Brill

Dari Bowman

Marta Casas-Celaya

Sandra Chamblee

Steve Craig

Dennis Crudele

Latanzia Jackson

Bill Keene

Jen Martinez

Troy Mclellan

Jeff McGinley

Harvey Oyer, Ill

Steven Parrish

Richard Radcliff

Mike Rodriguez

Kevin Ross

Kelly Smallridge

Juan Tagle

Tom Weber

Debra Wilhelm

Carolyn Williams

Executive Director Glenn Thomas

Palm Beach County Education Commission, Inc.

February 28. 2014


As the Executive Director of Palm Beach County Education Commission, Inc., I wish to express our support for the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's (PBBC) proposal to extend high quality broadband access to the rural Glades communities on the southern edge of Lake Okeechobee, in Palm Beach County. Florida under the Federal Communications Commission, Rural Broadband Experiment program. This area has historically lacked affordable, quality, large bandwidth internet service and its citizens continue to pay the economic, educational. human services and safety price.

The PBBC is a group of government. education. not for profit and state entities that have collaborated over the years to maximize public and philanthropic funds to decrease network costs, increase access and share scarce resources for maximum benefit to the citizens of Palm Beach County, including wireless access in some of our most impoverished urban communities. Broadband access has achieved substantial strides in the heavily populated eastern side of the county. but the western rural communities on the east side of the Lake require a substantial infrastructure investment that languishes in great part because of the long distances. challenging topography and lingering effects of the recession on public funds. This proposal in addition to local funds, expet1ise and sustainability can provide the leverage needed to overcome those barriers. creating expanded opportunities and more level playing field countywide.

Distance delivered advanced secondary· academics; college course work and industry training open the door for residents of this geographically isolated area and stimulates economic development. The Education Commission has a direct interest in increased internet broadband for these rural citizens because the Commission membership links education at all levels, public and private, business and corporate and medical and social service entities-neonatal through adult for all citizens of Palm Beach County. A current emphasis of the Commission is to more tightly link providers and those they serve in the western part of the county using technology. The opportunities to access, to use and provide information via the internet opens doors for everyone while improving services and lowering administrative costs.

The Education Commission appreciates the oppol1lmity to provide this letter of support to further the collective regional work of many governmental, educational and not-for-profit partners through the Rural Broadband Experiment on behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

2324 S. Congress Avenue, Suite 2G, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 {561) 439-5414 - FAX (561) 439-4972 email: edcommission@bellsouth. net

FAU .. FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

MEMORANDUM


Financial Affairs 777 Glades Road

Post Office Box 3091 Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Office of U1e Senior Vice President 345 Williams Administration Building

561.297.3450 561.297.2772 (FAX)

March 3, 2014

Florida Atlantic University is a member of the Palm Heach Broadband Coalition and I am writing this letter of support regarding the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's (PBBC) proposal to extend high quality broadband access to the rural Glades communities' area of Palm Beach County, Florida under the Federal Communications Commission, Rural Broadband Experiment program.

Florida Atlantic University has a direct interest in increased internet broadband for these rural citizens as it provides reliable access to county services, allows for decreased communication costs, provides for University electronic communications and web-based products to be accessable. F AU appreciates the opportunity to provide this letter of support to further the collective regional work of many governmental, educational and not-tor- profit partners through the Rural Broadband Experiment on behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

Since~ lJ Dennis J. ~ele Sr. Vice President

Boca Raton • Dania Bea c h • Davie • F ort Laud erdale • Jupite r • TreasnJ:"e C oi\st 1\ n F.IJltll i 011pJJrl 11 11ity/Squu/ A cc:t!SS f11 -:otitul;llll

FLR February 28, 2014

lm.c-ph A iJ~7.{)r CGeiT. CtSM. l'rll .. ·)·r <:hicr E'l!ec:\:th•c OtHt."<'' J~rra 13?.<'~ro:¥;11m,~t ort

Palm Beach Broadband Coalition

letter of Support: Rural Broadband Expertmems - Palm Beach Broad baM Coalition (PBBCJ

Florida l.ambdaRail's 1,540-mtle state-spanning high-speed ftb<lr optic network (robust and highly scalable) is desiglled to proVide a cost effective, uttra-hiQil spee<l, lntef-connected, broadband se!Vice delivery network that eoobles Florida's higher education Institutions and partners to wl\aborate, connect, utilize and develop new innovative broadband applications and services in !illpport of their scientific research, education, and 21st century economy initiatives.

We enthustastically endorse and support your efforts to cottaboratively work togethet' to bring broadband - yet also Increase broadband adoption rates to rural areas In the region - particularly "uo· setYed" challengl~ areas of our state. Florida IJlmbdaRaU tFLR) truly values our collaborative and long term worl\ing relationShip with each of the Members of the Palm Beach County Broadband Coalition. These working relationships and partnerships cottaboratively enable each of us (fodiVfdually and collectively) to explore and dtscovef Innovative ways to provide the critical high-speed network infrastructure and capacity needed not only to SOj)port state, national and international research & education Innovations by our research universities and affiliates · but also to "stand ready" as an enabling & supporting partner to organizations SUCh as the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition.

You have our commitment, as a partner, both short and long tenn, to maintain and sustain a core research &. education network infrastructure that enables the PBBC to exp\ore, evaluate and implement "innovative alternatives and broadband experiments" for middle mile, last mite connectiVity. We applaud the PBBC '"Vision" to shape and build a broadband· capable infrastructure deSigned to remove the eXIsting ulast mile" barriers to providing Internet to those areas wl'lefe end users tack Internet broadband access. From our penpectlve, the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition is a great, continuing example of how people and community anchor organizations can CQme together -- to exchange ideas -· coUaboratively work With each other to build so!utfons -· to achieve results for a common, Shared good.

It is encouraging and exciting to hear about your continued efforts and focus upon the Glades region. On behalf of the Florida LambdaRall Board of Directors, and Executive Staff, we stand ready to do wl'latENer it talc.es to coUaboratively help you and your partners succeed In provfdfll!l broadband access to Glades <Jod the surrounding uro-setYed a(eas of the region a reality.

nnnda LambdzRail, LU..'

t607 Villu~~ SGUOre Hnutev:m:), !'iuil<: 4, Tallahur..<tc:c.. Fl. .32309

('hone lC!IU'S 0()41 flf.'l: ?..i(IJS! 0379 V.'\!rWUHl~ Oflt

RDRIVES, INCD 2101 SOIJY._. CONGR ESS AVIENU£

OE:L-'RAY BIACH, f"I.ORIDA 334415·7398

Marth 3, 2013


GRAC ING • ROGI< 6 F IL.\. CONCRETE W ORK

P H ONE: SGt -2.?'0·0496

FAX 661·278•2147

As President of Hardrives, Inc., I wish to express my support. for the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's (PBBC) proposal to extEnd high quality broadband access to the rural Glades communities' area of Palm Beach County, Rorida under the Federal Communlcatlons Commission Rural Broadband Experiment program. This area has historically lacked affordable, quality, large bandwidth internet service and its citizens continue to pay the economic, educational, human services, and safety price. The PBBC is a group of government. education, not-for-profit, and state entities that have collaborated over the years to maximize public and philanthropic funds to decrease networ1< costs, increase access and share scarce resources for maximum benefit to the citizens of Palm Beach County, Including wireless access In some of our most impoverished urban communities. Broadband access has achieved substantial strides in the heavily populated eastern side of the county, bot the western rural communities on the east side of the lake require a substantial infrastructure irwest:ment that languishes in great part because of the long distances, challenging topography, and lingering effects of the recession on public funds. This proposal in addition to local funds, expertise and sustainability can provide the leverage needed to overoome those barriers, creating expanded opportunities and a more level playing field countywide.

Hardrives, Inc. appreciates the opportunity to provide this letter of support to further the collective regional WOI'k of many governmental, educational, and not-for-profit partners through the Rural Broadband Bcperiment on behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

Sincerely,

PALM BEACH COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

March 4, 2014

Letter of Support for the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's Proposal to bring High Quality Broadband Service to the Belle Glade Communities

As Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Housing Authority (PBCHA), I wish to express my support for the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's (PBBC) proposal to extend high quality broadband access to the rural Glades communities' area of Palm Beach County, Florida under the Federal Communications Commission, Rural Broadband Experiment program. This area has historically Jacked affordable, quality, large bandwidth internet service and its citizens continue to pay the economic, educational, human services and safety price.

The PBBC is a group of government, education, not for profit and state entities that have collaborated over the years to maximize public and philanthropic funds to decrease network costs, increase access and share scarce resources for maximum benefit to the citizens of Palm Beach County, including wireless access in some of our most impoverished urban communities. Broadband access has achieved substantial strides in the heavily populated eastern side of the county, but the western rural communities on the east side of the Lake require a substantial infrastructure investment that languishes in great part because of the long distances, challenging topography and lingering effects of the recession on public funds. This proposal in addition to local funds, expertise and sustainability can provide the leverage needed to overcome those barriers, creating expanded opportunities and a more level playing field countywide.

The Palm Beach County Housing Authority has a direct interest in increased internet broadband for these rural citizens because it is the intent ofPBCHA to acquire, and revitalize a housing development in Belle Glade to establish an innovative housing concept known as the "Campus of Learners". The "Campus of Learners" project would provide a college-like environment where learning opportunities are available to residents of all ages, as well job placement assistance, and other supportive services. Distance learning is an integral part of the "Campus of Learners" project, and increased internet broadband in the Glades would ensure such opportunities can be provided to tbe residents. The "Campus of Learners" is critical to the Glades area, as most resident are an impoverished population that is not economically self-sufficiency. Revitalizing and sustaining economic development oftbe Glade area will require multiple interventions from individuals, families, and the community as a whole. The Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's Proposal to bring High Quality Broadband Service to the Belle Glade Communities would be a greatly needed component.

PBCHA appreciates the opportunity to provide this letter of support to further the collective regional work of many governmental, educational and not-for- profit partners through the Rural Broadband Experiment on behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

Sincerely,

V OM dvWn 5ffJ1 Van Johnson, Executive Director

PALM BEACH COUf\ITY HOUSING AUTHORITY 3432 W. 45'n Street

West Pa!m Beach, FL 33407 Office: 561.684.2160

Fax: 561.684.0183 www.pbchafl.org

March 4, 2014

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fl

OFFICE OF llf! SUPERINTENDENT 3300 FOREST Hill BoULEVARD, C-316 WEST PALM BEACK, Fl 33406-5869

PHONE: 561-434-8203/ FAX: 561-434-8571 WWW.PALMBEACHSCHOOLS.ORG/SUPERINTENDEN"J:

E. WAYNE GENT SUPERINTENDENT

CHUCK SHAW CHAIRMAN

FRANK A. BARBIERI, JR., ESQ. VICE-CHAIRMAN

MARCIA ANDREWS KAREN M. BRILL JENNIFER PRIOR BROWN, ESQ. MIKEMURGIO DEBRA ROBINSON, M.D.

To Whom It May Concern:

As the Superintendent of The School District of Palm Beach County, I wish to express our support for the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's (PBBC} proposal to extend high quality broadband access to the rural Glades communities of Palm Beach County, Florida under the Federal Communications Commission, Rural Broadband Experiment program.

This area has historically lacked affordable, quality, large bandwidth internet service and its citizens continue to pay the economic, educational, human services, and safety price. The PBBC is a group of government, education, not-for-profit and state entities that have collaborated over the years to maximize public and philanthropic funds to decrease network costs, increase access, and share scarce resources for maximum benefit to the citizens of Palm Beach County, including wireless access in some of our most impoverished urban communities.

Broadband access has achieved substantial strides in the heavily populated eastern side of the county, but the western rural communities on the east side of the lake require a substantial infrastructure investment that languishes in great part because of the long distances, challenging topography, and lingering effects of the recession on public funds. This proposal, in addition to local funds, expertise, and sustainability, can provide the leverage needed to overcome those barriers, creating expanded opportunities and a more level playing field countywide.

The School District of Palm Beach County has a direct interest in increased internet broadband for these rural citizens. The opportunities to access information or conduct enterprise from a school, agency, college, and other agencies opens doors for students and clients while improving services and lowering administrative costs.

We appreciate the opportunity to provide this letter of support to further the collective regional work of many governmental, educational, and not-for-profit partners through the Rural Broadband Experiment on behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

?lA E. Way~ Su periJi:/d~~t

EWG:du

The School District of Palm Bead! County A Top-Rated Dlstrkt by the Florida Department of Education Since :ZOOS

An Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer

OFFICE OF ' '

THE PRESIDENT 4 200 Co ng ress Avenu~ i Lake Wort h, FL 3346 I · 4J 96

56 1-868- 350 1 ~ ... 56 1 -868-3 50~ •••

CO LLE GE

February 28, 2014

Palm Beach Broadband Coalition Letter of Support

As President of Palm Beach State College, I wish to express my support for the Palm Beach Broadband Coalition's (PBBC) proposal to extend high quality broadband access to the rural Glades communities' area of Palm Beach County, Florida under the Federal Communications Commission, Rural Broadband Experiment program. This area has historicaliy lacked affordable, quality, large bandwidth internet service and its citizens continue to pay the economic, educational, human services and safety price.

The PBBC is a group of government, education, not-for-profit and state entities that have collaborated over the years to maximize public and philanthropic funds to decrease network costs, increase access and share scarce resources for maximum benefit to the citizens of Palm Beach County, including wireless access in some of our most impoverished urban communities. Broadband access has achieved substantial strides in the heavily populated eastern side of the county, but the western rural communities on the east side of the Lake require a substantial infrastructure investment that languishes in great part because of the long distances, challenging topography and lingering effects of the recession on public funds. This proposal in addition to local funds, expertise and sustainability can provide the leverage needed to overcome those barriers, creating expanded opportunities and a more level playing field countywide.

Palm Beach State College has a direct interest in increased internet broadband for these rural citizens because the College maintains a campus in Belle Glade that serves and supports education in the community. Many of the students attending the Belle Glade Campus only have access to Internet content while on campus. This negatively impacts the student's access to online content and distance education off campus.

The digital divide splits Palm Beach County in terms of Internet access. Many places, particularly in more rural areas, have difficulty justifying access to high-speed internet due to an insufficient local market. The Glades community needs to develop its own network to support education, which in turn will attract and sustain businesses in the community.

Palm Beach State College appreciates the opportunity to provide this letter of support to further the conective regional work of many governmental, educational and ~ot-for-profit partners through the Rural Broadband Experiment on behalf of those we serve in the rural communities.

Sincerely,

~'\~~ Dennis Gallon, Ph.D. President

BELLE GLADE BO CA RATON LAKE W O RT H PALM BEA CH GARDENS w·Nw.Pa lmBeachStat e .edu

Documents

RE: Letter of Interest – Rural Broadband Experiments and ... · Palm Beach County was the first local government to be approved by FLR as an aggregator, or reseller of their services