Practical Approaches and Proposed Strategies for Measuring Selected Aspects

of Community-Based Broadband Deployment and Use

Lisandra R. CarmichaelDoctoral Student and Teaching Assistant

School of Library & Information Studies, College of Communication & Information The Florida State University

lc09h@my.fsu.eduApril 7, 2013

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Background

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NFBA

FRBABroadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)2, 3

- The North Florida Broadband Authority (NFBA)

- The Florida Rural Broadband Alliance (FRBA)

- Each received over 30 million from BTOP

- Middle mile broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved communities

Purpose of and Findings from Studies

Purpose:

• Increase knowledge of broadband connections and network configurations;

• Understand staff training needs; and

• Develop metrics for diagnostic evaluations.

Findings:

• Measurement confusion4

• Measure are poorly understood or known

• Myriad situational factors broadband adoption

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Broadband Barriers (FRBA)

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Additional Findings from Studies

• Engage local leaders and stakeholders

• PRACTICAL tools:

– broadband readiness assessment,

– clear metrics

– community-wide planning

– commitment 4

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Broadband Readiness Index

The index measures the readiness of CAIs to adopt and utilize broadband4:

1. Ability to Change ISP

2. Available and Trained IT staff

3. Existence and Quality of Internal Network

4. Age of Network and Desktop Equipment

5. Sufficient Funding

6. Administrative Leadership in and Knowledge of Broadband

7. Existence, Quality, and Currency of IT Plan

8. Administrative and Staff Interest in New Technology Applications

9. Demand from Service Population for “Better” Broadband

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Community-Based Broadband Planning Model

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Next Steps: Field Testing • The broadband readiness index and community-based broadband

planning model will be field tested

• The following research questions will direct the field test:

– How can the BRI criteria be better refined, expanded, and operationalized?

– How can the CBBP best accommodate the needs for local broadband deployment and use?

– What community-based barriers can be minimized and what community based enablers can be maximized in light of the

situational factors?

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For additional information about these and other broadband projects underway at the FSU Information Institute, please contact

Dr. Charles McClure, Director, cmcclure@lis.fsu.edu

Endnotes

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1. The information Use and Management Policy Institute at http://www.ii.fsu.edu/

2. McClure, C. R., Mandel, L. H., Alemanne, N. D., Saunders, J., Spears, L. I., & Bishop, B. W. (2011). Florida Rural Broadband Alliance, LLC (FRBA) Florida Rural Middle Mile Networks-Northwest and South Central Regions Project: Broadband needs assessment, diagnostics, and benchmarking of selected anchor institutions: Fourth interim report. Tallahassee, FL: Information Use Management & Policy Institute, College of Communication & Information, Florida State University.  3. McClure, C. R., Mandel, L. H., Alemanne, N. D., Saunders, J., Spears, L. I., & Bishop, B. W. (2011). North Florida Broadband Authority (NFBA) Ubiquitous Middle Mile Project: Broadband needs assessment, diagnostics, and benchmarking of selected anchor institutions: Final report. Tallahassee, FL: Information Use Management & Policy Institute, College of Communication & Information, Florida State University.  4. Carmichael, L. R., McClure, C. R., Mandel, L. H., & Mardis, M. A. (2012). Practical approaches and proposed strategies for measuring selected aspects of community-based broadband deployment and use. International Journal of Communication, 6(2012), 2445-2466.  5. Mandel, L. H., Alemanne, N. D., & McClure, C. R. (2012). Rural anchor institution broadband connectivity: Enablers and barriers to adoption.  Proceedings of the 2012 iConference, February 7-10, 2012, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (pp. 136-144). New York, NY: The Association for Computing Machinery. doi:10.1145/2132176.2132194