Planning for the Broadband Future in Wisconsin

Connecting Southwest Wisconsin Broadband ConferenceApril 22, 2010 Belmont WI

By Bill Gillis, LinkAMERICA Alliance /LinkWisconsin

Progress Report

The Price of US Broadband Access Gaps

LinkWISCONSIN Mapping and Planning Process

What we are asking?

How we are asking

What we are learning:General observations

Wisconsin takes pride in its leadership in almost everything and the belief in:Encouraging collaboration to solve problems.Empowering local government.Preserving natural resources for public use. Promoting quality education as the foundation

for any positive change.

What we are learning:Health care

Wisconsin and the nation face the challenge of making sure adequate health care is available and affordable.Broadband can reduce the cost and improve the

sharing & the management of patient data. People can utilize specialized devices to monitor

health conditions communicate with doctors from home.

Physicians and clinicians can access critical training and up-to-date information from anywhere.

What we are learning:Education

Today’s economy demands an educated workforce. With expanded access to broadband:Courses for workforce & economic development

can be accessed anywhere.People can avoid expensive and sometimes risky

travel necessary to reach 2 year and university campuses.

Costs can be reduced with integration of on-line tools into school administration & classrooms.

What we are learning:Government & Citizens

With more widely available broadband:Government can reduce costs and improve

service with better assembly, sharing and use of state agency data.

Citizens can more effectively connect to others with common public issues interests.

Technologies such as GIS and GPS can be used to better manage land and water resources.

What we are learning:Public Safety and Security

Broadband improves the effectiveness of public safety and homeland security in many ways.Sharing of data, video & voice among all

emergency response & security agencies is enhanced.

IP registered devices can alert first responders, pinpointing emergency response locations.

Real-time data devices can provide access to critical patient medical records remotely in the field.

What we are learning:Energy & environment

Wisconsin is a leader both in advancing clean energy solutions and protection of environmental assets. Broadband is a new important tool that can help.Smart-grids reduce costs and maximize efficiency in

the generation, distribution & consumption of electrical energy.

IP devices can monitor electrical use, peaks & cost-per-hour for energy resulting in reduced energy bills.

GIS & GPS can be used to manage environmentally sensitive public resources and tribal lands.

What we are learning:Economic opportunity

Broadband has become essential component of economic opportunity. Just-in-time delivery improves production &

streamline inventory control.Origin tracking distinguishes products &

companies in the marketplace. New-knowledge industries & enterprises can be

grown, especially in rural areas.

What we are learning:Quality of Life

Broadband can improve quality of life in Wisconsin in many ways. Among many examples:People can use remote IP connections to home for

many purposes. Even to let the dog out from work rather than take time to drive home over the lunch hour.

Grandparents can stay in touch with their grandkids.

Families can gain flexibility to manage busy lives through opportunities to work at home.

Isolation in rural communities can be reduced.

Next StepsDevelop short videos to promote awareness of

Wisconsin broadband opportunities.Coordinate with existing regional initiatives to:

Conduct regional broadband planning workshops. Form regional broadband planning teams.

Develop regional broadband “business plans” with defined actions that are Doable – realistic and possible Effective – address meaningful needs of region Fundable – tied to national priorities Measurable – specific benchmarks & assigned

accountability

For more information,Bill Gillis

Telephone: 509-432-4243Email: bill@visionTech360.com

Please visit our web site:http://www.linkamericaalliance.com