K20 Initiative Meeting with FCC
August 12, 2010
K20 Initiative Attendees:
Alan Fishel, Attorney, Arent Fox LLP
Gary Bachula, VP External Relations, Internet 2
James Werle, Director, Internet2 K20 Initiative
Randy Stout, R&D Coordinator, Kan-ed, Kansas Board of Regents
Carol Willis, Manager, Texas Education Telecommunications Network
Bob Bocher, Technology Fellow, American Libraries Association, Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction
I. Expand the proposed rule to allow for electronics to be located elsewhere. Modulating electronics located off school/library property are not eligible.
A. Allows schools/libraries the opportunity to choose the most affordable solution.
Example Kansas: City of Chanute
Example Texas: Brenham School District that partnered with the city to lay fiber
B. Gives broadband providers an incentive to expand their services.
Example Texas: Abilene, Texas market failure in West Texas by traditional carriers
Example ???: state-owned or not-for-profits networks (e.g. NyserNet?) would have an incentive to expand last-mile services for a lower cost than for-profits (Tim can give us an example)
C. Gives schools/libraries an incentive to obtain sufficient bandwidth for the least cost
Example ??: school/library that stayed with T1s because other broadband solutions were too expensive even with E-rate
D. Increase rate of broadband adoption by having more options
Example Texas: ESC lowered costs by $50,000 a year and increased last-mile bandwidth to certain districts by reconfiguring network around gigabit middle-mile and backhauling to ESC. ESC replaced last-mile T1s (or multiple ones) with AT&T Optiman services.
Example ?? schools/libraries that use their community network are encouraged to increase their capacity simply by asking for more fiber strands
II. Expand the proposed rule on dark fiber to include "owned" fiber.
Example Texas: Magnolia ISD laid own fiber and used an installer (ICTX). The installer gave Magnolia ISD 10 years of free maintenance. This saved the district over $750,000 within a 5-year period. Conroe ISD and Spring ISD have similar stories.
Example Kentucky: City of Louisville in 1999 built enough infrastructure to provide Jefferson County Public Schools (over 125 miles deployed) along with the University of Louisville, and community colleges. There wasn't enough money to build all K-12 so they use a commercial carrier. The owned infrastructure has been a success for all, even serves as an interface with the county's local uitility company (they own the poles). Great example of local anchors working together.
Example ??: provides one-time capital cost and no month-to-month costs, unlimited capacity, and partner with other community members to share costs
III. Expand proposed rule on dark fiber to allow for other services in addition to basic internet access.
A. Other services, especially those provided by the R&E community, can result in lower over-all costs for eligible services.
Example Texas: ESC7 obtains a gigabit connection from the LEARN network to get to Dallas and to backhaul Dallas schools. Able to obtain internet access for $7 Mb. ESC 7 provides internet access to approximately 60 rural school districts.
Example Texas: R&E pricing will be leveraged or used as a baseline when school negotiate for broadband services. For-profits will sometimes lower costs to keep their customers. This occured in Corpus Christi and Amarillo with AT&T.
B. More options are needed for schools/libraries to reach the target .
Example: NCES stats (Randy Stout) also mentioned in NBP 11.3
Example: Texas stats mirror national stats. 60% of school districts have 3 Mb or less.
Example: gives rural schools/libraries more options than the local provider