Friday, August 26, 2011

Appendix B to Bob Bocher's Revised "School and Library Internet Bandwidth on BadgerNet"

LINK to full text of revised version of Bob Bocher's report.


Bob Bocher's 4th bullet point on the first page of Appendix B deserves to be highlighted.

The 50% of libraries at just 1.5Mbps is particularly distressing. In a survey the American Library Association conducted in November 2010, 54.3% of libraries nationwide reported they had adequate bandwidth but this figure was just 34.7% for Wisconsin libraries.   (Column 4 in screenshot below.)

(Most residential households have greater than 1.5Mbps.) The FCC has set a broadband benchmark of 4Mbps 38 and 97% of Wisconsin libraries fall below this benchmark. In addition, Goal 4 in the National Broadband Plan [Bob references page 8] states that community anchor institutions should have affordable access to at least 1Gbps of broadband by 2020.

What did I just read lately?

In the Platteville area, library users complain about getting kicked off the Internet because it’s too slow, and the senior center can’t handle streaming video, said April Fuhr, community outreach coordinator for the Platteville network.

She said because job-seekers often use library computers to fill out applications, it’s critical that Internet access is sufficient.

“A lot of times they get timed out because the speeds are so low,” she said. “You tell anyone who’s been working on an online form for two hours, ‘Sorry it’s gone.’
  [Emphasis added.]

Is this happening at your library? If so, let your state legislators know about it.   Explain to them why their constituents need to have access to sufficient bandwidth at their public and school libraries.

For Further Information
If you have any comments, suggested edits or need further information, please contact Bob Bocher, 608-266-2127; robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov.

Deep Dive part 1.
Deep Dive part 2.
Deep Dive part 3.

Related WiscNet/BCCB posts:
About the Access Wisconsin lawsuit.  (8/5/2011)
Case summary with names of defendants' attorneys.  (8/4/2011)
An example of how advocacy works.  (7/31/2011)
From Peter C. Anderson's Court Official Calendar for Dane County.  (7/24/2011)
Lawsuit update and summary.  (7/22/2011)
Judge Anderson denies UW broadband restraining order.  (7/21/2011)
Plaintiffs v. Defendants.  (7/20/2011)
Telcos whine while Wisconsin falls behind.  (7/20/2011)
Access Wisconsin news release.  (7/19/2011)
LRB clarifies WiscNet veto. (6/30/2011)
WiscNet:  Moving Forward.  (6/30/2011)
Walker's WiscNet veto:  What does it mean?  (6/27/2011)
Rest assured they'll be more fights in this battle.  (6/24/2011)
Wisconsin Senate passes budget.  (6/17/2011)
Amendment update.    (6/16/2011)
Assembly passes budget at 3:05 a.m.  (6/16/2011)
Wispolitics budget blog.  (6/15/2011)
Wisconsin ranks 43rd for broadband Internet coverage.  (6/15/2011)
Ron Kind news release.  (6/15/2011)
Assembly 8.  (6/15/2011)
Highest level alert.  (6/15/2011)
This is what democracy looks like.  (6/15/2011)
WSTA's day of disappointment.  (6/14/2011)
They can hear us now.  (6/14/2011)
Appleton Post-Crescent editorial.  (6/14/2011)
YouTube video.  (6/14/2011)
Hedberg Public Library promotes WiscNet.  (6/14/2011)
League of Wisconsin Municipalities press release.  (6/14/2011)
UW General Counsel opinion.  (6/13/2011)
Ars Technica WiscNet coverage.  (6/13/2011)
Wausau Daily Herald editorial.  (6/13/2011)
If your representative is Robin Vos...   (6/13/2011)
Baraboo School Board unhappy with JFC WiscNet action.  (6/13/2011)
WiscNet debate from the NE WI prospective.  (6/12/2011)
David Weinhold letter to editor.  (6122010
Rep. Moelpske's statement. (6/11/2011)
COLAND letter to Sen. Fitzgerald.  (6/10/2011)
Rhonda Puntney's op-ed piece.  (6/10/2011)
Nass letter to Fitzgerald and Vos.  (6/9/2011)
CINC response.  (6/9/2011)
UW response.  (6/9/2011)
Manna from heaven.  (6/8/2011)

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