1 Executive Summary 1.1 Findings from User and Provider Interviews 1.2 Common Themes of Successful Community Networks 1.3 Technology Forecast 1.4 Community Network Implementation Plan 2 Provider Inventory 2.1 Internet Service Providers - Primary 2.2 Internet Service Providers - Secondary 2.3 Infrastructure Mapping 2.3.1 Cameron County Telecommunications Infrastructure - Transportation Overlay 2.3.2 Cameron County Telecommunications Infrastructure - School District Overlay 2.3.3 Cameron County Telecommunications Infrastructure - Local Access Transportation Area (LATA) Overlay 2.3.4 Cameron County Telecommunications Infrastructure - Population Growth (1990-1999) Overlay 2.3.5 Cameron County Telecommunications Infrastructure - Population Density Overlay 3 Community Needs Assessment 3.1 Local Provider Interviews 3.2 User Interviews 3.2.1 Brownsville 3.2.2 Harlingen 3.2.3 Matamoros & Others 3.2.4 User Interview Summary 3.2.4.1 Internet Use 3.2.4.2 Internet Awareness and Perceived Importance 3.2.4.3 Future Internet Use 3.2.4.4 Telecommunications Technology 3.2.4.5 Telecommunications Issue Awareness 3.2.5 Interview Analysis - Quantitative 3.2.5.1 Classifications/Variables 3.2.5.2 Graphs 3.2.5.3 User Requirements 3.2.6 User Interviews - Additional Data 3.3 Review of Community Networks 3.3.1 Introduction 3.3.2 Community Network Principles 3.3.3 Community Network Examples 3.3.4 Exemplary Community Networks 3.3.4.1 Blacksburg Electronic Village 3.3.4.2 PrairieNet 3.3.4.3 Davis Community Network 3.3.4.4 MAIN 3.3.4.5 La Plaza Telecommunity 3.3.4.6 Seattle Community Network 3.3.4.7 Smart Communities - Canada 3.3.4.8 ACEnet 3.3.4.9 Pennant Alliance 3.3.4.10 San Diego Dialogue 3.3.4.11 Park-Ridge 3.3.4.12 Lockhart Community Network 4 Technology Forecast 4.1 Technology Growth Principles 4.1.1 Moore's Law 4.1.2 Some Exceptions 4.1.3 Metcalfe's Law 4.2 General Computer Technology Trends 4.2.1 Emerging Computer Architecture 4.2.2 System Complexity 4.2.3 Total Cost of Ownership 4.2.4 Thin Clients 4.2.5 Collaboration 4.2.6 Security 4.2.7 Licensing 4.2.8 Microsoft 4.2.9 Anti-Trust 4.3 Notable Technologies 4.3.1 General Telecommunication Technologies and Applications 4.3.1.1 DBS 4.3.1.2 GPS 4.3.1.3 Satellite Radio 4.3.1.4 e-Learning & Distance Learning 4.3.1.5 Virtual Community/Campus Applications 4.3.1.6 Online Collaboration 4.3.1.7 Gaming 4.3.1.8 Video Conferencing 4.3.1.9 Media Asset Management (MAM) 4.3.1.10 Content Delivery Networks (CDN) 4.3.1.11 Internet Radio 4.3.1.12 Digital Television 4.3.1.13 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) 4.3.1.14 Streaming 4.3.1.15 XML 4.3.1.16 Cellular Phones 4.3.1.17 PDAs 4.3.1.18 Tablet PCs 4.3.1.19 ASPs 4.3.1.20 City Guides (e.g., City Search) 4.3.1.21 Data Warehousing 4.3.1.22 M-Commerce 4.3.1.23 T-Commerce 4.3.1.24 Telemedicine 4.3.1.24.1 Telemedicine Fundraising Procedures 4.3.1.24.2 Telemedicine Funding Resources 4.3.1.25 Unified Messaging 4.3.1.26 Video on Demand 4.3.1.27 Voice over IP 4.3.1.28 Digital Signatures 4.3.1.29 Digital Video Recorders 4.3.1.30 Wireless Applications 4.3.2 Telecommunication Infrastructure 4.3.2.1 Wired Technologies 4.3.2.1.1 ATM 4.3.2.1.2 SONET 4.3.2.1.3 Gigabit Ethernet 4.3.2.1.4 Cable Modem 4.3.2.1.5 DSL 4.3.2.1.6 Ethernet 4.3.2.1.7 Fiber (Definitions) 4.3.2.1.7.1 Next Generation Fiber Technologies 4.3.2.1.8 Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) 4.3.2.1.9 ISDN 4.3.2.1.10 Broadband 4.3.2.1.11 Internet2 4.3.2.1.12 Personal Area Network (PAN) 4.3.2.1.13 Wide Area Network (WAN) 4.3.2.1.14 Backbone 4.3.2.1.15 Storage Area Network (SAN) 4.3.2.1.16 Next Generation MAN 4.3.2.1.17 Quality of Service (QoS) 4.3.2.1.18 Virtual Private Networks (VPN) 4.3.2.1.19 Multi-Protocol Label Switching 4.3.2.1.20 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) 4.3.2.1.21 Next Generation 4.3.2.2 Wireless Technologies 4.3.2.2.1 2.5G, 3G, 4G 4.3.2.2.2 802.11A/B 4.3.2.2.3 Bluetooth 4.3.2.2.4 Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) 4.3.2.2.5 LMDS and MMDS 4.3.2.2.6 Microwave 4.3.2.2.7 Free Space Optical (FSO) 4.3.2.2.8 HALO Network Platform 4.3.3 Technology Issues 4.3.3.9 Digital Divide 4.3.3.10 Last Mile 4.3.3.11 Consumer Privacy 4.3.3.12 Workplace Privacy 4.3.3.13 Regulation 4.3.3.15 NSEP 4.3.3.16 Key Legislative Issues 4.3.3.17 Rural Broadband 4.3.3.18 Public Policy Goals 4.3.3.19 Government Help 4.3.3.20 Texas Infrastructure Fund (TIF) 4.3.3.21 E-Rate 4.3.3.22 TEX-AN 4.3.3.23 Formal Models for Knowledge Management and Network Implementation Planning 4.3.4 Technology Forecast Summary and Conclusions 4.3.4.1 Streamlined IP Network 4.3.4.2 Optical Bandwidth Increases 4.3.4.3 Bandwidth Demand 4.3.4.4 Voice over IP 4.3.4.5 Competitive Business Environment 4.3.4.6 IP Network Concerns 4.3.4.7 Wireless as Supplement 5 Network Implementation Plan 5.1 Community Concept - Step 1 5.1.1 City 5.1.2 Cameron County 5.1.3 RGV Region 5.1.4 Cross-Border 5.2 Community Involvement - Step 2 5.2.1 Charettes 5.2.2 Fee-based Membership 5.2.3 Reciprocal Mutual Assistance 5.2.4 Media Publicity 5.2.5 Involvement of Community Organizations 5.3 Update Needs Assessment - Step 3 5.3.1 Needs Identified 5.3.2 Individual Focus 5.3.3 Expanded Focus 5.4 Vision Statement - Step 4 5.4.1 Economic Development 5.4.2 Education and Access 5.4.3 Information Exchange 5.4.4 Services and Resources 5.5 Goals and Priorities - Step 5 5.5.1 Economic Development 5.5.2 Education and Access 5.5.3 Information Exchange 5.5.4 Services and Resources 5.6 Strategic Plan - Step 6 5.7 Grow the Network Infrastructure - Step 7 5.8 Education, Training, Access and Services - Step 8 5.8.1 Public Access 5.8.2 Access in the Home 5.8.3 Computer Recycling 5.8.4 Organizational Services 5.8.5 Training 5.9 Systems Engineering, Stakeholder Analysis and Zero Time - Step 9 5.9.1 Specified Work Elements 5.9.2 Zero Time 5.9.3 Implementation Strategy 5.9.4 Need for Real-time Knowledge Base 5.9.5 Benefits of Real-time Knowledge Base 5.9.6 Maturity Modeling for Success 5.9.7 Nurturing Growth of Network and Infrastructure 5.10 Create a Knowledge Network of Networks - Step 10 5.10.1 Unite Existing Network Organizations 5.10.2 Consult Experienced Community Network Personnel 5.10.3 Create a Communities Knowledge Network of Networks 5.14 Potential Act. 4 Concluding Comments - Policy & Regulation Recommendations 6 Appendices 6.1 Acronym Dictionary 6.1.1 Acronyms (A-O) 6.1.3 Acronyms (P-Z) 6.2 Telecommunication Company Web Links 6.2.1 Telecom Links (A-G) 6.2.2 Telecom Links (H-P) 6.2.3 Telecom Links (Q-Z) 6.3 List of Nationally Advertised ISPs 6.3.1 ISPs (#'s) 6.3.2 ISPs (A-Af) 6.3.3 ISPs (Ag-Az) 6.3.4 ISPs (B) 6.3.5 ISPs (C) 6.3.6 ISPs (D) 6.3.7 ISPs (E-F) 6.3.8 ISPs (G-H) 6.3.9 ISPs (I-K) 6.3.10 ISPs (L-M) 6.3.11 ISPs (N-O) 6.3.12 ISPs (P-R) 6.3.13 ISPs (S) 6.3.14 ISPs (T-V) 6.4 Major Telecommunication Service Providers 6.4.1 Interview #1 6.4.2 Interview #2 6.4.3 Interview #3 6.4.4 Interview #4 6.4.5 Interview #5 6.4.5.1 Interview #5, part B. 6.4.6 Interview #6 6.4.7 Interview #7 6.5 Interview Instruments 6.5.1 Introduction 6.5.2 Telecommunication Service Users 6.5.2.1 Interview Card #1 6.5.2.2 Interview Card #2 6.5.2.3 Interview Card #3 6.5.3 Telecommunication Service Providers Bibliography Glossary |
1 Executive SummaryPurpose of the Telecommunication Technology Assessment
Key Features of the Assessment
Unique Features of the Project
1.1 Findings from User and Provider Interviews
Harlingen and Brownsville have a significant number of local telecommunications service providers that offer competitively priced, up-to-date telecommunications connectivity. According to providers, a general lack of knowledge, awareness, and trust among users in the community provide more obstacles to technological progress than infrastructure and availability. Providers stress the importance of a regional, long-range fiber infrastructure, and point out that wireless connectivity might be an imminent stop-gap measure as well as provide services for rural areas. Local providers would like to offer services across the border, but find significant obstacles to entering this market. According to providers, long-range infrastructure development will require advanced fiber connections and, in order for this development to be possible, a significant amount of communication and coordination among regional communities is required. Providers would like to see an increase in communication and coordination among communities about technology issues and are willing to play an active role in this development. Rather than building new networks, regional providers suggest using the existing infrastructure combined with new services and technologies such as virtual-private networking (VPN) over broadband ATM connections. Multiple respondents indicated that new services are on the horizon for the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and that these new services would gain wide acceptance in the Valley. Fixed-wireless, upgraded cable networks, and video-over-copper DSL will provide various interactive and multimedia services. Despite the downturn in the economy, competition in broadband is heating up. Phone companies, power-line providers, wire-line, satellite and wireless companies will provide significant competition. Education of both the communities and the markets is the key to future growth. It takes a broad education program to get the community behind a networking project. User Interviews Summary While the users' level of dependence on the Internet varies, organizations feel Internet access is very important. Most respondents predict gradual improvement and upgrading of their resources as need increases and cost decreases. Wireless connectivity is an emerging preference for heavy Internet users. The most common obstacles to upgrading of telecommunications resources are cost, availability, and the lack of need or perceived benefits. Users is the Harlingen, Brownsville and the Lower Rio Grande Valley region need more bandwidth and more education about networks. Many respondents were unable to readily identify resources for information and support regarding telecommunications. Almost all respondents supported universal access and believed that the area needs to obtain and maintain high quality telecommunications services to improve quality of life, to attract businesses and jobs, and to avoid being left behind in an increasingly technologically-oriented society. Top Five Ranked User Requirements
1.2 Common Themes of Successful Community Networks
1.3 Technology Forecast
1.4 Community Network Implementation Plan
What it is:
This Community Network Implementation Plan provides strategies, options, requirements, and suggestions for Harlingen and Brownsville that can guide these communities in their pursuits toward a significantly enhanced technology infrastructure capable of promoting economic development and improving the local quality of life. The key factors are performance, scalability, applications, economics, and adaptability (future-proof). The steps are: Community Network Implementation Plan: Conclusions When designing a knowledge-based network, it is important to focus on education and to be regional in scope. From the beginning, CBIRD holds the promise to become the "think and do" tank for such a process. A “community network” has inter-related and mutually dependent social and technological components; therefore, it is important to properly plan and manage both the human interchange as well as the technology transfer. Community needs drive technological solutions. Key markets to prime the pump are healthcare and education. |
Published On: 12/13/2001 1:52:42 AM Version:1.01a