DSL Buddy

A new broadband action group called B4GAL (Broadband for Glencaple and Lowther) appears to be proceeding with plans that could eventually result in nine rural South Lanarkshire (Scotland, UK) villages being connected up to a new community-owned and superfast Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network.

At present many of the related upland villages, which include Abington, Crawford, Crawfordjohn, Elvanfoot, Lamington, Leadhills, Roberton, Wanlockhead and Wiston, can only receive sub-2Mbps speeds via the existing fixed line telecoms infrastructure (largely delivered via BT’s older 20CN network).

The group understandably wants a more future proof solution and doesn’t fancy waiting another 7-8 years to see if the Scottish Government, BT or Europe’s Digital Agenda strategy is able to resolve their problem. So, in taking a leaf out of B4RN’s book, they’ve instead decided to go it alone.

B4GAL Statement

B4GAL (Broadband for Glencaple and Lowther) is a local community broadband action group, whose members are volunteer local residents.

Our vision is a community-owned broadband social enterprise that delivers Next Generation Broadband through fibre optic cable to every home (FTTH). Any profits that are made will be put back into sustaining other community projects, while allowing us all to escape the handicap of rural connectivity that leads to the digital divide between urban and rural communities.

As it stands B4GAL is still a long way from becoming a reality but they are now beginning to progress towards the network mapping stage, which will be largely based off evidence collected via local surveys, and should hopefully have something to present in the not too distant future.

The group is also known to be exploring whether or not it could benefit from the Scottish Government’s new £5 million Community Broadband Scotland Initiative (CBSI), which aims act as a “one-stop-shop” to provide rural community groups with “information” and “practical support” to help them find better internet access solutions (original news).

Indeed the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil (MSP), originally came to Elvanfoot in August 2012 and met with local residents as part of the related CBSI announcement.

State Rep. Sharon Schwartz, Washington Republican, has been named chairwoman of the Legislature’s Special Committee for Rural Broadband Services.

The Legislative Coordinating Council recently approved committees, including the broadband services committee, for the 2012 interim. Kansas House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, named Schwartz as the chairwoman of the broadband services committee.

“The importance of the special committee is to ensure that Kansans living in rural communities have access to broadband services,” Schwartz said. “The committee will focus on reviewing the progress of broadband access and address accuracy of mapping rural broadband service.”

She represents the 106th District, which includes Marshall County.

“Even though the Legislature meets 90 days out of the year, we still need to ensure we are reviewing our broadband services to rural communities,” said Speaker Mike O’Neal, chair of Legislative Coordinating Council. “Rep. Schwartz has a strong understanding for the need for rural Kansans to have accessible broadband services and the progress our state needs to continue to make to provide this valuable service.”

Schwartz is chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee during the legislative session. That committee discussed reviewing rural broadband access during the 2012 legislative session.

People can go to the website www.kslegislature.org for updates on the special broadband services committee’s meeting time.

Circulates newsletter making case for its statewide network

By John Eggerton — Broadcasting Cable, 10/1/2012 2:37:57 PM

EAGLE-Net, the “intergovernmental”
alliance spending over $100 million in government stimulus money to deliver
broadband to schools and libraries Monday defended itself against charges it is
overbuilding markets and cherry picking customers from Colorado telecoms.

In
a “community outreach” e-mail newsletter, EAGLE-Net said it was
“not competing against local service providers for business, residential
or commercial customers.” But it added that: “We must compete fairly with
other providers to enable broadband service options to governmental
entities.”

Some
local telecoms are complaining about being overbuilt, and see EAGLE-Net’s
target of anchor institutions as a way to cherry pick its own school and
library customers.

Broadband
providers, including many cable operators, are concerned that the government is
underwriting overbuilds of their markets in its effort to get broadband to
every household, rather than focusing on only the unserved homes that can’t get
the service.

EAGLE-Net
says the grant has rules to help it avoid overbuilding, but also says that its
grant satisfies a need for access and “redundancy,” and points to the
fact that its grant is for a statewide system.

In
its newsletter, EAGLE-Net included a link to a letter of support from the head
of schools and administrator of Silverton, Colo.

A
letter from four state legislators wrote a letter to the National
Telecommunications Information Administration Sept. 17 saying they were
troubled by the EAGLE-Net build and citing Silverton, Colo., as one of the communities
wondering why it was taking so long to build out to them. Critics of EAGLE-Net
complain it is overbuilding them while not serving truly unserved communities,
while EAGLE-Net points out it is building a statewide network and will
eventually get to those places.

The
letter from the Silverton community leaders
said that while they had raised concerns and questions–the schools there ahd
improved their communications in anticipation of the fiber hook-up–EAGLE-Net
had addressed those concerns to their satisfaction and that “while we are
sure a myriad of unanswered questions and host of logistical and technical
complications remain, we would like to continue to offer our unyielding support
to Eagle Net in whatever form that may take…”

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – iControl Networks, a leader in broadband home management, today announced that its OpenHome™ software platform will enable home security and broadband service providers to easily integrate energy usage data into their individual service offerings. This integration with the Green Button—a common way for customers to securely access their own energy usage information from their utility and share it with trusted partners—will help service providers deliver innovative energy management features and products to their end-customers. 

“The OpenHome platform and iControl’s position as a partner with the largest security and broadband service providers will be driving forces advancing the Green Button initiative,” commented Tom Kerber, director of home controls and energy research, Parks Associates.

The White House-inspired, industry-led Green Button initiative encourages utilities to provide consumers with easily accessible and understandable data of their energy consumption. iControl’s OpenHome software platform will foster a seamless collaboration between utilities and service providers by incorporating advanced energy usage monitoring applications into already available broadband home management offerings, such as the iControl-powered Connected Home solutions. These comprehensive home management systems will enable end-customers to:

• Monitor energy consumption by having access to easily understandable energy usage data;
• Maximize energy efficiency by automating their thermostat, lights and other energy-consuming devices;
• Manage multiple aspects of the home, beyond energy consumption, including security and home health.

“The Green Button initiative offers tremendous value because it encourages consumer efficiency and opens the door for future utility pricing programs,” said Letha McLaren, vice president of product management at iControl Networks. “We are committed to helping shape a smarter, more viable energy future by providing the technology that will open the data flow from utilities to end-customers.”

About iControl Networks
iControl Networks is a venture-backed software and services company providing interactive solutions defining the broadband home management market. The iControl OpenHome™ Software Platform, an award-winning software solution that has made the Connected Home a reality, enables home security companies, broadband service providers and utilities to offer the next generation of home management, security and connectivity to their customers. Venture investors in iControl include Charles River Ventures, the Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers iFund, and Intel Capital, with strategic investments from a variety of service providers including ADT, Comcast Interactive Capital and Rogers Communications.  For more information, please visit www.icontrol.com.

Broadband boost for Ilminster

11:00am Monday 1st October 2012 in News

BRITISH Telecom has annou-nced further major investment in Somerset by pledging to roll out its £2.5billion high-speed broadband network to 20,000 more homes and businesses – including those in
Il-minster.

Ilminster, along with Cleve-don, Combe Down and Keyn-sham, are due to be upgraded during 2013.

The news has been welcomed by Rupert Cox, chief executive of Somerset Cham-ber of Commerce, who said it would bring a boost for businesses, internet users and the local economy, with potential to
create new enterprises and local jobs.

“Everyone recognises the importance of superfast broad-band, not just for its contribution to the local economy and potential to create businesses and jobs but every aspect of modern life,” he
said.

The latest investment takes the total number of homes and businesses in Somerset able to connect to the fibre network to nearly 200,000.

Nearly 135,000 already have access in upgraded areas and BT is keen to bring more communities within reach, working with the public sector.

Jon Reynolds, BT’s South West regional director, said: “Fibre broadband opens up a whole new, high speed world.

“This latest major investment will help Somerset to overcome the current economic challenges and take full advantage of the upturn when it comes.

“Digital technology is fundamental to how we live and work – and in an increasingly connected world, high speed communications will become even more essential in the years ahead. Research suggests
fibre broadband could give a £143 million boost to a typical town’s economy and create 225 new jobs and 140 businesses within 15 years.”

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ENGLEWOOD, CO–(Marketwire – Sep 27, 2012) – DISH ( NASDAQ : DISH )

• New high-speed Internet brand offers affordable satellite Internet service nationwide starting at $39.99
• Combine with DISH TV service for bundle pricing, convenient payment, installation and customer service options
• 14.5 million underserved rural residents no longer need to wait for broadband build out

DISH ( NASDAQ : DISH ), a leading national provider of satellite TV, is expanding the availability of its broadband service with the launch of dishNET, a high-speed Internet service via satellite nationwide. Available Oct. 1, dishNET offers customers the convenience of one bill, one installation, one customer service number and a $10 monthly discount when bundled with DISH’s most popular TV programming packages.

Ideal for rural residents underserved, or unserved, by wireline broadband, dishNET offers 4G-level speeds that are about 50 percent faster than the typical residential broadband connections in American homes. The affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service starts at $39.99 per month and is available with next-day installation.

DISH’s CEO Joseph Clayton is unveiling dishNET today at the flagship Cowboy Maloney’s Electric City retail store in Jackson, Miss., the historic retail launch site of digital satellite TV and satellite radio services.

“Today, we are launching a revolutionary consumer broadband service that delivers high-speed Internet available in metropolitan areas to rural markets nationwide,” Clayton said. “With nearly one-in-four rural residents lacking a high-speed connection, reaching these underserved markets is vital. Our mission is to provide broadband at an outstanding value with fast speeds and large data plans.”

In Aug. 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported 19 million Americans lack access to high-speed Internet, including 14.5 million who live in rural regions. The FCC highlighted that 23.7 percent of rural residents lack broadband access.

The dishNET satellite service offers rural residents download speeds up to 10 Mbps. These speeds are fast enough for typical Internet applications, including social media, telecommuting, music streaming, online video streaming and even Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.

“Many unserved and underserved markets are years away from a telco or cable broadband build out, but dishNET is available today,” said Brian McIntyre, vice president of Broadband at DISH. “These services will have powerful, positive impacts for kids, educators, businesses, farmers and families — no matter how far out of town they may choose to live.”

Living in the Jackson area, the first official dishNET family got a preview of the new service. Jeff Thigpen, father of five and a high school athletic director in Ridgeland, Miss., is now trying dishNET Internet and DISH TV service with the Hopper™ Whole-Home HD DVR. 

“We no longer have to worry about tethering a cell phone to our home computer to get on the Internet,” said Thigpen. “Since my girls are required to do much of their high school homework online, dishNET will help them move much faster when submitting school work. In fact, one of my daughters says it’s as fast as working on the computers at school.”

The dishNET brand leverages advanced technology and high-powered satellites launched from Hughes and ViaSat to provide broadband coverage nationwide. DISH will tailor its service to suit a customer’s needs, location and budget. All services are sold, installed, billed and supported by DISH under the dishNET brand.

Pricing, Packaging and Availability
In rural and outlying suburban regions nationwide, dishNET satellite broadband starts at $39.99 per month (plus equipment fees) for 5 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload speeds and data plans of 10 GB, when bundled with DISH’s popular America’s Top 120™ or higher programming packages and with a two-year agreement. Combining dishNET with DISH TV saves $10 per month. Most satellite customers can upgrade to a 10 Mbps /1 Mbps plan available with 20 GB of data for $49.99 per month.

Satellite broadband service includes five @dishNET.com email accounts, each with 2 GB of storage and an easy-to-configure online mail portal that combines web search, news, entertainment and weather updates.

Installation is free for new and existing DISH TV customers when dishNET is bundled with DISH’s television programming and $99 when ordered as a stand-alone service. Existing DISH satellite Internet customers can upgrade to the 5 Mbps or 10 Mbps speeds for $199.99.

In addition to satellite Internet service, DISH’s own competitive local exchange carrier will also fold its wireline broadband service into the dishNET brand. Urban and suburban residents living in a 14-state region and access high-speed Internet with 7 Mbps starts at $29.95 per month. Upgrade to 12 Mbps service for an additional $5 per month or 20 Mbps for an additional $10 per month. This service is available in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. 

For more information on package details or to sign up for dishNET and DISH’s pay-TV programming call 800-823-4929 or visit www.dish.com/dishnet. 

About DISH:
DISH Network Corporation ( NASDAQ : DISH ), through its subsidiary DISH Network L.L.C., provides approximately 14.061 million satellite TV customers, as of June 30, 2012, with the highest quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value, including HD Free for Life. Subscribers enjoy the largest high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation’s subsidiary, Blockbuster L.L.C., delivers family entertainment to millions of customers around the world. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com.

Dish Network made waves at CES when they announced that they would be entering the broadband business. The company’s market penetration, especially in rural areas that don’t have access to broadband, puts them in a great position to become of the nation’s largest ISPs.

Dish Network announced that they’re finally bringing satellite broadband to their customers on October 1. It’s called dishNET and the company is rolling the new Internet service into their preexisting TV service. They’ll even knock off $10 a month for those who subscribe to both.

“Today, we are launching a revolutionary consumer broadband service that delivers high-speed Internet available in metropolitan areas to rural markets nationwide,” Dish Network CEO Joseph Clayton said. “With nearly one-in-four rural residents lacking a high-speed connection, reaching these underserved markets is vital. Our mission is to provide broadband at an outstanding value with fast speeds and large data plans.”

So how fast are these speeds and how large are these data plans? The basic package features 5Mbps download/1 Mbps upload with a data plan of 10 GB a month. This will set customers back $39.99 a month. The other plan features 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload with a data plan of 20 GB a month. The better plan will set customers back an extra $10 at $49.99 a month.

Those living in urban centers will probably scoff at the low speeds and ridiculously low data caps. Those living in rural areas that have had to live with DSL for the past 10 years will see any increase in speed and availability as a godsend. The real miracle here is that Dish has been able to decrease the price of traditionally expensive satellite broadband.

Unfortunately, satellite Internet is at the mercy of weather conditions and other forms of wireless interference. For customers who prefer landlines and can get one to their house, Dish Network is offering a wired broadband solution. Customers can get 7 Mbps down for $29.95 a month, 12 Mbps down for $34.95 a month, or 20 Mbps down for $39.95 a month.

Dish Network’s satellite broadband is available wherever Dish Network operates. A lot of rural communities have access to Dish Network, and now they’ll be able to get proper Internet. It’s unfortunate that the data caps are so low, but many people in these areas are probably happy to take what they can get.

New Delhi, Sep 28 (ANI): Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday said broadband is fundamental for empowerment of the poor and for making education accessible to millions of children.

Sibal said the potential of broadband gives hope to millions of children who do not have immediate access to decent educational resources.

“Broadband is as essential to empowerment than having a teacher in the classroom. It is as essential, you can’t possibly empower yourself without a teacher in the classroom, without children around her. Broadband is as fundamental as that,” said Sibal, while speaking at the Broadband Summit 2012 here.

“Therefore, even in our policy we say, broadband in demand. A time will come when there should be broadband on demand,” he added.

Sibal further said it is necessary to understand the importance of broadband given the huge gaps in terms of physical infrastructure, quality teachers and accountability in India’s education system.

“So, the industry must change its mindset. This is not about talking to each other, it is about helping each other. It is not about talking to each other, it is about sharing with each other. It is not about talking to each other, it is about empowering each other,” said Sibal.

“And for that industry will have to look for very innovative solutions and those solutions have to come with inter-connectivity of devices, with affordability of devices, with accessibility of devices, with the nature of content which is easily absorbed,” he added.

The Telecom Commission had in July given approval to the proposed National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) for offering broadband services in rural areas.

The network, which would be built at an estimated cost of rupees 20,000 crore, would help connect all the village councils.

Fibre-to-home is a term for any broadband network architecture that uses optical fibres to replace the usual metal local loop used for telecommunications.

So far, broadband connectivity was offered to metropolises and other cities. But the government is now focusing on connecting 500,000 villages in the country by 2013, while 20,000 broadband booths have already become operational. (ANI)

And estate agents have revealed house adverts showing broadband connection
speeds secure double the number of viewings.

One in five homebuyers have checked broadband speeds when evaluating a house
before they have even walked around the area.

And one in ten have rejected a potential new home because it had a poor
connection, the study of 2,000 homebuyers found.

Knowing a property has good broadband speeds is routinely ranked as more
important than off-street parking, access to shops and a nearby pub.

The local road network, public transport and mobile phone signal strength also
ranked lower.

Furthermore, 54 per cent considered broadband speed before moving in but just
37 per cent looked at the crime rate.

The government recently announced a 114 million pounds investment in key
cities to ensure Britain has the fastest broadband in Europe by 2015.

But speeds currently vary hugely across the country, with the difference
having an impact on the property market.

Miles Shipside, from Rightmove, said: “In this digital age, a fast
broadband connection is becoming much more important for home-hunters.

“People don’t just rely on a good internet connection for web browsing,
but also streaming television and working from home.

“As the consumer technologies which rely on the internet expand, the need
for a strong connection will be added to more home mover wish-lists.”

Independent estate agents Delaney’s, from Braintree, Essex, found adverts
displaying broadband speeds secured double the number of viewings in trials.

And online adverts which included the speed alongside house price and number
of rooms attracted 40 per cent more page views than those without.

Rob Delaney, from Delaney’s, said: “As with good schools and south-facing
gardens, people are now on the hunt for homes with fast broadband.

“It is a sign of the times.

“But we were still really surprised with the results of our trial.

“We’re now displaying broadband speeds on all our property details
because it’s clearly what customers are looking for.”

As well as making a property more appealing, the study also revealed broadband
could add to the value of a house.

One in five prospective buyers, 18 per cent, said they would be happy to pay
more for a property with a good connection.

A third claimed they would pay between two and five per cent extra.

Dominic Baliszewski, from broadbandchoices.co.uk, said: “When it comes to
buying a home it seems it’s more a case of broadband, broadband, broadband
than location, location, location.

“Broadband has become something people are not prepared to live without,
so it’s little wonder it’s now such a major factor for homebuyers.

“It’s much like a central heating system or running water.

“It is very easy to check broadband speeds in a specific area so we’d
urge potential home buyers to do this rather than be left disappointed.”

First-time buyers Charlotte Frost, 24, and Matthew Anderson, 26, dismissed one
of their favourite shortlisted properties due to its slow connection.

Charlotte, from West Byfleet, Surrey, said: “We had looked at numerous
houses within Surrey and had fallen in love with a small cottage in Cobham.

“We thought it was ‘the one’ and were about to sign on the dotted line
when my boyfriend asked about the internet connection at the house.

“The estate agent admitted he didn’t know, so we spoke to both the seller
and did independent speed tests online for the postcode and found it was
very poor.

“It was a real shame because it was otherwise perfect.

“But it was a massive factor for us given that Matthew often works from
home.”

28 September 2012
Last updated at 04:46 ET

Arlene Foster said Northern Ireland is the best connected region of the UK

BT and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) have defended broadband provision in Northern Ireland.

BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster has been examining the issue.

Many people have contacted the BBC about the poor broadband speed where they live, particularly in rural areas.

However, Frank McManus of BT said: “Over the past couple of years we’ve seen massive strides – tens of millions invested by BT.”

He added: “In an ideal solution all those who currently can’t get (broadband) would be in one little area and could all be addressed together.

“But unfortunately they tend to be the long distances, the pockets right across Northern Ireland. We’re looking to see is there some way we can address it.”

Mr McManus said Northern Ireland’s broadband provision was “certainly not a joke”.

“Europe invited a delegation from Northern Ireland last week to come and share with the member states the success of broadband in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“English councils are coming to Northern Ireland next week to understand why Northern Ireland is so good.”

Action plan

DETI said £45m had been invested in upgrades and extensions to Northern Ireland’s telecommunications network over the past four years.

“Some £21m of this has been specifically used or earmarked to support improvement of networks in rural and remote locations, where there is no likelihood of private sector investment,” it said.?

?”This investment has also brought the most extensive roll-out of fibre anywhere in the UK and, indeed, Europe, through DETI’s Next Generation broadband project.”?

The department’s Telecoms Action Plan proposes that by 2015 virtually everyone in Northern Ireland should have access to broadband of at least 2 mbps and 90% of premises will have super fast broadband speeds of 24mbps.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has just returned from California where she promoted high tech business links.

Mrs Foster admits that her own broadband service at her home in County Fermanagh is “sometimes intermittent” but said: “We shouldn’t forget that Northern Ireland is the best connected region in the United Kingdom and indeed if you look just across the border we are miles ahead of the Republic of Ireland.

“I know people sometimes get frustrated when they can’t access broadband in their own home but we are trying to solve that working with partners in the private sector.”

In terms of mobile phone coverage she said that part of the problem is that targets set by the regulator Ofcom are based on the whole UK population.

“Part of the difficulty with 3G and indeed in many cases 2G coverage has been that Ofcom set national targets for coverage and I’m delighted to see that Ofcom in respect of 4G have set a Northern Ireland target which will hopefully mean that there’s more coverage,” the minister said.

“The Telecoms Action Plan looks at where are the not spots for 2G and 3G and we’re looking to put more investment into that area as well.”

Information has been made available on the DETI website however the consultation is not an online survey.

Stakeholders have been informed, advertisements have been placed in the local press and information is available by post.

The department said it is happy to take responses by email, fax or letter.

If people are unable to easily access the internet they can contact the department at the following address: Telecoms Branch, Netherleigh, Belfast, BT4 2JP.