This document summarizes a webinar on using broadband infrastructure to promote rural economic development. It includes presentations from organizations utilizing broadband to help businesses, education and healthcare. Presenters discussed partnerships, marketing broadband access and resources to aid rural growth. The webinar aimed to share best practices for leveraging broadband infrastructure investment.

1. BTOP and
Rural Economic Development
BTOP Rural Affinity Group
Webinar
March 29, 2012
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

2. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
1

3. Context
 How is investment in broadband infrastructure and broadband
adoption programs relevant to ―rural economic development‖
 Helps businesses reduce costs, expand markets
 Increases employment options
 New businesses
 Expanded job opportunities for rural residents
 Ingredients to promote rural economic development:
 Marketing
 Partnerships/collaborations
 Education
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
2

4. Webinar Objectives
 Share examples of how to market and promote the networks being
deployed
 Best practices to build and leverage partnerships with state and local
stakeholders
 Describe resources available to promote rural economic development
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
3

5. Who’s in the audience?
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
4

6. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2: Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
5

7. Paul W. Ludwick
Professional Experience:
 Paul is the Chief Executive Officer of NebraskaLink, LLC, a Nebraska middle-mile broadband provider that
is owned by a consortium of seven Nebraska independent local exchange companies. The company
supplies broadband transport and direct internet access to government, education, health-care, telecom,
and enterprise customers.
 Prior to NebraskaLink, Paul was with Sprint Corporation for 18 years in various technical, product,
marketing, and leadership positions, where he was awarded five US Patents in diverse technologies. Paul
worked with Rockwell Switching and Transmission Systems divisions for 10 years in technical and
management roles before moving to Sprint.
Paul W. Ludwick  Involved in telecommunication industry activities, Paul was elected to two terms on the Federal
Chief Executive Officer Communications Commission Interstate TRS Fund Advisory Council, where he served 4 years as Vice-
at NebraskaLink, LLC Chair, and was appointed by Chairman William Kennard as a charter representative to the FCC Consumer
Advisory Committee.
Contact Information:  Paul graduated from Park University with a BS in Computer Information Systems and The University of
Phone: 888-893-2185
Kansas with a Master of Business Administration and has been active in community service, most recently
serving eight years on the Olathe (Kansas) Board of Housing Commissioners, with four years as
E-mail Address: chairperson.
Paul.Ludwick@nebraska
link.com  Paul resides in Lincoln Nebraska with his wife Becky and daughter Brynn and has two sons, Preston and
Parker.
Education & Certifications:
 University of Kansas- Graduate School of Business, Park University
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
6

8. Professional Experience:
Dr. John L. Lewis
 John has been active in university engagement activities for over 25 years, first in training teachers to teach
economics and as director of the Center for Economic Education at Ball State University, and then as Executive
Director of the Illinois Council for Economic Education housed at Northern Illinois University. In his current role as
AVP Administration and Outreach, he has overall management responsibility for all regional economic
development, new initiatives in NIU Outreach and is actively involved in university’s new initiative in neutron and
proton therapy to treat cancer.
 John lead an NIU team that implemented a state wide economic development strategic planning process for the
Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs in late 1990 and early 2000.
 John’s other experience includes completing market research studies for physician organizations and hospitals in
northern Illinois, assisting hospitals in developing strategic plans, and assisting hospitals in identifying and
John L. Lewis, Ph.D.
developing agreement with strategic partners, managing the statewide economic strategic planning process for the
Senior Research Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs from1997-2002, and working with numerous communities
Scholar in completing economic development strategic economic develop plans and targeted industry studies.
Division of Research  For the past ten years, John has worked with the Rockford Register Star and the Rockford Area Economic
and Graduate Studies Development Council to do a quarterly economic index of the region and to write an editorial on economic issues
Northern Illinois facing the region.
University  John also teaches economics of health care courses for the College of Health and Human Sciences at NIU.
Contact Information:  John makes frequent speeches on the state of the economy and on the US health care delivery system.
Phone: 815-753-0936  He currently manages over $90 million in federal grants for projects related to health information technology,
broadband infrastructure, and proton therapy. Funding sources include the US Department of Commerce, US
E-mail Address: Department of Health and Human Sciences, and Department of Defense.
jlewis@niu.edu Education & Certifications:
 Ph.D. - University of Missouri-Columbia in Economics
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
7

9. Bernadine Joselyn
Professional Experience:
 Bernadine directs the CK Blandin Foundation’s Public Policy and Engagement program area,
where she leads efforts to facilitate the building of knowledge and catalyze community action
around issues and opportunities that align with the Foundation’s mission of strengthening rural
Minnesota communities, especially the Grand Rapids area.
 A native of Minnesota, Bernadine spent the first 15 years of her professional life in Soviet (and
then post-Soviet) Affairs. She served seven years as diplomat with the U.S. Department of State,
where — after an initial tour in New Delhi, India — she was assigned to Moscow, Russia, and
Bernadine Joselyn Washington, D.C., focused on the U.S.-Soviet/Russian relationship. After the collapse of the
Director of CK Blandin Soviet Union Bernadine left the diplomatic corps to work on international academic and cultural
Foundation’s Public exchange programs with the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) and subsequently
Policy and Engagement
program the Eurasia Foundation, where she oversaw a $5 million annual grant program.
 In 2000 Bernadine returned to Minnesota to complete a second masters degree in public affairs at
Contact Information: the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. She also has an undergraduate degree from the
Phone: 218-327-8728
University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in international security policy and certificate in
advanced studies from Columbia University.
E-mail Address:
brjoselyn@blandinfound
ation.org Education:
 M.S. in International Security Policy from Columbia University
 M.S. in Public Affairs from University of Minnesota
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
8

10. Dr. Bo Beaulieu
Professional Experience:
 Lionel J. "Bo" Beaulieu has been director of the Southern Rural Development Center since August 1997
and also is professor of rural sociology in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State
University.
 Dr. Beaulieu's professional efforts have been devoted to social capital resource issues in the rural United
States and the South; the educational success of rural youth; e-commerce and entrepreneurship
development activities; and the expansion of civic engagement in rural areas.
 During his tenure at the SRDC, Dr. Beaulieu has introduced a number of innovative activities to the region
and beyond. They include the: (1) launching of the National e-Commerce Extension Project (2)
Bo Beaulieu, Ph.D spearheading a national effort to strengthen the quality of web-based resources available to rural people
Director of the Southern
(3) conducting evaluation research of the most promising strategies for bringing about social and
Rural Development economic advancement in low-wealth counties in the Mississippi Delta Region; (4) coordinating a national
Center effort to strengthen regional economic development strategies in rural counties (5) creation of the Food
Professor at Mississippi Assistance Small Grants Program in partnership with the Economic Research Service -- now called the
State University RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDC.
Contact Information:  In partnership with the Kettering Foundation, the Farm Foundation and Everyday Democracy, Beaulieu
Phone: 662-325-3207 and SRDC staff launched the Turning the Tide on Poverty initiative in 2010.
 Bo is the author of numerous publications, including edited book volumes, book chapters and articles that
E-mail Address: address rural development, education and labor force issues in America.
ljb@srdc.msstate.edu
Education:
 M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Sociology from Purdue University
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
9

11. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 NTIA Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
10

12. Nebraska’s Broadband Network
NebraskaLink–Rural Economic Development
March 29, 2012
Paul Ludwick
Chief Executive Officer
www.nebraskalink.com

13. Who we are….
• A $16.5 MM BTOP Infrastructure grant awardee.
• A Nebraska “middle-mile” provider offering:
• Carrier Ethernet from 10 Mbps to 10Gbps
• MPLS
• Cellular Backhaul
• High speed direct internet access
• Private Line TDM service (DS3 – OCn)
• Over 30 points of presence within NE
• We serve:
• Local exchange and wholesale carriers
• State, county, and local government
• Educational system – public, private, tribal, and college/university
• Healthcare
• Enterprise

14. The NebraskaLink Network

15. Economic Impact
Interconnections increase opportunities and expand the area
served. Selling opportunities are created and competition is
enhanced. Interconnections are a NebraskaLink priority.
LEC Networks: 22
• American Broadband, Allo, Arapahoe Telephone, Benkelman, Clarks,
Consolidated, Cozad, Frontier, Glenwood, Great Plains, Hamilton,
Hartelco, Hershey, K&M, Nebraska Central, Northeast Nebraska, Pierce,
Plainview, Stanton, Three Rivers, Windstream
Transport networks: 10
• 360, Charter, AT&T Wireless, South Dakota Network, Iowa Network
Services, Verizon, Cogent, Hurricane Electric, Pinpoint, Unite Private
Networks
Others: 2
• State of Nebraska, University of Nebraska

16. Interconnection Tactics
• Identify potential partners through state telephone association, other
organizations.
• Contact general/operations managers directly.
• Discuss the benefits and logistics of interconnection.
• Identify potential meet points.
• Encourage fiber meets where each party pays own costs.
• Discourage the prerequisite of minimum purchase requirements.
• Engage in direct discussion with State PUC/PSC and/or State CIO office.
• Determine state network interconnection requirements and POPs.
• Undertake expense to connect to the state network.
• Participate in state circuit bidding process/maximize the interconnection.
• Engage university system IT managers.
• Gain understanding of university and educational networks.
• Identify and undertake interconnection with university and educational
systems.

17. Economic Impact-Education and Government
• NebraskaLink is partnering with the State of Nebraska to deploy Ethernet
to over 120 public, private and tribal schools and colleges.
• 110 K-12 public and private schools
• 12 state/community/tribal colleges
• NebraskaLink is an essential provider in Nebraska’s Healthcare and Tele-
health networks.
• Connect over 35 healthcare facilities
• Backbone network provider for Tele-health network
• By 2013 NebraskaLink will serve over 50% of the government agencies in
our area.
• Over 30 State agency offices
• 9 Libraries or more (in partnership with the NE Library Commission)
• 10 City/County offices

18. Education and Government Tactics
• Relationships, relationships, relationships.
• Consider hiring a sales executive that has positive relationships in place.
• Engage PSC/PUC, State CIO Office, State Purchasing, State University
system managers.
• Share your story, your mission, your capabilities, what you offer.
• Understand your customer’s needs and discuss future goals and plans.
• Make your customer’s success your mission.
• Participate in on-line procurement bidding. Get on bidder’s list for telecom
services.
• Build positive history with your customer.
• Remember that the relationship is long-term and that telecom service
contracts are cycles of 3-5 years. Show your customer that you understand.
• Be patient. Building trust and productive business relationships with state and
local governments takes time.

19. Economic Impact
Community Development
• Nebraska communities are working to attract IT, data, and call center
based businesses to their communities.
• NebraskaLink works directly with the economic development teams in
communities all across Nebraska, from planning through implementation.
• We assist in delivering fiber to Data and Call Center “Parks” that the
Nebraska communities are developing.
• City of Kearney data park and City of North Platte HughesNet call center
are great examples for NebraskaLink.

20. Economic Impact
Broadband Adoption – Lower Costs
• NebraskaLink provides highly competitive Internet Access to the local access
providers in the areas we serve. These providers in-turn pass along the cost
savings to their consumers, promoting competition, and increasing bandwidth
availability.
• The price of one Mbps of direct internet access is now roughly 50% of the
price it was selling for at the time that NebraskaLink entered the market.
• We estimate that we will impact the availability and cost of broadband/internet
services to more than 85,000 households and 8,000 businesses by
increasing the availability of cost effective internet access to local internet
service providers.

21. Economic Impact
Providing services for business that make geography less relevant:
• Cellular Backhaul - Fiber-to-the-tower services bring technology to the most
remote areas, increasing cellular coverage and competition, and revenue flows
into (and stays in) Nebraska-based business.
• Access to cutting edge services- :
• Internet –based Business
• IS-based business
• Video/audio conferencing
• Desktop Sharing
• Increased operational effectiveness and efficiency:
• Flexibility - Voice/audio, video, and data on one medium
• Model agnostic – centralized or distributed biz architecture
• Take advantage of the Cloud
• Deeper supplier pool

22. Paul’s Top 3 Takeaways:
 Encourage interconnects and make it easy to interconnect with
your network. Make interconnects your priority.
 Form relationships with community economic development
organizations. Check in frequently. Get involved in initial
planning.
 Work with education, government, and health care systems.
They have established networks and are always looking for more
cost effective service and more options.
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
21

23. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
22

24. Northern Illinois University and
Broadband Technology Deployment
John L. Lewis, PhD
Senior Research Scholar, NIU
Project Director, IBOP-NW

25. NIU Participation in Broadband Initiatives
NIUNet - Northern Illinois University
Research and Education Network.
TriLightNet NMBA
IMBCA – Illinois Municipal Broadband
Communications Association for
NITT NIUNet
Economic Development.
D
A NITT – Northern Illinois Technology
IMBCA T Triangle for Economic Development.
A
TriLightNet – A medical network for
HIE development and healthcare.
NMBA – Northwest Municipal
Illinois Broadband Opportunities Broadband Authority – A municipal and
Partnership – Northwest education network.
IBOP-NW DATA – DeKalb Advancement of
Technology Authority – A BTOP funded
grant for DeKalb County.
iFiber – The Illinois Broadband
Opportunities Partnership – A nine
county BTOP funded grant awarded to
Northern Illinois University.

26. Illinois Rural
HealthNet (IRHN)
Connecting over 150 HealthCare
Facilities in Illinois
$22M Grant awarded to create the
IRHN modeling NIUNet.
Used primarily for Health
Information Exchange (HIE),
Telemedicine and Telehealth.

27. iFiber and DATA
BTOP Funded Fiber Networks

28. Current Broadband Results
 In three years NIU will have strategically planned
and assisted in the build out of over 2,200 miles
of fiber optics in Illinois.
 Over 750 Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs)
will have high speed broadband access
capabilities.
 In Northern Illinois, a 10 county region will have
high speed broadband access capabilities directly
into NIU.

29. NIU’s Philosophy
• Work with community and economic development
organizations
– Work with local government, E/D organizations,
local educational groups, health care organizations
– Maximize economic and social impact of network
on the region
– Work with anchor institutions to effectively
use the expanded bandwidth

30. NIU’s Philosophy (cont.)
• Develop private sector partnerships at the beginning
– Regional ISPs are project partners and have contributed
cash and in-kind matches
– Work with ISPs to provide last mile access
– Assist in developing effective demand for broadband
– Make sure the public sector investment is passed
onto end users
– Develop working relationships with other partners as
necessary to serve the region’s broadband needs
– Become last mile provider as needed

31. Policies and Practices
• Set up not-for-profit to manage construction and
be responsible for network operations
• Work with the Partnership for Connected Illinois to
do a market research survey of CAIs, businesses and
households in the state to identify potential demand
for service
• Work with the Partnership for Connected Illinois to
develop an e-Team designed to market broadband
services in the region

32. Revenue Impacts on Small Business
Firm Size % of Revenue from
Internet
0-19 18%
20 – 99 14%
100-499 16%

33. John’s Top 3 Takeaways
 Developing partnerships with private
telecommunications companies is time consuming and
takes patience
 Developing regional strategic alliances is critical for
success
 Building a broadband infrastructure is just the first step
in providing accessible and affordable broadband to
underserved and unserved areas
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
32

34. Resources
 iFiber: www.ifiber.org
 Illinois Rural Health Net:
www.illinoisruralhealthnet.org
 Northern Illinois University: www.niu.edu
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
33

35. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
34

36. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
35

37. Blandin Foundation
MN Intelligent Rural
Communities Project
Bernadine Joselyn
Director of Public Policy and Engagement
brjoselyn@blandinfoundation.org

38. Intelligent Community
A Framework for Broadband-based Economic
Development

39. Blandin Foundation is using the
Intelligent Community
framework to drive adoption by
creating a “culture of use.”

40. MN Intelligent Rural
Communities Project
A $6.4 million SBA BTOP project to drive
broadband adoption and use in greater
Minnesota using the Intelligent
Community economic development
framework

41. The Intelligent Community Forum
combines a broadband based
economic development
framework with an international
recognition program.

42. www.intelligentcommunityforum.org
“Dedicated to economic growth in the broadband
economy for communities large and small”

43. The ICF Framework
KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION
B WORKFORCE M
R A
O R
A K
D E
B T
A I
N N
DIGITAL INCLUSION
D G

44. Criteria for Progress
Broadband Innovation
Access New ways of creating and
delivering products and
Price services by all sectors
Use Systematic creation and
support of new business
Digital Inclusion enterprises
Computers
Marketing and Advocacy
Public access
Marketing to an external
Training audience to attract
investment and talent
Knowledge Workforce Advocacy to an internal
Education and Training audience about
technology, careers and
Business – Education other broadband economy
Partnerships factors

45. Why is this framework
successful?
Brings diverse partners and stakeholders together
around a larger vision
Magnifies the importance of collaboration between
key public and private sectors
Demonstrates the “essential utility” nature of
broadband and its support of economic development
People and groups love recognition!

46. MIRC Goals
Increase culture of use of broadband-
based services
Increase efficiency and effectiveness of
digital literacy training service delivery
Increase economic vitality in rural
Minnesota communities

47. Partners and Roles
Business Training Support
UM Extension PC’s for People
MN Renewable Energy University of MN –
Marketplace Crookston
Intelligent Community
Citizen Training
Forum
MN Learning Commons
DEED Workforce Centers 11 Demonstration
Communities
Outreach
Regional Development
Commissions

48. Utilizing the Intelligent
Community approach
Broadband Innovation
Increased public access New uses of technology
Possible hotspot creation within business, education
and government
Digital Inclusion Small business technology
assistance
Public access
Assistance provided by MES
Digital literacy training
and MNREM
PCs for People
Marketing/Advocacy
Knowledge Workforce Focusing on internal
More access to WFC technology advocacy
Digital Literacy Training Local messaging
Knowledge Worker Career
information Community teams focusing
Atomic Learning on project development and
implementation

49. Demonstration Communities
Upper MN Valley RDC
Willmar
Windom
Winona
Worthington
Benton County
Cook County
Grand Rapids Area
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Stevens County
Thief River Falls

50. Demonstration Communities
Led by a Project Coordinator and local Steering
Committee of key community stakeholders
Baseline utilization surveys
Community goal setting
Project identification
Project implementation

51. Supporting Local Action
Each community received up to $100,000 to
implement at least 4 Intelligent Community projects
over 64 total implemented (7 per community)
Projects to fit into one of the Intelligent Community elements
At least one project to address digital inclusion

52. Matrix of community project
summaries available:
http://broadband.blandinfoundation.org/_uls/
resources/DCProjectMatrix_July_2011.pdf

53. Supporting Local Action
Leadership development training and coaching
Topics: Working with volunteers; Sustaining action;
Communicating with policy makers
Networking/relationship building
NING
Convening/conferences
Information support
Blandin on Broadband blog
Monthly e-news

54. Some Outcomes So Far
Nearly 1,000 computers distributed to low-
income families across 29 rural Minnesota
counties
39% families of color
70% unemployed head of household
average annual household income = $11,071

55. More Outcomes..
Over 500 training events reaching more than
1,000 small rural businesses and training
almost 2,000 business owners/employees
23.3% were female or minority-owned

56. More Outcomes..
Digital literacy training has reached more
than 2,500 low-income learners

57. Adoption Outcomes
Broadband adoption rates for in MIRC demo
communities have increased by 5.2%,
compared to non-MIRC communities, with
adoption rates of only 3.3%.

58. Big Picture:
Statewide broadband resources aligned
MIRC project has created common ground for
government, schools and the private sector
to collaborate and leverage strengths to
deliver to rural Minnesotans high-speed
internet access and ideas and skills for how to
optimize its use.

59. Bernadine’s Top 3 Takeaways
 Relationships, relationships, relationships
 Broadband is the means, not the end
 It’s about culture change – helping people understand that
continuous learning and adapting is the ―new normal‖ – and
what tools are available to help them
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
58

60. More Resources about MIRC
 Project summary and background documents
http://broadband.blandinfoundation.org/programs/programs-
detail.php?intResourceID=1060
 Blandin on Broadband blog
www.blandinonbroadband.wordpress.com
 MIRC videos:
 Journey to broadband in 3 MN communities"
Minnesota community leaders discuss needs for and successes of broadband
http://broadband.blandinfoundation.org/resources/videos-
detail.php?intResourceID=1493
 Blandin on Broadband YouTube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/blandinonbroadband
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
59

61. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
60

62. An Overview of Web-Based Educational
Resources Related to Broadband and
E-Commerce
Bo Beaulieu
Southern Rural Development Center

63. Background about the Initiative
Launched in 2003 as a result of funding from
National Institute of Food and Agriculture/USDA
The intent was to address the digital divide
between metro and nonmetro areas of the U.S.
Felt the network of Extension educators could
serve as a important conduit for promoting
broadband/e-commerce information, education
and adoption in rural America.

64. Two Major Hurdles We Had to Address
Few educational resources were available (in
2003) for use by Extension educators to
support broadband/e-commerce outreach
activities in their states/communities.
Equally serious . . . few Extension educators
had the training or experience to deliver
educational programs on broadband/e-
commerce topics.

65. Our Response: Focus on Three Key Components
Develop
Educational
Resources
Train Extension Provide Timely
Educators Communication

66. Why the Initiative Remains
Relevant Today
Major investments being made to expand
broadband access across the U.S.
landscape, including rural America
 NTIA
 USDA RUS
 FCC
 Philanthropic organizations
 And more
Our program complements these efforts by
providing the educational backbone needed to
increase the uptake in broadband adoption & e-
commerce applications.

68. Current Products Available on our Website
Community Business Business Agriculture Government General
Going Global:
Beginner’s Security
A Guide for e-
Guide to e- Direct
Commerce Squad:
Connecting Commerce Marketing of E-
Expansion Keeping Your
Communities Food Specialty Government
Products Information
Safe
Web Site
Basics: A
Electronic Primer for
Retailing Hispanic Small
Businesses
Internet
Strategies to Search
Helping E-Commerce & Improve Farm Engine
Artisans Reach Experience Business Optimization
Global Economy Management
Markets Strategies

69. Connecting Communities
Provides information and tools that community
leaders/citizens can use to identify, develop and
implement projects that improve the:
 Availability of broadband connectivity across the
community;
 Ability of local organizations to use digital technology
to achieve their mission and goals; and
 Capacity of individuals in the community to use digital
technology to improve their social and economic well-
being.

71. http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/curricula/connectingcommunities/

73. http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/6657b328#/6657b328/1

74. Security Squad: Keeping Your Equipment and Information Safe
http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/curricula/security_concerns/

76. Bo’s Top 3 Takeaways
 Build it and they may not come . . . not without education and assistance
 Land-grant university-based Extension educators can be valuable partners
in helping promote broadband education and adoption of e-commerce
strategies
 Tap the free training resources available via the SRDC’s National e-
Commerce Extension Initiative to help strengthen community-based
broadband planning and e-commerce applications, especially in rural areas.
 SRDC website: http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/
 Sign up for eNews: http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/enews/
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
75

77. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
76

78. BTOP and Rural Economic Development
 Welcome
 Objectives
 Introductions
 Presentation 1: Paul Ludwick: NebraskaLink
 Presentation 2 : Dr. John Lewis: Northern Illinois University
 Q&A
 Presentation 3: Bernadine Joselyn: CK Blandin Foundation
 Presentation 4: Dr. Bo Beaulieu: Southern Rural Development Center
 Q&A
 Next Steps and Additional Resources
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
77

79. Additional Resources
 White House Rural Council:
 http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/rural-council
 http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/jobs_economic_security_rural_america
.pdf
 $15M Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (deadline May 9, 2012):
will support rural partnerships by identifying and leveraging local assets and
strengthening linkages to industry clusters. Guidelines:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RuralJobsAccelerator.html
 NIST: Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP): provides support to
small manufacturers and small businesses: http://www.nist.gov/mep/find-your-
local-center.cfm
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
78

80. Additional Resources (continued)
 Strategic Networks Group:
 http://www.sngroup.com/research-library/
 http://www.sngroup.com/how-to-invest-wisely-4-key-guidelines-2/
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
79

81. Next Steps
 Slides will be distributed and posted on the Rural Affinity Group wiki:
http://broadbandworkshop.pbworks.com/w/page/51036664/Rural%20Affinity%20Gr
oup
 Rural Affinity Group sub-groups in formation:
 Value Proposition/Community Engagement (led by Libbey Scheible of Technology For
All) libbey.scheible@techforall.org
 Join the Rural Affinity Group mailing list to participate in future events/webinars:
email Karen Hanson at khanson@ntia.doc.gov
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
80

82. Thank you for your participation!
NTIA Federal Program Officer contacts:
Karen Hanson: khanson@ntia.doc.gov
Jean Rice: jrice@ntia.doc.gov
Made Possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
81