Broadband Communities

JUL 2013

BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.

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WHY WE NEED MORE FIBER Who Needs a Gig? Everyone needs a gig! By Tyler Whitten / Optica Network Technologies W ho needs a gig? Te question comes up a lot these days, and it's an important question to ask. Consumers often hear that more than 90 percent of Americans have access to broadband. Sounds as though that's a great number – until someone compares the United States to the rest of the world. Tis country currently ranks near the middle of the pack (average about 16th place) in terms of penetration rate, actual and advertised speed and overall costs. Te current broadband state just doesn't cut it. So, why a gig? Shouldn't providers be more focused on raising broadband penetration rates at existing speeds? What uses are there for a gig? Milo Medin, vice president in charge of the Google Fiber project, answered these questions soundly at this year's FTTH Council Americas Community Toolkit Conference when he stated, "Te slowest Internet speeds you will tolerate are most likely the fastest you will get." If communities continue to settle for slow speeds at higher prices than Internet users in the rest of the world pay, the United States can expect to fall behind in other key areas, such as business, education and health care. Tat is probably one key reason Julius Genachowski, former FCC chairman, issued the Gigabit City Challenge. Here are Optica's top fve reasons a gig should be every community's goal. FIvE: MORE RESpONSIvE AND EFFICIENT GOvERNMENT Most people have experienced long waits at government agencies, waiting to fll out forms or pay fnes. Imagine having the ability to fll out most forms online at any time. Elected ofcials could hold virtual town meetings with constituents, allowing all voices to be heard and represented. Want transparency? Imagine being able to live stream city council meetings and then keep video archives on the town website so citizens can see what has been discussed and become more involved in the issues. State and local governments would have the ability to share data in real time, speeding up processes and helping reduce costs, something both sides of the aisle can agree on. All those features require a strong broadband infrastructure with high speed, lots of bandwidth and nearly universal access to be efective. FOUR: IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A plANE … IT'S SAFETy ApplICATIONS As nice as it would be to have a superhero in every city, it's just not realistic (actually, it's impossible). However, gig-enabled networks can empower local heroes with next-generation applications that can help them save lives, respond quickly and ensure safety. Diversion Solutions LLC in Red Cloud, Minn., is a perfect example of the development of new public-safety applications. Te company has developed driving diversion programs, drug diversion programs and sentence monitoring; all help reduce crime and make use of Red Cloud's robust fber network. At the FTTH Council Community Toolkit Conference, Diversion CEO Scott Adkisson discussed new applications the company plans to roll out. One application allows people to send videos or pictures of crimes from cell phones directly to headquarters and then back to frst responders in real time; another allows people to send maps of buildings and the best possible routes in and out to avoid danger. Such apps really can take safety to the next level. Contribute to Why We Need More Fiber This column welcomes fresh, informative, eye-opening contributions from readers – anywhere from a paragraph to a page in length. To share your thoughts on why we need more fber, email masha@bbcmag.com. 12 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com | July 2013

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