[GB-Today] Gigabit Today -- December 2003

Wed Dec 3 10:31:07 PST 2003

Gigabit Today
December 2003

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IN THIS ISSUE
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

GIGABIT NEWS
1. Task Forces Develop Agendas for Building Gigabit Network
2. New Task Forces Being Formed

NATIONAL BROADBAND NEWS
1. Municipal Fiber Networks Increase; Funding Challenges Persist
2. RBOCs Slow to Embrace Fiber All the Way to the Premise
3. Senate Amendment Increases RUS Broadband Funding
4. CDMA Schemes for Broadband Wireless Communications
5. Internet2 Land Speed Record Broken

ABOUT CENIC’S GIGABIT OR BUST ROUNDTABLE

ABOUT CENIC

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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We feel that not only is it [fiber] a good idea, it is the future of our 
business. We just don’t see a future in plain old telephone services over a 
copper network.
--Tim McCallion, President, Pacific Region, Verizon
During Gigabit or Bust Initiative Roundtable Meeting, November 5-6, 
Sacramento, CA

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GIGABIT NEWS
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1. GIGABIT TASK FORCES DEVELOP AGENDAS FOR BUILDING GIGABIT NETWORK
The Gigabit or Bust Initiative leaders and its 13 task forces got down to 
business quickly at the November 5-6 Roundtable Meeting. More than 95 
gigabit believers attended the Sacramento meeting, and they brought 
passionate energy to the work at hand.

Task forces spent the two days identifying the opportunities and obstacles 
to achieving one gigabit throughout California by 2010 and establishing 
action plans to achieve this goal.

This Gigabit Today issue is dedicated to introducing the task forces, their 
chairpersons and the individual goals the groups’ identified during the 
Sacramento roundtable. We encourage you to investigate the task forces and 
join one (or more) that shares your interests and goals. For more 
information about each task force visit:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/taskforces/index.htm

To view the video clips and slide presentations from the event visit: 
http://www.cenic.org/GB/meetings/110503/pres/contents.htm

BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES TASK FORCE
John Jamison, Chair

Ubiquitous broadband connectivity is the next "Great Leap Forward" in the 
development of the Internet. We cannot enjoy the benefits of ubiquitous 
broadband until the network infrastructure is in place. The Broadband 
Technologies Task Force is the keystone of the Gigabit or Bust Initiative.

Join the Broadband Technologies Task Force and help determine the 
appropriate technologies that will allow one gigabit ubiquitous broadband 
by 2010. We are currently developing a list of suggested pilot projects.

ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES TASK FORCE
Tad Marburg, Chair

Entertainment is California's largest export industry, and it is the second 
largest U.S. export industry. The Entertainment Task Force will bridge the 
chasm between education and the entertainment industry to find solutions 
for challenges such as intellectual property rights.

Join the Entertainment Task Force and participate in a collective effort to 
educate entertainment companies of the potential of one gigabit.

FIBER TASK FORCE
Victor Braud III, Chair

The Fiber Task Force is responsible for identifying the carriers, 
enterprises, governmental agencies, right of way owners, and other public 
and private entities that are interested in optical fiber infrastructure 
projects in California. We are seeking members who have the vision, pride, 
and commitment to build a network that will reach the state’s residents and 
businesses by 2010.

Join the Fiber Task Force and help build the infrastructure that will 
deliver gigabit service throughout California.

INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) LITERACY TASK FORCE

Barbara O’Connor, Chair

The ICT Literacy Task Force is defining how to integrate technology 
training into academic and consumer content so that California will 
continue to be a technology leader. Nations from across the globe are 
defining literacy standards and California must follow their example.  The 
Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development has a Program for 
International Student Assessment that will test ICT literacy worldwide in 
2006. Thirty-one countries will measure their workforce's ability to use 
technology in the context of math, science, social science and language.

Join the ICT Literacy Task Force and create a framework and standards for 
measuring ICT literacy in California.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) TASK FORCE
Jack McConaghy, Chair

The IP Task Force is identifying the IP rights issues that arise when 
consumers can access content via a gigabit network. One of the main goals 
of the Task Force will be to identify the IP roadblocks that will hinder 
the deployment of ubiquitous gigabit broadband.

Join the IP Task Force and help solve one of the Gigabit or Bust 
Initiative’s most challenging issues.

LATINO EDUCATION TASK FORCE
Alex Ramirez, Chair

In the Latino community, "digital divide" is more than a catchy phrase -- 
it is a stark reality. Within our community, 68.4% of Hispanics are not 
presently connected, including 85.9% of Hispanic households where Spanish 
is the only language spoken. The One Gigabit or Bust Initiative could 
intensify the division, or the initiative could create new solutions to old 
problems.

Given the increasing significance of the Latino population to California, 
all the state’s residents need to consider how to introduce broadband 
technology to the Latino community.  In this democracy, Latinos, in 
particular, need to be involved in the discussion and development if they 
are to help create their future.

Join the Latino Issues Task Force and help shape the vision and the future 
for this growing community.

MUNICIPALITY BEST PRACTICES TASK FORCE
Mark Gilbert, Chair

The Municipality Best Practices Task Force is defining the best means to 
develop municipal networks. We will develop a business plan, outline 
specific costs and identify possible anchor tenants.

Join the Municipality Best Practices Task Force and help local governments 
and agencies offer broadband alternatives to their constituents.

MUSEUM EDUCATION TASK FORCE
Edward Johansen, Chair

CENIC's Museum Education Task Force intends to deliver results in a very 
short timeframe. The group has completed two meetings and scheduled two 
meetings by March 2004. We are dividing into several small working groups 
to complete our projects.

Join the Museum Education Task Force if you would like to:
--Participate in connecting USC to the California Science Center
--Plan the program, "Second Forum on Applications of Space-Age Technology 
to Archaeology," a follow-up to the “Forum on Applications of Space-Age 
Technology to Archaeology” held at UCLA on October 5, 1997
--Organize a virtual lecture. The Curator of the National Museum of 
Anthropology at CUDI's offices in Mexico City will present lecture on Aztec 
Art and Colonial art to a UCLA class and other universities
--Organize a virtual lecture via the San Diego Supercomputer Center and 
CalREN. A Torrey Pines State botanist will present a botany lecture to 
students at El Monte and Los Angeles high schools.
--Continue discussions between CENIC's Latino Issues Task Force and Museum 
Education task force.

POLICY TASK FORCE
Tom West, Interim Chair

The Policy Task Force will work with each Gigabit or Bust group to identify 
policies that will advance a gigabit network. We want to address consumer 
protection issues; focus on creating policies for Right of Way (ROW) and 
equitable treatment of all segments of the population, especially those 
separated economically and geographically; and gain endorsements for 
Gigabit or Bust Initiative from local, community and state governments, 
community-based organizations and service providers.

Join the Policy Task Force and influence decisions about next-generation 
broadband networks.

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE
John Vaille, Chair

The success of the Gigabit or Bust Initiative depends on our ability to 
uncover human and financial resources. We will be working closely with each 
of the Gigabit or Bust task forces to make things happen.

Join the Resource Development Task Force and help make a Gigabit network a 
reality in California.

RURAL ISSUES TASK FORCE
Tina Nerat, Chair

Everyone who lives in rural areas should participate in the Rural Issues 
Task Force.  As we all know, services providers have little economic 
incentive to bring services to rural areas. Collectively, we can create 
productive grass roots efforts that will bring much-needed broadband 
services to rural residents.

The Rural Issues Task Force needs members to help identify rural areas that 
need broadband; locate area leaders or points of contacts that will support 
our goals; develop a map showing the current services available; and 
determine best practices that will help rural areas acquire 
telecommunications services.

UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS TASK FORCE
Alex Lightman, Chair

The University Applications Task Force is identifying the applications and 
solutions that people will purchase for the Gigabit network. We are already 
finding supporters who believe in our cause. The University Applications 
Task Force is the first Gigabit or Bust task force to gain voluntary 
contributions ($10,000 to date) directly. By the next Gigabit or Bust 
meeting, we will produce a video highlighting applications that are enabled 
by gigabit broadband. The video will be an excellent means for CENIC to 
share the Gigabit or Bust vision with potential political and corporate 
supporters.

Join the University Applications Task Force and get an insider’s look at 
the applications that will drive broadband growth.

WIRELESS TASK FORCE
Dewayne Hendricks, Chair

The Wireless Task Force is deciding how wireless technologies should be 
implemented within the Gigabit or Bust Initiative. Wireless is likely to be 
one of the key components of Gigabit or Bust, and our group will work on 
defining the policy issues that will ensure the availability of gigabit 
wireless.

Join the Wireless Task Force and help identify the key technologies 
necessary for delivering a ubiquitous wireless gigabit to homes and 
businesses statewide.

2. NEW TASK FORCES BEING FORMED

Two new task forces have been formed.

The GIS Fiber Mapping Task Force is being co-chaired by Seth Fearey from 
Connected Communities and Brad Kane from the State of California.  The goal 
of this task force is to work with the State of California to develop 
requirements for incorporating detailed fiber maps in the California GIS 
system. To join the task force, visit 
http://www.cenic.org/GB/taskforces/gis/gis.htm.

The Communication Outreach Task Force is also under formation.  This task 
force will focus on defining and bringing the One Gigabit or Bust message 
to Californians.  More information about this task force will be available 
after December 10.

If you have an idea for a task force, we’d be happy to discuss it with 
you.  Contact Susan Estrada at susan at cenic.org or 760-510-8406 x1# at your 
convenience.

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NEWS
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1. MUNICIPAL FIBER NETWORKS INCREASE; FUNDING CHALLENGES PERSIST
More and more municipalities are building fiber networks that extend to 
homes and businesses, and the Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure 
Agency (UTOPIA) project is the largest to date. UTOPIA would include 18 
cities in Utah and would be run as a wholesale carrier. While the 
organization continues to secure funding, initial vendors have been 
selected for the project and work is scheduled to begin in 2004.

Learn more about the trend of municipal networks at: 
http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_wave_municipal_fttp/

Find out about UTOPIA at:
http://www.utopianet.org/
http://www.dynamiccity.com/literature/client_profile_utopia.pdf
http://www.convergedigest.com/DSL/lastmilearticle.asp?ID=8947

2. RBOCS SLOW TO EMBRACE FTTP
Light Reading’s ongoing examination of Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) outlines 
RBOC interest in expanding their fiber networks to the premise. Three 
articles offer insight into the FTTP plans of RBOCs, and another reports 
the latest figures from research firm IDC:

Read the articles at:
RBOCs See Three Ways to FTTP .October 31, 2003
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=42846&site=lightreading

DSL Fuels Second Thoughts on FTTP .November 12, 2003
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=43413&site=lightreading

Poll Finds RBOCs Tepid on FTTP .November 13, 2003
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=43510&site=lightreading

IDC Sees Modest FTTP Growth  November 18, 2003
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?site=lightreading&doc_id=43595

3. SENATE AMENDMENT INCREASES RUS BROADBAND FUNDING
The Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Council encouraged the U.S. Senate and House 
of Representatives to maintain the mandatory funding level for broadband 
loans provided in last year’s farm bill. In November, the Rural Broadband 
Coalition reported that the Senate version of the Agriculture 
Appropriations bill included an amendment to increase the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) broadband program funding. The bill (H.R. 2673) was in 
conference in mid-November.

Learn more about the Senate version of the Agriculture Appropriations bill 
at: http://www.ruralbroadbandcoalition.net/Senate%20Ag%20Bill%20Recap%202.pdf

For the government’s take on the bill, visit:
http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.R.2673

4. CDMA SCHEMES FOR BROADBAND WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
IEEE Communications Magazine’s “Multicarrier DS-CDMA: A Multiple Access 
Scheme for Ubiquitous Broadband Wireless Communications” identifies 
potential problems of broadband multiple access systems that have extremely 
high bandwidth. The discussion explores the characteristics, benefits, and 
limitations of three typical code-division multiple access schemes.

Read the full article at:
http://eprints.ecs.soton.ac.uk/archive/00008421/01/lly-lh-CommMag-oct03.pdf

5. INTERNET2 LAND SPEED RECORD BROKEN
A team from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and CERN set 
the latest Internet2 Land Speed Record when it transferred 1.1TB of data 
across more than 7,000 kilometers (nearly 4,300 miles) of network in less 
than 30 minutes  an average rate of more than 5.44Gbps.

Learn more about this achievement at:
http://archives.internet2.edu/guest/archives/I2-NEWS/log200310/msg00008.html

ABOUT CENIC's GIGABIT OR BUST ROUNDTABLE
CENIC's Gigabit or Bust Roundtable addresses critical technical, policy, 
economic and implementation challenges facing the delivery of one gigabit 
broadband to all Californians by 2010. The Gigabit or Bust Roundtable 
brings together the interests of research, education, commerce, state and 
local government and the general public to address the issues surrounding 
implementation of robust end-to-end broadband capabilities to every 
educational institution, business and home in California.

ABOUT CENIC
CENIC is a not-for-profit corporation serving the California Institute of 
Technology, California State University, Stanford University, University of 
California, University of Southern California, California Community 
Colleges and the statewide K-12 school system. CENIC’s mission is to 
facilitate and coordinate the development, deployment and operation of a 
set of robust multi-tiered advanced network services for this research and 
education community.

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