[GB-Today] Gigabit Today, January 2004

[CENIC Editor]

Gigabit Today
January 2004

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IN THIS ISSUE
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

GIGABIT NEWS
1. Gigabit or Bust Introduces Two New Task Forces
2. Roundtable Meeting Set for March
3. Market Your Task Force with New Gigabit or Bust Brochure
4. Be the First Gigabit Pioneer on Your Block
5. Sponsors Needed for Community Readiness Guide

NATIONAL BROADBAND NEWS
1. FCC Releases Updated High-Speed Internet Access Numbers
2. Small Pennsylvania Town Get Fiber Network
3. 2003 Broadband Roundup
4. Nations Zip by United States in High-Speed Race

ABOUT CENIC’S GIGABIT OR BUST ROUNDTABLE

ABOUT CENIC

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION


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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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I'm just amazed how far behind we are [in comparison to other countries’ 
broadband adoption rate].
--Sung Won Sohn, chief economist at Wells Fargo
USA Today, January 18, 2004

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GIGABIT NEWS
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1. GIGABIT OR BUST INTRODUCES NEW TASK FORCES
The Gigabit or Bust Initiative continues to gain momentum. Two new task 
forces­Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Broadband Mapping and 
Communication and Outreach­have joined the rank and file.

The GIS Broadband Mapping Task Force will work with the State of California 
to develop requirements for incorporating detailed broadband maps in the 
California GIS system. These maps will become a critical resource to 
communities and industries working on increasing deployment of fiber and 
wireless throughout the state. Seth Fearey and Brad Kane are co-chairing 
this task force.

The Communication and Outreach Task Force is responsible for spreading the 
word about the Gigabit or Bust Initiative­especially the unique work and 
contributions being spearheaded by the task forces. Cheryl Cox chairs this 
committee.

Sign up for one of these task forces or another task force at:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/taskforces/index.htm


2. ROUNDTABLE MEETING SET FOR MARCH
The Gigabit or Bust Initiative continues to forge paths for 
broadband-hungry Californians. Join us on March 17 and 18 in Marina del Rey 
to discuss the proposed­and completed­work of our task forces.

This event will build upon our successful November roundtable in 
Sacramento. We have breakout sessions organized by topical task forces, and 
Susan Kennedy of the Public Utilities Commission will discuss the 
availability of advanced communications services in California.

Register now for this exciting event at:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/meetings/31704/index.htm


3. MARKET YOUR TASK FORCE WITH NEW GIGABIT OR BUST BROCHURE
The Gigabit or Bust team has posted a new educational resource about the 
initiative. If you know someone who is interested in expanding California’s 
broadband infrastructure or you are trying to convince someone to 
participate, this brochure could be just the ticket. The brochure is an 
excellent communication tool for explaining the Gigabit or Bust 
Initiative’s history, mission, goals, and successes. Download and 
distribute, please!

View the brochure at:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/pubs/brochure.pdf


4. BE THE FIRST GIGABIT PIONEER ON YOUR BLOCK
You know about California’s budget crisis. You’ve read about our governor’s 
plans. To keep the Gigabit or Bust Initiative alive, we need sponsors. Our 
sponsorship packages offer companies an opportunity to establish visibility 
with a diverse, influential community. Our members represent service 
providers, content providers, state, county and municipal governments, 
state and local regulatory agencies, consumer groups, economic development 
groups, academics and technologists, and businesses.

Gigabit Pioneers can choose from four sponsor tiers ranging from $5,000 to 
$25,000. As a Gigabit Pioneer, you will gain access to the movers and the 
shakers of next-generation broadband.

Get more details at:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/pioneers/index.htm


5. SPONSORS NEEDED FOR COMMUNITY READINESS GUIDE
A group of community-network consultants have asked CENIC to participate in 
a proposed project that would update the Computer Systems Policy Project’s 
(CSPP) “Readiness Guide for Living in a Networked World.” CENIC was chosen 
due to the organization’s gigabit knowledge and program leadership 
experience. The guide is being revamped -- making a gigabit as the endpoint 
and providing communities in California and throughout the world with an 
easy way to figure out how to get on the road to a gigabit.

CENIC is seeking additional sponsors for this project. As a sponsor, you 
will receive credit in all printed and web-based materials and have an 
opportunity to participate in a series of statewide workshops on this topic.

Learn more about the guide at:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/studies/crg.htm


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NATIONAL BROADBAND NEWS
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1. FCC RELEASES UPDATED HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS NUMBERS
High-speed lines connecting homes and businesses to the Internet increased 
from 19.9 million to 23.5 million lines in the second half of 2003. Even 
though the numbers continue to increase, growth is down 5% from the first 
half of 2003. Cable and ADSL are running neck-to-neck. Cable lines had a 
24% increase, and ADSL had a 27% increase from the first half of 2003 to 
the second half.

Review the latest broadband numbers at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-242398A1.doc


2. SMALL PENNSYLVANIA TOWN GETS FIBER NETWORK
NuNet to bring fiber optic network to Hazleton under an $18 million 
proposed project. Ranked as a third-tier market, the city will be the 
second town in Pennsylvania and the 36th in the nation to get a fiber network.

Read the enter article at:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5hazletonjan16,0,466933.story?coll=all-news-hed


3. 2003 BROADBAND ROUNDUP
CNET compiled a list of 15 features that writers covered during 2003. With 
2003 behind us, let’s hope the call for more, and higher speed, broadband 
is heeded in 2004. Take a look back at the major technical, economic, and 
market issues in the last 12 months.

Appraise CNET’s 2003 lineup at:
http://news.com.com/2009-1023_3-5124527.html


4. NATIONS ZIP BY UNITED STATES IN HIGH-SPEED RACE
Mainstream media picks up the broadband story. USA Today points out that 
the United States is falling behind other countries, ranking 11th in global 
broadband use. If the national newspaper recognizes the importance of 
broadband to our national productivity level, is more federal support far 
behind?

Read the entire feature at:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/2004-01-19-broadband_x.htm


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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