Windstream has several broadband projects in Missouri and dozens more across the country to expand and enhance accessibility.  In Bolivar (Polk County), the construction crew uses a “rock saw” to cut through limestone and granite about four feet deep to make a trench.  A second crew passes by rolling out fiber strand to bury.  On a good day, the process can cover about 500 feet.

Regional Technology Planning Teams continue to meet to discuss short and long range broadband strategic goals.  Members have been discussing how to expand and enhance accessibility, adoption, literacy and affordability to more homes and businesses.  Thanks to the grassroots level of participation from citizens across the state.  To read the strategic plan presentations click here.

MoBroadbandNow participated in the FFA state convention in Columbia.  It was great opportunity to learn from the next generation of Missouri farmers and producers on what is important in the agriculture community.  Broadband and high technology equipment will play a greater role with farming operations in the future.  Nearly 600 FFA members took our broadband survey and provided great feedback.  Congratulations to Jake Peak of Monroe County!  He was the winner of our iPad giveaway.

The Bootheel (Dexter) and South Central Ozark (Pomona) Regional Technology Planning Teams met on Thursday and Friday, completing the first week of broadband strategic planning meetings.  Ozark Foothills (Poplar Bluff) was on Wednesday.  All three meetings prioritized short and long term broadband goals including availability, adoption, funding, literacy and sustainability.  Thanks to Felicity Brady and Corey Brown in Poplar Bluff, Steve Etcher and Mike Dumey in Dexter and Johnny Murrell and Rebecca Pruett in Pomona for leading the regional discussions and bringing the community together.

The Ozark Foothills Regional Technology Planning Team (RTPT) met today to discuss its broadband strategic plan of short and long term goals.  After 12 months of grassroots-citizen led work gathering information and community feedback, the RTPT team prioritized several objectives including accessibility, adoption, digital literacy and funding.  Final version of strategic plan with public comments will be released in a few weeks.

Big River Broadband held community forums on April 9 and 10 in Farmington (St. Francois County) to highlight broadband technology applications.  Governor Nixon was on hand, attending a discussion on how high-speed Internet can assist in natural disaster preparedness and recovery.  Other demonstration topics included health care, economic development, education and public safety.  Alcatel Lucent, a partner with Big River in the southeast Missouri wireless project, brought its interactive mobile unit for the public forums.  Big River expects to begin providing service in June.  Read Southeast Missourian and Missouri News Horizon for more information.

The final round of Regional Technology Planning Team (RTPT) meetings have been scheduled for April and May.   RTPT members have met over the last 12 months developing strategic broadband plans.  Each plan will be released and discussed at the meeting in “town hall” format.  RTPTs were established at the grassroots level with community representation from various industry and organizational sectors.  RTPT Meeting Schedule – as of 4.5.2012.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) blocked a proposal by LightSquared to provide high-speed satellite broadband service to many underserved communities.  Opposition from global positioning system (GPS) companies that deliver services such as personal navigation or air traffic control services raised concerns of wireless interference.  Another federal agency, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), reviewing the plan concluded after several tests that interference risks could not be completely eliminated.  For more information read Kansas City Star and Forbes or watch Associated Press

Grand River Mutual Telephone has four broadband infrastructure projects in Missouri. The telephone cooperative is making great progress in all areas.   Upgrades to the central network offices are completed.  In Meadville (Linn County), all homes and businesses have been installed with fiber.  The “cut over” or switch from copper lines to new fiber service will be up and running soon.  Other projects in locations such as Lathrop (Clinton County), Denver (Worth County) and Gentry (Gentry County) are underway.  GRM has made broadband improvements to the communities it serves beyond the four awarded projects.  For example, in Princeton (Mercer County) and Bethany (Harrison County) co-op members now have fiber-to-the-home with fast and reliable speeds. 

Google announced that installation of fiber in Kansas City has begun, bringing Missouri one step closer to having a 1 gigabit community. Read Time magazine, Kansas City Star and Kansas City Business Journal for recent conversation about the Google Fiber project.

The Missouri Public Service Commission recently issued a report on the state of broadband in Missouri.  The report concluded that 23 counties are underserved in the level of broadband accessibility provided to its residents.  Northwest Missouri is one area of the state where many communities still struggle to find high-speed Internet service.  Read St. Joseph News-Press article for one example.

Google’s deployment of a 1 gigabit network in Kansas City continues to make steady progress since the selection announcement in May 2011.  A recent story by the Kansas City Star, however, suggests that issues including a dispute on where and how to connect fiber on utility poles could delay the launch.  Google and city officials are confident that customers will begin receiving service sometime in the first half of this year.  In addition, Gary Kim asks in a recent column how many subscribers will actually take 1 gigabit service in a very competitive marketplace.  For more information read Multichannel News, KCTV 5 and Geek.com.

Here are some excerpts from the speech before a joint session of the General Assembly.  Governor Nixon continues to make expanding broadband accessibility a high priority of his administration.

. . .Anyone who grew up in a small town like I did knows there’s something special about them. Folks want their towns to be places where their kids can grow up safe, get a good education, find a job and raise a family.  . . .

. . .Broadband access is a game-changer — for commerce … for farming … for education … for health care … for law enforcement and public safety.  . . .

. . .Let me give you an example. Over in Otterville, we’ve hooked up the local school through our partnership with Sho-Me Technologies. This has significantly expanded their ability to provide web-based classes using streaming video.  . . .

. . .Just as the railroads and interstates changed the face — and the fate — of Missouri communities in decades past, this project will help shape Missouri’s future from Otterville to New London and everywhere in between. Rural communities are a proud part of Missouri’s past. They’re also a vital part of Missouri’s future — . . .

MoBroadbandNow recently launched a pilot project called AgBroadbandNow.  Agriculture and agribusiness play a major role in Missouri’s economy.  Most farms and ranches are located in underserved and unserved broadband communities.  In collaboration with farmers, producers, breeders, agriculture trade and professional associations and other stakeholders, including USDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, we are working with broadband providers to increase broadband accessibility in this important industry sector.  Read Columbia Daily Tribune article on how farmers benefit from broadband.