News

December 10, 2009

by Matthew Clark
Pittsburg Morning-Sun

PITTSBURG — It has been compared to the rural electrification from the early 1900s and state officials feel that its impact will be just as significant.

This week, Kansas was awarded $2 million in a federal grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is part of a larger, $7 billion that have been set aside to invest in infrastructure of rural broadband Internet.

“More than anything, it is about sustainable communities,” Kansas Department of Commerce spokesperson Joe Monaco said. “It is a quality of life issue because it is harder to retain and recruit businesses if that is not available.”

The latest round of grants will be used by the state to map where broadband is available. Monaco said they expect the mapping to be done by Feb. 2010.

Connected Nation, a nonprofit organization that helped Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee to expand their broadband access, has been contracted to assist in the mapping and to help develop a public-private partnership to build network access, said Brian Mefford, the group's CEO.

He said the group may also be able to help get low-cost computers to residents in rural areas.

Mefford said between 85 percent and 90 percent of Kansans are covered by broadband access, but that it is likely that only half of them actually uses the technology. He said many don't see the need for having a computer to assist with their lives, business or education.

Earlier this week, Kansas Lt. Governor Troy Findley compared this new infrastructure initiative to the rural electrification which was part of the New Deal after the turn of the 20th Century.

For communities, businesses and individual consumers, they are really at a disadvantage if they don’t have broadband,” Monaco said.

Monaco said that, in addition to the mapping project, the KDOC has 22 potential projects that they have recommended for infrastructure funding.

Of those, there are eight that will have impact to eastern Kansas.

“We are talking about improved government and tele-medicine efforts as well as business possibilities with the access of broadband Internet,” Monaco said. “This is a big deal. It will mean significant changes for rural Kansas.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

On the Web:
http://www.connectkansas.org

Link to article here.

December 9, 2009

By The Capital-Journal Editorial Board
Topeka Capital Journal

Those of us who have become spoiled by ready access to the Internet and all that it offers, in the work place and home, generally assume that the marvels at our fingertips are available to everyone, until we are reminded that it just isn't so.

Recently, we've been reminded that the technology most of take for granted isn't available in some areas and hasn't always been used as fully as it could have been where it is available.

Fortunately, help is on the way for those in rural areas who don't have access to broadband Internet services. Kansas has received a $2 million grant to map the state's current broadband infrastructure as the first step in extending that infrastructure to unserved rural areas.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley explained Monday the subsequent expansion of the service — for which additional federal funds have been allocated — would mean economic growth through e-commerce, enhanced services through e-government and improvements to the overall quality of life in rural areas.

While $2 million sounds like a lot of money just to learn who's been left out of the loop, the overall mission is one we can support.

It's estimated that 85 percent of the state now is covered by broadband Internet service.

We can think of no good reason to leave the remaining 15 percent out in the cold any longer.

Elsewhere Monday, Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh joined some of his colleagues from across the country to tout provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act — approved by Congress in October — that require states to make absentee ballots available electronically at least 45 days before a federal election and allow military personnel to return their ballots through expedited mail service at no charge.

As recently as June 2008, only 13 states would send absentee ballots via e-mail to our service men and women stationed overseas. Only seven allowed the ballots to be returned via e-mail.

Military personnel from most states had to rely on regular mail to receive and return their ballots, which meant many of them learned of the election results long before their ballots were counted.

A study conducted earlier this year listed Kansas among the states that give overseas military personnel sufficient time to receive and return their ballots, although it still doesn't allow ballots to be returned by e-mail.

Legislators this year passed a bill that would have allowed the state's military personnel and other federal employees working overseas to do so, but Gov. Mark Parkinson vetoed it because he had problems with language in the bill dealing with people who handle advance ballots for the disabled or elderly.

The governor indicated the Legislature would have time during its 2010 session to fix the bill before the election season.

We hope that's the case. But if Parkinson and legislators can't reach agreement on an amended bill, they should separate the issues and pass a bill to allow military personnel and federal employees working overseas to return their ballots via e-mail.

Regardless of whether we're talking about access to broadband Internet services or something as simple as e-mail, there's no reason not to use the technology available to make life a little easier for everyone.

Link to editorial here.

December 8, 2009

By John Milburn
Associated Press via the Wichita Eagle

TOPEKA — Kansas will use a new federal grant to identify gaps in access to broadband services and build the infrastructure for economic recovery, the lieutenant governor said Monday.

The state recently was awarded $2 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a portion of the $7.2 billion earmarked in the program for broadband infrastructure nationwide.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley said the broadband mapping would be a first step toward extending Internet access to all parts of Kansas, helping businesses find ways to expand their markets and increase the ability for residents to access education, health care and other government services online.

Findley framed the grant as an economic development tool to position Kansas for growth in the coming years.

"We believe we are going to come out of the recession and come out of it strong," Findley said.

Information gleaned from the mapping, expected to be available in 2010, will be used to encourage local service providers to develop broadband access in areas where there are gaps. Along with the grant, the state's Information Network of Kansas is contributing $185,000 and the Kansas Farm Bureau is adding another $15,000.

Kansas is one of 21 states to receive federal grants for broadband mapping since October. Additional federal grants to service providers will be used to expand the broadband network, officials said.

Findley said broadband access will help businesses in rural areas link with suppliers and will give entrepreneurs an avenue to get their products developed and in front of customers. Other residents could study for degrees online or find out about government services.

"Residents can go from being a day's drive away to a click away," he said.

Connected Nation, a nonprofit organization that helped Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee to expand their broadband access, has been contracted to assist in the mapping and to help develop a public-private partnership to build network access, said Brian Mefford, the group's CEO.

He said the group may also be able to help get low-cost computers to residents in rural areas.

Mefford said between 85 percent and 90 percent of Kansans are covered by broadband access, but that it is likely that only half of them use the technology. He said many don't see the need for having a computer to assist with their lives, business or education.

"The point is to put the technology in people's hands so they use it," Mefford said.

Link to entire article here.

December 7, 2009

By Scott Rothschild
Lawrence Journal-World

Topeka — Kansas has received a $2 million federal grant that officials say will help provide access to high-speed Internet service throughout the state.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley said Monday that the grant also will boost economic recovery, especially in rural areas of the state.

“For rural Kansans, this means economic growth through e-commerce, enhanced services through e-government and improvements to quality of life,” Findley said at a news conference.

The initiative aims to develop a map of the state’s existing broadband infrastructure, and then provide grants and loans to providers to expand broadband service.

The $2 million grant was from the federal American Recovery and Reorganization Act. There is more than $7 billion available under the act to expand broadband throughout the nation, officials said.

Kansas Department of Commerce officials say that Kansas matched the grant with $185,000 from the Information Network of Kansas and $15,000 from the Kansas Farm Bureau, which will be used to pay Connected Nation, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that specializes in broadband issues, and has been contracted to help with mapping and planning the broadband effort.

Brian Mefford, chief executive officer of Connected Nation, said 85 percent of Kansas probably doesn’t have access to high-speed Internet service. And, he said, many Kansans who live in areas that do have broadband, don’t take advantage of it.

“The point is getting Kansans online using the technology,” he said.

Link to article here.

December 7, 2009

By The Associated Press
WDAV-TV

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials say they will soon begin mapping the state to determine where there are gaps in access to broadband services.

The project announced Monday uses a $2 million federal stimulus grant to help the Department of Commerce and other groups map where high-speed Internet access is available.

That information, expected to be available in 2010, will be used to help local service providers encourage development in areas where there are gaps.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley says increasing the availability of broadband services will help expand the economy. In addition, access will improve the ability of Kansans to obtain government services, education and health care in rural areas.

Link to article here.

December 7, 2009

by Daniel McCoy
Wichita Business Journal

Kansas has received a $2 million federal grant to help map the state’s existing broadband network.
It’s an important step, officials say, in bringing broadband Internet service to rural areas throughout the state.

“This is an exciting day for the state, especially for rural Kansas communities that don’t yet have access to high-speed Internet,” Lt. Governor Findley said during a Monday news conference announcing the award. “This grant enables us to advance the Connect Kansas initiative and increase the availability of broadband Internet in rural communities. For rural Kansans, this means economic growth through e-commerce, enhanced services through e-government and improvements to overall quality of life.”

Connect Kansas is run through the Kansas Department of Commerce and emphasizes both the mapping and projects that expand broadband access to rural areas.

The state compiled in November a list of 22 such projects, totaling about $283.1 million, for federal approval under the $4.9 billion, stimulus-funded Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

Joe Monaco, a spokesperson with the department, says the $2 million grant is only for mapping and that those projects on the state’s list remain in the running to get federal funding.

He says the state hopes to hear back on awards for those projects by the end of the year.

Link to story here.

December 7, 2009

By Scott Rothschild
KTKA-TV

Topeka — Kansas has received a $2 million federal grant that officials said Monday will help provide access to high-speed Internet service throughout the state.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley said the grant will help the state’s economic recovery, especially in rural areas.

“For rural Kansans, this means economic growth through e-commerce, enhanced services through e-government and improvements to quality of life,” Findley said at a news conference.

The initiative aims to develop a map of the state’s existing broadband infrastructure, and then provide grants and loans to providers to expand broadband service.

The $2 million grant was from the federal American Recovery and Reorganization Act. There is more than $7 billion available under the act to expand broadband throughout the nation, officials said.

Link to entire news story here.

December 7, 2009

by Kansas City Business Journal

Kansas has been awarded a $2 million federal grant to spread high-speed Internet access throughout rural Kansas.

The grant for the new Connect Kansas program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will pay to map out the state’s current broadband infrastructure, the Kansas Department of Commerce said in a Monday release. That information would help in planning, aiding businesses, consumers and policymakers involved with Connect Kansas.

“For rural Kansans, this means economic growth through e-commerce, enhanced services through e-government and improvements to overall quality of life,” Kansas Lt. Governor Troy Findley said in the release.

The program comes as part of $7 billion in stimulus money that will be disbursed to states for increasing broadband access to rural areas.

Link to entire article here.

December 7, 2009

By Kansas City Star
KansasCity.com

Kansas government officials this morning will unveil details of a $2 million federal grant for the Connect Kansas rural broadband program.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley and Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton will hold a news conference in Topeka at 11 a.m. to discuss the project.

The grant will fund broadband mapping and planning through the Connect Kansas Initiative, which is aimed at increasing high-speed Internet access in rural Kansas.

Kansas is among 21 states that received stimulus funds for Internet mapping activities. The Kansas grant was announced Nov. 30 by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

View entire article here.

December 07, 2009

By John Milburn
The Associated Press via the Washington Post

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Kansas will use a new federal grant to identify gaps in access to broadband services and build the infrastructure for economic recovery, the lieutenant governor said Monday.

The state recently was awarded $2 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a portion of the $7.2 billion earmarked in the program for broadband infrastructure nationwide.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley said the broadband mapping would be a first step toward extending Internet access to all parts of Kansas, helping business find ways to expand their markets and increase the ability for residents to access education, health care and other government services online. Findley framed the grant as an economic development tool to position Kansas for growth in the coming years.

"We believe we are going to come out of the recession and come out of it strong," Findley said.

Information gleaned from the mapping, expected to be available in 2010, will be used to encourage local service providers to develop broadband access in areas where there are gaps. Along with the grant, the state's Information Network of Kansas is contributing $185,000 and the Kansas Farm Bureau is adding another $15,000.

Kansas is one of 21 states to receive federal grants for broadband mapping since October. Additional federal grants to service providers will be used to expand the broadband network, officials said.

Findley said broadband access will help businesses in rural areas to link with suppliers and will give entrepreneurs an avenue to get their products developed and in front of customers. Other residents could study for degrees online or find out about government services.

"Residents can go from being a day's drive away to a click away," he said.

Connect Nation, a nonprofit organization that helped Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee to expand their broadband access, has been contracted to assist in the mapping and to help develop a public-private partnership to build network access, said Brian Mefford, the group's CEO.

He said the group may also be able to help get low-cost computers to residents in rural areas.

Mefford said between 85 percent and 90 percent of Kansans are covered by broadband access, but that it is likely that only half of them actually uses the technology. He said many don't see the need for having a computer to assist with their lives, business or education.

"The point is to put the technology in people's hands so they use it," Mefford said.

View entire article here.

December 7, 2009

Farm Bureau News

“What we do on the Internet is very limited because of the time it takes to download on dial-up. It’s not unusual at all for farm families trying to do business online to load up their work at bedtime and hope for the best by the time they get up in the morning.” • Brenda Dooley, Jewell County, Kansas

Many rural Americans like Brenda are struggling to participate in the new global economy but are being left behind in the digital revolution.

Fortunately, Kansas Farm Bureau and Connected Nation have applied for $9 million in federal stimulus funds to overcome the barriers to broadband adoption and promote broadband use across the state of Kansas. The goal is for all Kansas citizens to have access to broadband at an affordable rate so they can access this technology to improve their personal and professional lives.

View a PDF for the article here.

December 1, 2009

By Capital Journal staff
Topeka Capital Journal

Kansas has been awarded a $2 million matching grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration to fund broadband mapping and planning through the Connect Kansas initiative.

The grant will help Kansas collect data and develop a map of the state's existing broadband infrastructure, which businesses, consumers and policymakers involved in the initiative will use to increase high-speed Internet access in rural Kansas.

The initiative is funded primarily by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It has two components:

* Mapping Kansas' broadband capacity, as well as related planning.
* Providing federal grants and loans to qualified organizations involved in expanding broadband to rural areas.

The award concerns only the mapping and planning component at this point. Kansas has contracted with Connected Nation to help with the mapping and planning, which is made possible by a $185,000 contribution from the Information Network of Kansas and $15,000 from Kansas Farm Bureau.

Kansas businesses, organizations, Internet service providers and citizens are asked to go to http://www.connectkansas.org/ to provide information about broadband access in their areas.

Kansas is one of 21 states since October to receive Recovery Act funding through the NTIA for mapping initiatives.

View the article here.