SUBJECT: ROIF/Coalition Telecommunications Committee issues regarding
NEEDS and RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS

An objective of the Committee is "…deciding what telecommunications improvements
are appropriate and needed... [and] market those improvements...."


Legend: (1) ROIF Telecommunications Committee OVERVIEW.

Needs survey (IDED - ROCOM Assessment dtd 07 JUN 2001) results:
	Organizations Residential All respondents
Phone service is satisfactory	83% 79%

Internet service is satisfactory	86% 51%

Cellular service is satisfactory	89% 47%	"Service" dissatisfaction likely reduced over past 18 months, as cell phones now connect to closest
		tower(s), and with upgraded system network software and handsets.

CATV service is satisfactory	64%

Preference for government information and services online	82%

Preference for educational programs about telecommunication
service choices	67%



Subsequent to the 07 JUN 2001 Report, specific requested needs:	Currently Available:	Improvements to consider:

1. Video conferencing [see (1)].	1. Via Qwest leased lines, satellite providers (e.g. DirecWay, Starband,	1. Additional landline provider, offering more service and pricing options.
	Tachyon, Skycasters, WildBlule), Heartland wireless, Mediacom


2. VPN [see (1)] to premises.	2. see (1) - DirecWay, Starband, Tachyon, Skycasters, WildBlue,	2. Additional landline provider, offering more service and pricing options.
	Heartland, Mediacom.


3. Data transfer between Red Oak and remote job sites outside	3. see (1) - DirecWay, Starband, Tachyon, Tellular, WildBlue, &	2. Additional landline provider, offering more service and pricing options.
county.	Skycasters.


4. Wireless connection for data enabled mobile devices [see (1)]	4. No	4. see (1) - Wireless Iowa, terrestial wireless.
anywhere within Red Oak.


5. "Economical" ATS services available throughout exchange 623.	5. Landline voice: Qwest and several CLECs over Qwest lines.	5. Landline voice: additional landline choices.
Assume 'minimum' definition of ATS [see (1)].
	A and B band cell phone: two local providers (Cellular29, USCellular).	A and B band cell phone: additional provider?

	PCS cell phone: no local provider.	PCS cell phone: provider?

	Internet dialup access: numerous providers

	Internet wireless access: one provider (Heartland).	Internet wireless access: see (1) - American Relay.

	Internet satellite access: several providers

	ISP: several landline and satellite providers, and one wireless

	TV: CATV - Mediacom; DBS - DishNetwork	Additional landline provider

	Private communication lines: one landline provider (Qwest).	Private communication lines: additional provider

	Internet broadband landline providers: Qwest, Mediacom.	Additional Internet broadband landline provider.


5.1 An "Iowa 2010" goal is to have ATS available, appropriate to their	5.1 No	5.1 Encourage and promote the number and diversity of telecommunications access providers and
needs, at nationally competitive prices, to all Iowa organizations,		service providers, thereby increasing competition and providing economical ATS [see (1)] service.
by 2003.


5.2 An "Iowa 2010" goal is to have ATS available for all Iowans,	5.2 No	5.2 Encourage and promote the number and diversity of telecommunications access providers and
appropriate to their needs, at nationally competitive prices, by 2005.		service providers, thereby increasing competition and providing economical ATS [see (1)] service.


5.3 An "Iowa 2010" development stategy is to undertake a targeted	5.3 No	5.3 see (1) - ATS, Broadband Multimedia, MSAP.
effort to attract content providers to Iowa.


6. Availability of leasable bandwith capacity.	6. Via primarily Qwest leased lines; limited use of INS lines.	6. Additional provider?


7. Remote utility meter reading, load management, security.	7. No	7. Service available for every premise?


8. 100% E (Iowa Strategic Initiative for Digital Government) by Q0404.	8. Some of the online services at www.iowaccess.org (saving State	8. 100% E for state, regional, county, & city services.
	of Iowa $5M during JUL 01):	Voter registration & voting.
	Housing Financial Assistance	Renew vehicle and drivers license, order personalized license plates, pay parking violations.
	Iowa Workforce Development claims and services	Centralized e-procurement.
	Health Care Facilities report card	Make park reservations & purchase fishing/hunting licenses.
	UCC filings	File for elective office, and file campaign finance disclosures.
	Road Work report	Verification of commercial vehicle insurance.
	Sex Offender registry	Estimate retirement benefits for state employees.
	Iowa Resource Network	Advertise and accept bids for government projects.
	Historical Society Store	Homeowners and business tax information & payment system.
	Income Tax filing	Appy for college, pay college tuition.
	Nursing license renewals	Apply for state student aid or grants.
	Public Court records (civil and criminal) online for all 99 counties	Employer wage reporting.
	Legislation tracking.	Access Medicaid accounts.
	Digital Libraries.	Social service directory.
	Apply for business permits.	Adoption services registration.
	Verification of commercial vehicle insurance.	Obtain birth, death, marriage certificates.
	Locate legislative districts.	File corporate fees & pay commercial vehicle fuel tax.


9. Educate the community about available telecommunications	9. Newspaper and public hearing reports.	9. Increase community awareness of efforts to promote competition, thru public reporting
services and prices.		mechanisms, including electronic means such as a website. Related to that is building demand for
		ATS, with such activities as webcasting local school events, public meetings, private social events.


10. Specific ATS needs of (assume 'wider' definition of ATS [see (1)]):

Residences (e.g. Internet access, 'smart' homes)


Ag producers		Farmers have requested data enabled cell phones, to access weather reports. USCellular estimates
		web and data enabled cell phones will be available in 2-3 years, in SW IA. SMS is now available.


Ag businesses


'large' business (corp. offices/plants and/or branch offices/plants)	CDS: 5 - 1,500 kbps leased lines.	CDS: Minimum 1,500 kbps, preferably symmetric 100,000 kbps to residential premises, for image transfers.
		CDS: intermediate term requirement - 45,000 kbps leased line to CDS business premise.
	Security Bank: 2 - 1,500 kbps leased lines.

	Mid-American Energy: 1 - 1,500 kbps leased line.	Mid-American Energy: preferably a less expensive solution than the current Qwest line. Also, a more
		advanced CO serving Red Oak (and Shen), allowing features such as using the same xxxx
		(as in 623-xxxx & 246-xxxx) for internal & external use (as is the case in other Mid-American sites).
		Mid-American Energy: a cost/benefit analysis of AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) and remote utility
		management is desirable.


'small' business (e.g. retailers, home-based businesses)


professional firms (e.g. law, engineering)


health care (e.g. home care, nursing homes, MCMH)	MCMH: 1 - 1,500 kbps landline connection.	data enabled mobile devices for use thruout care facilities, and the community.


education (e.g. SWCC, RO District K-12, home-learning)	1-T1 (1,500 kbps) connecting the RO School District to the Internet;
	4 - 56 kbps xDSL connections among the buildings. ICN connection
	between Tech Center & SWCC, then to the ICN backbone.


city government (e.g. utilities, library)	Library: 3 computers for public use sharing a 2.5 Mbps connection.	City web site being co-developed with, and sponsored by, Iowa League of Cities (www.iowaleague.org ).


county government (e.g. safety, public works)	Montgomery County Assessor: Geographic Infrastructure System:
	lot, plat, aerial photographs, & assessment data @ www.
	montgomeryassessor.org (census data, E911, etc, to be added).

	Montgomery County Treasurer: pay property taxes online at
	iowatreasurers.org. Also vehicle tags and other forms.


state government (e.g. extension service, workforce development)	Extension offices: 56 kbps frame relay private net.	Extension offices: at least 1,500 kbps (e.g. desktop conferencing, streaming video, engineering).
	DOT: some wireless analog systems in use.	DOT: statewide wireless coverage for real-time traffic monitoring, enforcement, locates, road conditions, etc.
	Dept of Safety: statewide wireless analog secure network.	Dept of Safety: upgrade statewide wireless system to broadband for secure transfer of images & text.


non-profits (e.g. YMCA, History Center)


federal government (e.g. soil conservation, West Central Develop)

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01 OCT 2006

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