General
• What is the current status of broadband connectivity in Ohio?
• How did this initiative get started?
• How will decisions be made about who gets what services and when?
• Does the initiative consider the cost/benefits of wireless networking?
• As network needs escalate, how can this network adapt in future years?
• How do Ohio’s existing and proposed networks compare with other states/countries?
• How is this network different from the Internet we already know?
• How resilient/robust/redundant is the network?
Businesses
• How soon will my city or business be able to connect to the NextGen network?
• Is grant funding available to get my non-profit or small business connected?
• If the network backbone runs near my business, can I connect there?
Medicine
• How will the network support telemedicine (telehealth)?
K-20 Education
• Will this enormous expansion slow network traffic for current users?
• Will this substantive expansion increase or decrease the rates users are being charged?
Citizens
• If the network backbone runs near my home, can I connect there?
State and Local Agencies
• How soon will my state agency switch over to the NextGen network?
• How soon will local government switch over to the NextGen network?
• What types of state services will be offered on the new network?
Vendors
• How will the state select which telecommunications vendors will be involved?
• What will be the role of telecommunications companies with the Broadband Ohio?
• What will be the role of telecommunications companies with the NextGen network?
Urban Areas
What benefits does the plan provide for urban areas?
Rural Areas
What is the impact on rural areas?
General
What is the current status of broadband connectivity in Ohio?
Today, Ohio is rated as one of the top states in the country in its policies to support broadband deployment and usage. OSCnet is the most advanced statewide research and education network in the nation, serving K-12, colleges and universities, hospitals and public television stations, federal agencies and economic development centers. Ohio is also fortunate that the Office of Information Technology has an excellent track record in developing vendor contracts that provide cost-effective networking solutions on a statewide basis. Unfortunately these policies and efforts have not been sufficient to elevate Ohio to the forefront of broadband service to the state's businesses or residents. Broadband Ohio is an ambitious project that aims to increase access to high quality broadband service for all Ohioans and help propel Ohio to the vanguard of broadband accessibility, service speed and cost.
How did this initiative get started?
The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) leased over 1,600 miles of fiber in 2003 to create OSCnet, an advanced statewide research and education network to serve the long-range network needs of K-12, colleges and universities, hospitals and public television stations. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) initiated planning for the NextGen Network several years ago to support state agencies local governments and other high priority state efforts. Governor Strickland announced his “Broadband Ohio: Powering Ohio’s Economy and Connecting it to World Markets” as a key policy of gubernatorial campaign. In keeping with his promise Governor Strickland included Broadband Ohio in his 2007-2009 budget proposal to the Ohio General Assembly. These three powerful efforts have now joined forces to help bring Ohio the broadband services required to compete in the information age.
How will decisions be made about who gets what services and when?
The Ohio Broadband Council's goal is to provide high speed internet to every corner of the state to spur economic development, save the state money and increase connectivity in homes, hospitals, businesses and schools. Although we would like to be able to accomplish this overnight, state funds are limited. The OBC will initiate policies that promote partnerships with local governments, regional efforts and private providers to extend broadband service, achieve statewide digital inclusion and promote economic development.
Does the initiative consider the cost/benefits of wireless networking?
Yes. Wireless networking will be an integral piece of the overall system design. While most, if not all of the long haul functionality will be accomplished via fiber optic technologies, it is anticipated that rural backhaul and many statewide last mile service connections will be accomplished wirelessly.
As network needs escalate, how can this network adapt in future years?
The Broadband Ohio Network is being designed and built on industry standard technologies (such as Metro Ethernet, MPLS, Fiber) that will meet the needs of Ohio for years to come. The network is packet switched network providing services across a range of technologies, giving users access to different technologies and service providers.
The technologies used to build the network will deliver high-speed, access-enabling advanced voice, data, video, Internet access, e-commerce and educational applications to be delivered throughout the State. Broadband Ohio has embraced the concept of access independence, meaning that network services -- whether provided by wired Ethernet, WiMAX, cable or DSL connections -- will work very much the same throughout the State of Ohio.
How do Ohio’s existing and proposed networks compare with other states/countries?
Many states are looking to develop Next Generation Network capabilities; the difference in Ohio is the state’s ability to leverage the existing fiber infrastructure (OSCnet). Metro Ethernet will be used as one of the “last mile” or edge technologies. It has an estimated 300 million connections in use around the world today, making it a mature and well understood technology. Broadband Ohio intends to provide advanced broadband access to all 88 counties, allowing other government entities (i.e. local government, courts, education, economic development, etc.) to take advantage of both the cost savings and new services being offered. Broadband Ohio will enable voice, data and video messages to be carried on a single more flexible network utilizing packet switched and IP protocols.
How is this network different from the Internet we already know?
Broadband Ohio has the capability of not only supporting the Internet we already know but offers intranet services throughout Ohio without having to utilize the more costly Internet services. This means statewide applications can be utilized at a fraction of the Internet cost. The network also offers unique services such as access to the Internet2, a national network for education and research as well as a gateway to other regional optical networks.
How resilient/robust/redundant is the network?
The OSCnet network infrastructure has linked the optical layer, packet-based Internet protocol (IP) architecture with state-of-the-art routers and switches while implementing Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), creating a network platform capable of meeting today’s industry standards for reliability and the flexibility to support the Broadband Ohio network. Depending on the individual customer connectivity and availability requirements, customers can subscribe to additional layers of redundancy in the “last mile” or edge layer of the network.
Businesses
How soon will my city or business be able to connect to the NextGen network?
The Ohio Broadband Council is working to determine the best and fastest way to extend high-speed broadband connectivity across the state through policies and partnerships with local governments, regional efforts and private providers.
For some areas, this connectivity is already available through the existing OSCnet infrastructure. Eligible entities are welcome to connect to the NGN through the closest available POP (Point of Presence).
Additionally, Broadband Ohio will provide 'middle mile' connections to each of Ohio's 88 counties, making it less expensive for private telecom companies to provide the 'last mile' connection to individuals and businesses.
Is grant funding available to get my non-profit or small business connected?
As the Broadband Ohio Initiative moves forward it is anticipated that grant monies will be available. Until then the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has Rural Development Community Connect Grants and loan programs that may be relevant to your application. The USDA grants can be reviewed at: http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/commconnect.htm. The Appalachian Region Commission (ARC) also has ongoing grants; they can be reviewed at: http://www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeId=5
If the network backbone runs near my business, can I connect there?
The architecture of Broadband Ohio leverages the investments that the services providers have made in cities and towns across Ohio. These providers will provide the “on ramp” to both the state’s core network (OSCnet) and to other advanced services being made available through the Broadband Ohio initiative.
The core network is like a freeway, which needs to insure continuous flow of traffic. To meet this goal, the freeway establishes specific access or interchange points where individuals can enter the freeway. A Network has similar analogy only with regard to a network the interchange points are the network’s Points of Presence (POP). To insure the performance of the network, the network must limit the number of POPs. We use other providers to offer more decentralized hubs and then provide connections to the core network POPs.
Medicine
How will the network support telemedicine (telehealth)?
The Broadband Ohio Network is being developed to provide equal access to high-speed bandwidth for rural and urban areas. Under this plan, rural healthcare providers will be able to use the network to access clinical services only available in large urban areas. The network also supports the next generation of electronic health records for both the urban and rural areas of the state.
K-20 Education
Will this enormous expansion slow network traffic for current users?
We do not anticipate congestion on the network as the backbone was created to be robust and scalable to K-20 connectivity needs.
Will this substantive expansion increase or decrease the rates users are being charged?
The past trend for higher education customers has been lower costs per megabit of bandwidth since the inception of OSCnet (formerly Third Frontier Network).
Citizens
If the network backbone runs near my home, can I connect there?
The architecture of Broadband Ohio leverages the investments that the service providers have made in cities and towns across Ohio. The network is being used to support government (federal, state and local), education (K-12 and higher education), research (public and private) agricultural, and healthcare communities. Service providers will provide the “on ramp” to both the state’s core network (OSCnet) and to other advanced services being made available through the Broadband Ohio initiative. Residential services are best provided by the Local Exchange Carrier.
State and Local Agencies
How soon will my state agency switch over to the NextGen network?
Broadband Ohio will be built in a series of phases as agency needs arise and providers continue to develop and expand their services. Initially, Broadband Ohio will support Metro Ethernet services that many service providers are continuing to develop and expand in their respective “last mile” footprints across the state. State agencies began utilizing the Broadband Ohio network in specific geographic locations in the fourth quarter of 2007. As wireless and other broadband technologies continue to expand, Broadband Ohio will provide the “on ramp” to enable these technologies and services to take advantage of the OSCnet core infrastructure.
How soon will local government switch over to the NextGen network?
OIT anticipates connectivity in 2008. Local governments will be transitioned on a case-by-case basis.
What types of state services will be offered on the new network?
The state expects to offer both new “last mile” / edge access and other advance network services being to its users.
Last Mile/Edge Services will include (but not limited to) Metro-Ethernet, wireless, DSL, and cable.
Value Added Services may include (but not limited to) Voice over IP, Video over IP, Unified Messaging, Call Center services.
As providers develop new edge and value-added services, they will be added to the Broadband Ohio portfolio of services.
Vendors
How will the state select which telecommunications vendors will be involved?
The state will utilize existing contracts and select vendors via competitive procurement through RFP and RFI process.
What will be the role of telecommunications companies with the Broadband Ohio?
Telecommunications companies will provide most of the distribution and last mile access services for Broadband Ohio, just as they currently do for the State of Ohio. The components of Broadband Ohio, OSCnet and Next Gen networks, currently purchase approximately $85-90 million of communication services from telecommunications companies.
What will be the role of telecommunications companies with the NextGen network?
Telecommunication companies will supply most of the distribution and last-mile access services required by the NextGen network.
Urban Areas
What benefits does the plan provide for urban areas?
Many urban areas in Ohio have already developed local rings that consist of fiber-optic cables connecting educational, governmental, health-care and non-profit facilities together to better serve their constituencies. The plan can benefit urban areas by connecting these local rings directly to the OSCnet backbone to provide Internet connectivity or redundancy to institutions already connected to the local rings. Additionally, institutions already connected to the local rings now have direct access to other institutions connected to OSCNet.
Urban areas will share in lower pricing/megabyte of bandwidth service; enjoy quality of service, service level agreement protection, and myriad of service options available to all participants of the Ohio Broadband program
Rural Areas
What is the impact on rural areas?
The Broadband Ohio plan as implemented by the OBC will have significant impact on broadband availability in rural Ohio. The impact will require time, planning, as well as significant local and regional cooperation.
The goal is to transition Ohio's administrative network onto OSCnet and ultimately extend the presence of the network to all eighty-eight county seats though strategic investments with private-sector network
providers. Effectively, once the backbone transition is finished, the State will work with industry to ensure a network presence in the county seats for the purposes of connecting state agency facilities, local governments and educational facilities. These connections can be leveraged by local governments to provide low cost bandwidth to local service providers to lower their costs for rolling out broadband service in rural areas.
The OBC is working to ensure these public facilities are getting connected, and local and regional stakeholders will work together to develop a plans to utilize this asset for both citizen and business consumers. The State will not act as a service provider to residents in rural Ohio. |
