Howard Lowe on statewide broadband council could lead to more funding

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December 9, 2007

Director of PSU's Technical Assistance Center chosen by Spitzer

By DAN HEATH The Press Republican Sun Dec 09, 2007, 11:00 PM EST

PLATTSBURGH -- Formation of a council to bring high-speed Internet access to all New Yorkers could lead to increased state funding for that effort.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer recently announced the formation of the New York State Council for Universal Broadband.

In a news release, Gov. Spitzer said, "Internet access is no longer a luxury. We must implement a strategy that leads to every New Yorker having access to affordable, high-speed Internet so that they may take advantage of the economic, social and cultural opportunities it provides."

Howard Lowe, director of the Technical Assistance Center at Plattsburgh State University, has been named to the council.

"I'm honored the Governor has invited me to serve on this important council," he said. "The Governor's initiative is certainly good news for the North Country."

The Technical Assistance Center and the Research Foundation of SUNY are coordinating construction of CBN Connect, a nearly 500-mile fiber-optic and wireless network that would serve Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties.

There is $5 million in grant funding available that was included in the 2007-08 state budget for research, design and implementation of high-speed Internet networks in parts of the state with little or no high-speed Internet service. Requests for Proposals were released Friday to determine which proposals will receive grant applications later this year.

Lowe said, "I'm pleased to see the Governor make this a centerpiece of his agenda. I wouldn't be surprised if further funding was included when he unveils his (2008-09) budget."

CBN Connect has already completed a needs analysis and conceptual design, which was unveiled in October.

The next step is a technical design, Lowe said, which will provide much more detail. Examples include determination of how many power poles are in the tri-county region and the cost of installing fiber-optic lines on them, and discussions with companies that have fiber-optic in place and the possibility of sharing those lines.

That detailed design will be part of the bid documents sent to companies that want to bid on the project construction. Those documents could go out as early as the end of 2008, Lowe said.

He said the Federal Communications Commission recently provided more than $7 million to build a fiber-optic network that will link eight local health-care and educational institutions. The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration has told CBN Connnect it will provide $3 million in funding, Lowe said, as it did for similar projects in St. Lawrence County and Northern Vermont.

Using $35 million as a middle ground for the price of the local broadband network, CBN Connect is about one-third of the way to its goal.

"That shows we have traction and bi-partisan support," Lowe said.

CBN Connect officials plan to ask for $6 million from both the federal and state government next year for construction of the network's outer ring. There would be two main hubs, in Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake, each capable of running the entire network if one was disabled.

The core loop would run through 20 communities in the tri-county area, with wireless service to more remote areas. CBN Connect will act as a wholesaler, allowing service providers access to the network so they can provide service to end users.

New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of the New York State Office for Technology Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart will chair the council.

"The importance of developing a statewide broadband strategy cannot be overstated. Through strong collaborative public/private partnerships we can create an environment across New York state that fosters innovation, life-long learning and economic growth through greater use of technology," she said.

Mayberry-Stewart's two offices will send out grant applications before the end of the year and run the grant program.

Lowe said he's anxious to work with the council.

"I think the experience I've gained in the last five years working on CBN Connect can help the state and the council," Lowe said. "I think CBN Connect can be a model."

dheath@pressrepublican.com