Validation and Outreach of Oklahoma State Broadband Initiative

Presenters: Scott Cox, Ying ZhangOU Center for Spatial Analysis (OUCSA)

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Why This Initiative?• “Always-on”, high speed internet is

necessary for economic development in the 21st century.

• It is key for rural Oklahoma’s continued economic growth and participation in the global economy

• Availability of and access to high speed Internet is essential for business, health care, education and government to function effectively in today’s economy

• Advantages believed to be greater for rural areas

• Successful adoption of high speed internet is imperative to sustain rural America.

Overview• Oklahoma was awarded two Broadband Development Grants under the Broadband

Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) funded by the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA).

• The Oklahoma Broadband Initiative consists of three phases: Phase I: Oklahoma Broadband Mapping Project Phase II: Oklahoma Community Anchor Network (OCAN) Project Phase III: Broadband Outreach Project

• Throughout all three phases, availability of broadband high speed internet services across the state of Oklahoma will be mapped along with a classification of areas that are served, unserved and underserved.

• The Mapping project was originally funded for two years but Oklahoma has been awarded a supplemental grant to continue its efforts to 2014.

Independent Validation and Outreach by OUCSA

• Independent validation of Vendor data • Broadband coverage map provided by

Sanborn• Bottom-up approach: emphasis on

reaching underserved and unserved populations through surveying

• Validate the broadband coverage map:– False positive: Sanborn data indicate

served but are not– False negative: Sanborn indicate data is

unserved but are

• Priority: focus on false positive

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Examples of blocks potentially in question(Wireline Broadband)

False Positive?

A single block is covered without any surrounding areas covered.CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Validation & Outreach Preliminary Findingsfrom OUCSA

Examples of Identifying False Positive Blocks

Before

WoodwardWoodward

Validation & Outreach Preliminary Findingsfrom OUCSA

Examples of Identifying False Positive Blocks

After

WoodwardWoodward

Examples of blocks potentially in question(Wireline Broadband)

False Negative?

A single block is not covered with all surrounding areas covered.CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Validation & Outreach Preliminary Findingsfrom OUCSA

Examples of Identifying False Negative Blocks

Before

Validation & Outreach Preliminary Findingsfrom OUCSA

Examples of Identifying False Negative Blocks

After

Validation Process of OK Broadband Map

Wireline & Fixed Wireless Broadband Map• Survey – Methods

Email/Online Survey• Education network, Council of Governments, Geotech networks, OK

GIS listserv & Social media Mail out

• Statewide random sample• Direct mail to areas with limited data or potentially in question

Face-to-Face Interview• Survey trips to rural areas that had little or no validation information

available or data suggested were under or unserved• Outreach activities at community festivals

Telephone• Community Anchor Institutions• Library, Public Safety, School (K through 12), Medical/Healthcare,

University/College, Other community support government

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Validation Process of OK Broadband Map

Wireline & Fixed Wireless Broadband Map• Survey – Content

Working & Home Broadband Use Challenges of broadband adoption

• Survey – Processing & Analysis Geocode addresses and accessibility information Overlay the survey addresses with the broadband coverage

map Identify and map blocks of false positive or false negative Provide information of problematic blocks to Sanborn

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Wireline & Fixed Wireless Broadband Map Mobile Wireless Broadband Map

• Field Speed Test FCC speed test application on smart phones Various mobile wireless carriers:

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile GPS for pinpointing accurate testing location Geocode testing location and speed test results Overlay the speed test points with the broadband coverage map of

mobile wireless technology Identify and map blocks of false positive or false negative Finalize a map with problematic blocks

Validation Process of OK Broadband Map

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Oklahoma Community Anchor Network

CoIT Meeting, May 2014

Validation & Outreach Efforts of OUCSA

Help Your Community Get Better Connected!

Take the survey Broadband Use Survey

http://broadbandmapping.ok.gov/OKpublicsurvey.aspxBroadband Validation Survey

http://7.selectsurvey.net/ouit/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=l22M772http://csa.ou.edu/sites/default/files/broadband.pdf

Take the speed test http://broadbandmapping.ok.gov/OKspeedtest.aspx

View the interactive map and map gallery http://broadbandmapping.ok.gov/OKInteractiveMap.aspx

http://broadbandmapping.ok.gov/OKMapGallery.aspx

Contact & Follow usOklahoma Broadband Initiative @OKBroadband

okbroadband.wordpress.com okbroadband@gmail.com