Connecting Rural Ohio: The Role Satellite-Based Internet in Workforce Development and E- Learning Alan Escovitz, Ph.D. The Ohio State University Office of the Chief Information Officer Ohio Higher Education Computing Council Conference April 20, 2006

Facts About Appalachia

Appalachian Region 13 States, 200,000 sq. miles 23 million people Past: heavily reliant on heavy industry, agriculture and mining Today: jobs in service industries, retailing and government 1999 per capita income 81.9% of US average (down from 83.2% in 1994)

Appalachian Challenges: reducing economic distress Competition from imports : textile and apparel mfg. Regions where manufacturing still dominant: decline in real wages High-tech jobs have not developed in manufacturing dependent counties-widening income gap Economic dependence on coal contributed to continued decline 71 distressed counties (out of 410 in 13 state region) still have high dependence on tobacco production posing continued threat to economy

Appalachian Ohio Region Appalachian Ohio occupies 14,299 square miles 1 in 5 Appalachian children (77,000) live in poverty 1/3 of Ohio's 100 lowest performing school districts. The college-going rate for Appalachian Ohio is 30 percent, compared to 41 percent for the rest of Ohio and 62 percent for the U.S. Nearly one-fifth of Ohio's population is poor in Ohio's southern and southeastern Appalachian counties. Approximately 1.4 million reside in Ohio's 29 county Appalachian Region

Rural Broadband Internet Use Pew Internet & Am. Life Project Feb. 2006

Connecting Rural Ohio Objectives Developing advanced Internet services over satellite infrastructure for communities that are geographically far removed from terrestrial Internet connectivity Providing access to Web-based training and educational Stabilizing their economy and bringing an end to drain of human capital Improving quality of life and increases their standard of living

Morgan County Population: 14, sq. miles Education attainment: 19.4% no H.S., 50.5% H.S. graduate, 15.8% some college, 5.3% AA degree, 5.1% BS degree 1999 Poverty Status 15.7% family income below poverty level Ratio of income to poverty level: 6.4% (50% of poverty level), 12.0% (50%-90% of poverty level)

Ground Station Tachyon Central Ground Station-- San Diego, CA AMC4 Satellite Internet 1 and Internet 2 All Locations 50,000 miles Internet Connectivity to Anywhere

Satellite Communications Basics

Earth Satellites The Most Well-Known Types of Earth Satellites –International Space Station –Global Positioning System –Synchronous Satellites –The Moon

International Space Station 250 miles above the earth. Goes around the earth every 90 minutes.

Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) There are 24 of these satellites; 6 of them are always above the horizon at any one time. These are what your GPS receiver uses to determine where you are located. They are 12,000 miles above the earth, and go around every 12 hours.

Synchronous Satellites

The Moon 240,000 miles away from the Earth, Goes around once every “moonth”.

Internet 1 and Internet 2 Earth Satellite Tachyon Central Ground Station San Diego Internet Sites Transportable Ground Station

AvaLAN 900 MHz P2P system Security –Matched Pair of devices, no user access to them –Unique key for each pair assigned at factory – They use 128 bit pseudo random temporal keys. –The key is updated for every packet exchanged, or 2000 times/sec if no data packets are flowing. – The boxes exchange synchronization data constantly. AES encryption boxes can be added for extra security Maximum range is 40 miles in line of sight operation

D-Link DWL-2700 Wireless APs b/g compatible Rugged sealed case Operating temperatures: – -40ºF to 140ºF (-40ºC to 60ºC) Up to 200 mW Tx power

Site Considerations Yagi Antennas used for 900 MHz link –15 dBi, Horizontally polarized Sector antenna on water tower; D-Link –120 degree, 13 dBi Yagi antenna on community building; D-Link –14.5 dBi Omni directional antenna on Library Access Point –9 dBi

Site Considerations Outdoor power at base of water tower Mounting an outdoor enclosure –Located behind fences for the tower –Watertight seal, fiberglass construction –Power cable and network cables pass in and out –Contains: network switch power strip power injectors

Support for First Responders Wireless Broadband Chesterhill Volunteer Fire Department Keep up with current technology E-learning Locate affordable fire equipment Provide a second layer of communications with other fire depts.

e-Commerce Initiatives Ron’s Auto Center – gains access to national discount car part distributors that can provide overnight delivery-estimated savings and future sales -$20K to $40K/year

e-Commerce Initiatives The Posy Place - a flower shop that estimates a savings of $10K/year by using the Web vs. phone for FTD orders and delivery

e-Commerce Initiatives Chesterhill Produce Auction - connecting local farmers to wholesale markets

Educational Partnership with Washington State Community College Training for Microsoft Office Suite Beginner Basics Introduction to Windows Intermediate Windows Introduction to the Internet Introduction to Microsoft Office Intermediate Microsoft Office

Educational Partnership with the Ohio Learning Network E 4 ME --an online orientation course that helps individuals : Link interests to education choices, career paths, and jobs Find online courses and degrees that meet personal and career goals Learn how to be successful in e-learning courses

2005 Carnegie-Mellon/MIT Study: Measuring Broadband’s Economic Impact Increases in employment growth of 1% annually over communities that have not invested in broadband Property values increase, with rental rates were 6% higher. 1/2% higher annual growth rate in businesses 1/2% higher annual growth rate in IT business sector

Outcomes and Impact Model for Land-Grant university outreach Cost-effective bridge Addresses “last-mile” barriers and connectivity Framework for a community technology plan Stimulus to private sector investment and community development Improving quality of life and increases their standard of living