Placemaking in Virginia: Rural Planning for Telecommunications

1. Placemaking in Virginia:Rural Planning for Telecommunications Jean Plymale Virginia Tech eCorridors Program www.ecorridors.vt.edu April 28, 2005

2. The New Economy • Between 1970 and the early 1990’s industrial markets all across America (the globe) began to change and a “New Economy” emerged, brought about in part, by advances in information technologies (IT) • As industries restructured and reorganized around IT, economic bases evolved beyond the traditional to include information technology • With the inclusion of advanced technologies, many industry jobs that once relied only on low skilled labor now required a larger skill set • The transition from traditional economies to the new economy has brought about turbulent times for some.

3. Transitioning from an old to a new economy • For 200 years, Southside enjoyed a prosperous economy rooted in tobacco, and textiles - a relatively undiversified economy based solely on manufacturing and agriculture • The loss of local industry in favor of cheaper oversea labor markets, tobacco’s uncertain future has thrown the area into an economic dilemma. • The foundations of the local economy have been broken and the people left unemployed and unprepared for the new economy. • For almost 20 years, SS has been a declining community whose basic industry and local economy has been devastated. • The result: decreasing population, high unemployment, a low PCPI, and high dropout rates, low educational attainment, ageing population…

4. Placemaking In Virginia? • Not everywhere: While the Northern and Eastern regions of Va. prosper, the Southern and Western regions decline. • Regions like SS and SW Va. have been bypassed by the new economy and loosing their sense of place. • Traditional economic development activities alone are no longer effective in declining regions • Struggling to reshape their economies, many regions are looking to enhance their telecommunication capabilities, considering public provision of telecommunication services • Planners faced with regional need for advanced communication services find themselves at a loss for information and guidance

5. eCorridors • The eCorridors program was created as a response to an increasing number of requests to the University by SS and SW communities, for information on the competitive benefits of telecommunications. • VT has a 3 fold mission; Education, Research and Outreach • eC is the Outreach arm of Virginia Tech’s Information Technologies Department • We also contribute to the Educational and Research objectives of VT

6. Examples of Local Activities Project partners and consultants for Danville, Pittsylvania Co., LENOWISCO Planning District, New River Valley Planning District, Galax, Pulaski, Blacksburg… • Participate in the development and analysis of the initial community needs survey/assessment. • Proposed initial routes and recommend technical specifications for chosen technologies. • Provided online, interactive GIS maps to support projects (NEW and being developed) • Facilitate initial contact of technology vendors (CNS, Cisco, Corning and others) • Provide education related to project rational, technology, strategy, political environment etc • Provide technical consulting for preliminary engineering • Provide cost estimates of the proposed network initiatives • Assist in the development of organizational structure required for operation and management of proposed networks. • Assist with grant writing and provide letters of support for grant proposals. • Regular participants in regional telecommunication planning sessions. • Distribute project information for regional initiatives. • Maintain news and updates and distribute project information for regional telecommunication initiates on the eC website. • Serve as a catalyst for the deployment of affordable access to advanced telecommunications

7. Example of Our Activities • With the help of other outreach, academic and administrative departments of Virginia Tech, and private sector participation and collaboration, eC developed comprehensive, set of documents we call; Strategic Technology Infrastructure for Regional Competitiveness in the Network Economy • 11 separate documents, each covering strategic aspects of advanced telecommunication infrastructures and their deployment; • rational for developing • the legal and regulatory environment • financial considerations and investment rational • how communities, citizens, business, government, educational, and medical organizations can leverage the benefits • several volumes are dedicated to technology, design and deployment scenarios • Something for every level of community interest and expertise. • Topics represent strategic areas of interest and research. • These documents and much, much more are available to download free from our website, www.ecorridors.vt.edu.

8. Other resources • eCorridors is just one of many resources available to the public which can provide information and guidance for telecommunication projects • Others: • Baller Herbst Law Group http://www.baller.com • Designnine: http://www.designnine.com • Other Universities and Colleges: • University of Illinois http://www.communitydevelopment.uiuc.edu/toolbox/ • Other regions that have initiated telecommunication projects: • New River Valley: http://www.nrvpdc.org/NRVTelecomPlan/NRVTelecomPlan.htm • Humboldt Co. Ca. http://redwoodtech.org/ • CIT: http://www.cit.org/broadband-04.asp • VAPA?

9. Virginia Telecommunication Bills: 2005 General Assembly Session • HB 2158: Wireless service authority. Allows multiple localities & regional industrial facilities to create wireless service authority. Passed • HB 2534 / SB 1337: Video Infrastructure Development and Competition Act of 2005. A BILL to encourage video infrastructure development and promote the public interest. Tabled but… • HB 2395: Wireless service authorities; offering qualifying communications services. Authorizes any wireless service authority to offer qualifying communications services on the same terms as localities and other political subdivisions. Failed in House. • HB 959: Telecommunication and cable television; release of information. Exempts from the mandatory disclosure …any public record of a local government ... pertaining to its provision of telecommunication services and cable television service. Passed • HB 960: Telecommunications services provided by localities; cost allocations. Removes SCC jurisdiction to reconsider, amend or disapprove a locality's manual or methodology for allocating costs in connection with its provision of telecommunications services. Stricken • SB 879: Freedom of Information Act; exempts proprietary records of cable television, etc. Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); exemptions for proprietary records of cable television and telecommunication services provided by localities. Stricken • HB 1804: Voice-over-Internet protocol service. Eliminates any jurisdiction of the SCC to regulate voice-over-Internet protocol service. Senate; left in Committee (Commerce and Labor) • HB 1853: Building Code; standards for installation of Internet connections in multi-family housing construction. Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to establish standards for the installation of Internet connections in the construction of new multifamily housing or substantial rehabilitation of such housing that is funded with federal or state funds. Stricken

10. Questions and/or Comments? vplymale@vt.edu 540-231-2270 www.ecorridors.vt.edu