CBN Connect Inc. Briefing for Residents of Lincoln Pond Area Elizabethtown July 24, 2010

1. CBN Connect Inc. Briefing for Residents of Lincoln Pond Area Elizabethtown July 24, 2010 Presented by: Howard Lowe, President, CBN Connect Inc. Director of Economic Development, SUNY Plattsburgh Howard.lowe@plattsburgh.edu

3. CBN Connect Basics Not for Profit, Middle Mile, “open access” network 640 miles of fiber optic cable Installed on existing utility poles Technical design is complete APA, DEC, Army Corp Engineers approved Connecting “Community Anchor Institutions”: health care, colleges, libraries, museums, government, public safety Retail service providers are our customers Estimate 434 jobs created, direct and indirect Three year build out

4. What CBN Connect means to you Retail service providers are brought closer to your home or business “Last mile” connections your premises are affordable for the service provider and the end user Provides a system that can support wireless services Creates a competitive market for telecom services: lower prices, higher quality, more new services

5. An Economic Development Infrastructure • Initiated in 2000 by the Clinton, Essex, Franklin IDAs and the Town of Plattsburgh to retain and attract businesses • Managed since 2003 by Technical Assistance Center, SUNY Plattsburgh’s economic development outreach service • Created CBN Connect Inc., an affiliated corporation of the Research Foundation of SUNY, 2008 • Goal: Keep our region globally competitive; create jobs; provide a platform for innovation and sustainable economic growth and vitality

6. Broadband Funding To Date: $10 million • New York State • Empire State Development • Federal • FCC Rural Healthcare Pilot Program (Research Foundation of SUNY) • Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration • Housing and Urban Development • Small Business Administration

7. CBN Connect Business Concept • “The Municipal Airport Model” • Publicly and privately owned infrastructure • Wholesale; Open Access • A “carrier’s carrier” • Aggregating traffic on one infrastructure • Foster competition to benefit end users • CBN Connect is not a retail service provider

8. Our Region Has Fallen Behind • Telecom infrastructure essential for job growth and regional competitiveness • Development Authority of North Country - Open Access Network • North-Link (VT) • Ontario County • Fiber optic cable as the “backbone” connecting anchor institutions • Private telecom companies provide wired and wireless retail services using fiber network

9. Economic Benefits of CBN Connect • Economic Development Infrastructure for the Long Term • Revitalize region’s ability to attract and retain businesses • Offers “world class” telecommunications system • Attracts telecom companies (call centers, data centers) • Retain and attract young professionals • Keep our region competitive • Estimated creation of 434 direct/indirect jobs over 3 years • Seasonal residents and leisure visitors stay longer • Growth of small and home based businesses

10. NTIA BTOP Round 2 Stimulus Request • Total project cost: $33.2 million (six counties) • Requesting: $24.9 million from NTIA • New York State: $2.4 million • Adesta LLC: $5.7 million • Application Status • CBN Connect has completed Due Diligence • Award announcements in 30 - 60 days • All funds allocated by September 30

11. Management & Implementation Team President and Chief Technology Officer have 30 years experience managing communications and computer network design and construction Our partner, Adesta LLC, is international leader in fiber optic network design, operations, and construction CBN Connect Board of Directors includes fiber optic consultant, engineer, accountant, economic developers Legal advisor is a telecom specialist Consultation with private service providers

12. Questions, Comments, Discussion