Broadband: Fast, Reliable connection to the Internet

• Send\Receive multiple video streams\data at the same time
• Numbers move up with technology and applications
  • 25/3 – FCC definition but this is now too slow
  • 100/20 – defined in ARPA and Infrastructure bills
  • 100/100 – Standard states and ISPs are adopting
  • 1GB/1GB – Current gold standard

Bandwidth: Amount of Data that can be transmitted at one time

• Measured in Megabits\Gigabits per second where the larger the number, the faster the connection
• Generally, see two numbers 10/2
  • Most connections are asynchronous
  • First number is download or downstream speed, or the speed you can receive data from a site
  • Second Number is upload or upstream speed, or how fast can you send data to a site. This is becoming more important now with more people working/studying at home

Latency: the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer.

Jitter: the variation in time delay between when a signal is transmitted and when it is received over a network connection

Fixed Broadband: Connection delivered to home or business via cable or fiber. Major providers include (Internet Service Providers or ISPs)

• Companies dedicated to providing broadband
• Electric coops
• City utilities

Fixed Wireless: deliver connectivity without direct connection

• Depends on “line of sight”
• Affected by weather
• Improved technologies continue
• Transmitted from large towers to antennas on homes

High Orbit Satellites:

• Stationary satellites
• Limited capacity
• High latency
• Expensive
• Weather affects performance

Low Earth Orbit Satellites:

• Still experimental
• Latency should be reduced
• Greater capacity and bandwidth

Fiber:

• A different kind of cable
  • With glass or plastic fibers that transmit data as light
  • Carries more data than traditional copper or coaxial
  • Upgradable by adjusting equipment at ends of fiber
  • Can be buried or ran on existing utility poles
• Fiber to the premises (FTTP)
  • Also known as Fiber to the home (FTTH)
  • Fiber delivered into the residence vs traditional coax or copper

Last Mile: last leg of connection to home or business from the ISP’s points of presence (POP)

• transmitting antenna wireless
• wired connection to the home

Middle Mile:

• From central nodes to the POPs of the ISP
• Delivered via internet exchange points (IXP)
• From content delivery network providers

Smart Devices:

• Sometimes called Internet of Things (IOT)
• Determines in-home speed requirements
• Can be used for multiple devices in the home, such as refrigerators, heating/air systems, printers, televisions, gaming consoles, streaming devices, doorbells, and security systems.

Ethernet:

• Short distance in-building connections for network
• Limited to 300 meters
• Connections look like phone plugs only wider (8 wires instead of 4).
• Connect devices like computers, TV’s, Printer via ethernet

WiFi:

• In home/business wireless connectivity
• Requires a wireless router
• May require extenders in businesses or homes

Modem:

• Converts the Internet signal
• Form devices can connect to ethernet or WiFi

Router:

• Directs incoming digital traffic
• Appropriate device in the home or business
• Ethernet ports
• May also have WiFi capability
• Modem, Router and WiFi in one device

IP Address (Internet Protocol Address):

• Each device on the internet is assigned an IP address
• Two versions currently
  • IPv4 – version 4
• 32-bit integers that can be expressed in hexadecimal notation.
• The more common format, known as dotted quad or dotted decimal, is x.x.x.x
• Example 128.205.45.6
• We are running out of IPv4 addresses
  • IPv6 – version 6
• Addresses are 128 bits long.
• The larger address space is to allow for more devices to be connected to the Internet
• Example – 3FFE:FFFF:7654:FEDA:1245:BA98:3210:456

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP):

• Suite of communication protocols
• Allow for sending and receiving data between devices
• Allows the breakdown of information into packets
• Can be sent over different routes on the Internet
• Packets reassembled at receiving may arrive in a different order

URL (Uniform Resource Locator):

• Address for a web site (wikapedia.org)
• Each site or resource has a unique URL
• URLs are registered so there are no duplications
• URLs are assigned based on the IP address of the device hosting the site
• Agreed upon protocols for creation

DNS (Domain Name Server):

• URL’s need to be translated to the IP of the hosting device
• ISPs and other internet services host DNS servers
• Allows us to use text-based URLs instead of remembering IP addresses

Telehealth: Access to physical and mental health services remotely

• Access without driving several hours
• More likely to use extended services
• Access from home if bandwidth allows
• Diagnostics over video
• Potential to do remote screenings

Precision Agriculture/ Smart Agriculture: Uses digital data to help streamline farm operations

• Examples of advantages:
  • Reduces inputs (funds)
  • Reduces environmental impact
  • Spots diseases/insects/nutrient deficiency
  • Supports herd management such as record keeping, nutrition, animal health, talking to advisors/Extension educators
• Requires wireless connectivity to the field and fiber connection to transmit the increasing data available

Entrepreneurship: Provides opportunities for

• Access to support
  • Business planning
  • Financial assistance
  • Education
  • Technical assistance
  • Other entrepreneurs
• • E-Commerce
  • Selling beyond the local community
  • Marketing beyond State\Nation
  • Example – Hamilton MO Star Quilt

Education (E-Learning):

• Education for youth – K-12 & higher education
  • COVID demonstrated this need
  • Educators need training in this new method
  • Allow for college degrees without leaving home/ saves money
• Continuing Education – all ages
  • Continued learning improves mental\physical health
  • Opportunities to meet people from different communities, cultures
• Professional Development – certificates, required training

Attracting and Retaining Community Members:

• Remote Workers
  • People no longer need to move for work
  • People wish to move to smaller communities for opportunities for children or safety and security
• Retention of young local leaders
  • Strengthen community
  • Community grows own leadership
  • Opportunities for business