Appendix A: Corridor Impacts Analysis – SWOT Analysis (by corridor)
The SWOT analysis examines and identifies the benefits and risks of providing broadband service (via a shared resource project) to the rural communities along the I-90, I-20, and I-91 corridors. It is important to note that the SWOT analysis focuses on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats with regard to the attainability of the potential benefits identified for each of the corridors. This SWOT analysis considered both the private entity and public agency perspective. Therefore, within the matrix, the public agency perspective is denoted by bolded entries, while the private entity perspective is denoted by italicized entries. An entry also can be both bolded and italicized to denote a connection to both the private entity and public agency perspective.
SWOT Analysis for the I-91 Corridor
| Issue | Strengths | Weaknesses | Opportunities | Threats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Fiber Optic/HST Deployment | Fiber appears to be preferred backbone technology Many parts of corridor lack fiber with local connections (“on-ramps”) Port of Montreal is expecting a five-fold increase in truck traffic along I-91 and I-93 in the near future |
Cost, engineering, and legal/institutional considerations | State initiatives – Vermont, Massachusetts Link with local initiatives – northern Vermont, central Massachusetts, New Hampshire |
Private sector alternatives |
| Realizing Economic Development Benefits | Many parts of corridor lack fiber with good local “off-ramps” – northern Massachusetts, southern Vermont/New Hampshire, northern Vermont/New Hampshire Demand is sufficient that public investment in trunk line fiber is likely to spur private investment in last-mile connections |
Need to ensure that “off-ramps” are provided and that private ISPs can access Most larger communities already have good bandwidth/connectivity Fiber just along interstate highway does not provide enough coverage to serve all communities – need additional loops Some low-density areas will still not be economically serviceable |
Support high-tech and medical-related growth in “Upper Valley” area of New Hampshire/Vermont and Five College Region of Massachusetts – expand geographic area of industry and housing options, increase telecommuting Support/increase population of remote workers throughout corridor Support local industries and entrepreneurs (e.g., woodcrafts, tourism, alternative energy) |
Long-term decline of “traditional” employment base (e.g., manufacturing, forestry) in corridor High taxes (Vermont) – New Hampshire more competitive Lack of skilled workforce in many areas Verizon is leaving Vermont; (opportunity or threat), because several stakeholders expressed general displeasure with Verizon in delivering broadband service |
| Realizing Health Care Benefits | Many households do not have broadband access – would improve home-based telemedicine opportunities Some satellite health care providers and small rural practices need basic HST access or increased bandwidth – improve telemedicine and EMR opportunities |
Many health care centers (e.g., Dartmouth-Hitchcock, other community hospitals) have adequate bandwidth/ connectivity for current needs | Nascent telemedicine and EMR programs based out of Hanover (Dartmouth-Hitchcock), Burlington (UMV-Fletcher), Boston (Tufts New England Medical Center, Joslin Vision Network) | Cost, technical, and institutional barriers to utilizing advanced technology (telemedicine and EMR) at smaller practices and at home |
| Realizing Education Benefits | Many households do not have broadband access – would improve distance learning opportunities, ability to research and apply to colleges on-line By encouraging last mile service provision, would allow more K-12 schools, libraries, etc. to access broadband |
Higher education institutions already appear to have adequate connectivity One private college noted that home-based learning already is adequate without broadband Schools, libraries, etc. still need to be able to afford service, even if available |
Higher education institutions are increasing on-line course offerings K-12 schools could benefit from sharing of teachers and resource materials |
Not Applicable |
| Realizing Safety and Security Benefits | Local security personnel identify the need for additional bandwidth along U.S.-Canadian border |
DHS in Washington D.C. does not identify as need | Surveillance technology (e.g., constant video monitoring) Cross-State/cross-border communications and coordination initiatives Local fiber initiatives in northern Vermont/New Hampshire |
Interagency/interjurisdictional cooperation required to leverage full benefits Privacy, cost, personnel, technology issues |
| Realizing ITS Benefits | VAOT wants to install a DMS at every interchange (see threat) Vermont and New Hampshire have completed a Statewide ITS and Strategic Deployment Plan Public-Private Partnership (PPP) could be used to install WIM, RWIS and bridge de-icing projects Could be used to provide all three States with interagency communications PPP language is being written into the Massachusetts Utility Accommodation Plan PPP is being written into Vermont Utility Accommodation Plan. The wireless is completed and wire line is under development NH has an accommodation manual |
MassHighway has an RFP out to install conduit and fiber along State ROW MassHighway has control over how excess capacity is built out and access to the infrastructure Current market climate dictated MassHighway installing conduits versus letting private sector install conduits MassHighway cannot charge rent for ROW; must go through Division of Capital Asset Management Vermont and New Hampshire early stages of ITS programs Vermont is developing 30 plans for optical fiber alignment along its ROW (expected to bid 4Q 2007,1Q 2008) New Hampshire has difficult time getting Office of Information Technology involved in ITS projects |
In Massachusetts, current project to install empty conduit together with a to-be-developed statewide policy for accessing conduit will encourage private parties to offer high-speed telecom to communities along corridor In Massachusetts, shared resource project will require separate vaults for each of the six conduits Vermont has been approached by Canadian telecommunications long-haul service providers who want to install redundant optical fiber rings in Vermont |
New Hampshire studied the private-public partnership concept five years ago and at that time there was no private sector interest. Significant opposition to installation of DMS by Vermont citizens Vermont legislature has blocked all attempts at installing CCTV cameras – privacy concerns |
SWOT Analysis for the I-20 Corridor
| Issue | Strengths | Weaknesses | Opportunities | Threats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realizing Economic Development Benefits | Not Applicable | Inconsistent levels of fiber connectivity through corridor – good coverage throughout Louisiana section of corridor, Alabama and Mississippi is focused around urban areas | Rural development programs can offer good base for directing HST needs for economic development |
Lack of high-tech sector may impede adoption of broadband technology in work sector |
| Realizing Health Care Benefits | Strong hub hospitals with HST technology in place University health care systems provide telemedicine with emphasis on rural areas |
Low incomes = not a lot of potential for home health opportunities | Expanded access to rural areas in Alabama and Mississippi could increase opportunities for health care benefits to rural poor University of Mississippi Medical Center TelEmergency Program – Rural contracts Healthcare programs in rural schools USDA Rural Development Program funding available for telemedicine programs not included in Public infrastructure |
Not Applicable |
| Realizing Education Benefits | Educational institutions (K-12 and postsecondary) already are connected or are implementing HST connections to all institutions Medical educational institutions are a catalyst for postsecondary HST programs and continuing education |
Link to individual households is weak at best |
Some districts are providing access to educational opportunities for displaced K-12 students USDA Rural Development Program funding available for education programs not included in Public infrastructure |
Not Applicable |
| Realizing ITS Benefits | Alabama already has city and State ITS programs (DMS, CCTV, fog warning system, variable speed limit signs,) and leased communications lines ALDOT wants to communicate road closures with neighboring States All fiber in the MDOT ROW is owned by State MDOT currently leases lines from Bell South MDOT sees broadband role in addressing homeland security/military communications integration needs Mississippi coastline planning for broadband wireless infrastructure (post-Katrina) LaDOTD IT section managed DOTD business network and use leased lines LaDOTD has access to a private optical fiber provider and four access points along I-20 between Shreveport and Monroe LaDOTD permits longitudinal installation of fiber in the ROW LaDOTD has eight microwave towers on I-20 and permits private telecommunications provider access by permit LaDOTD permits fiber (not pipelines or electric utilities) in Interstate highway ROW LaDOTD permits fiber installations in rest areas and welcome centers LaDOTD and State Police each have radio networks Portable DMSs could provide directions and information during an emergency Provide traveler information across State lines. Could be used to implement 511 in Mississippi |
SWOT Analysis for the I-90 Corridor
| Issue | Strengths | Weaknesses | Opportunities | Threats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Fiber Optic/HST Deployment | Fiber appears to be corridor preference for backbone technology | Technology choice may limit development in some areas | Existing infrastructure and institutional knowledge provides a good base for developing other areas of the corridor |
Not Applicable |
| Realizing Economic Benefits | States have made significant investments in fiber available for government use | Current focus on economic development appears to be in on urban areas, not rural communities with greater distances from highway ROW | Increased ability for remote workers throughout corridor | South Dakota: does not have a high percentage of white collar workers |
| Realizing Health Care Benefits | Increased potential for home health care opportunities Hospitals providing infrastructure assistance to small community facilities Strong government investment in public facility infrastructure, including medical facilities |
Privacy concerns may limit infrastructure access to non-network hospitals | Existing private sector offerings may spur growth of other sectors USDA Rural Development Program funding available for telemedicine programs not included in Public infrastructure |
Not Applicable |
| Realizing Education Benefits | Could help improved household access to broadband/HST, which would improve individual access to educational opportunities via distance learning |
Educational institutions (all levels) across the corridor seem to have adequate connectivity |
USDA Rural Development Program funding available for education programs not included in Public infrastructure |
Not Applicable |
| Realizing ITS Benefits | Wisconsin – State Patrol houses telecomm equipment. Regeneration facilities housed in prefabricated buildings located on State ROW Iowa allows private telecommunications companies to place facilities in the ROW for a fee South Dakota shares DMS information with Iowa and Minnesota South Dakota has 22 DMS along I-90. Currently lease backbone. Also have 12 maintenance shops along I-90. Currently lease backbone Minnesota had deployed several ITS devices (automated gate closures, RWIS, DMS, and CCTV). Minnesota uses wireless and leased communications |
I-94 in Wisconsin already has ITS and optical fiber infrastructure with at least 12 strands of fiber. Separate handholes for WisDOT and private carrier and there is a portion of that infrastructure that overlaps I-90 Wisconsin DOA already provides bandwidth to schools and other State government agencies Iowa DOT does not have assets on I-90, but does have fiber in Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities ICN exists throughout Iowa South Dakota does not have significant amount of optical fiber Minnesota implementing digital microwave and 800 MHz backbones MnDOT considers I-90 to be in poor material condition (high water table). They prefer to delay ITS deployments until this is addressed |
Wisconsin studied PPP in1994 and determined restrictions too rigid. Passed legislation, but still cannot lease fiber (on State ROW) to private companies Wisconsin has been using dark fiber as a match for FHWA ITS earmark funds. Wisconsin leases 8-12 fibers and has a self-sustaining system Minnesota advertises to colocate on DOT-owned towers. DOT allows other public agencies on its towers to make agreements with private entities to swap tower usage MnDOT sells tower colocation space yearly on first-come, first-served basis Connect Minnesota legacy The Minnesota $100K barter limit does not apply to wireless communications or other State agencies |
Unknown if South Dakota allows private telecommunications facilities on ROW Minnesota State optical fiber can only be used by public agencies In Minnesota, I-35 much higher priority than I-90 Minnesota legislature bars barter agreements over $100K Minnesota does not have common carrier status so restricted in what partnerships they can take Minnesota can install optical fiber in ROW at any time, but it must be all State and Federal funds (barter not allowed) In Wisconsin, all ITS projects (and feasibility studies) must be associated with a specific road construction project |
