REGIONAL BROADBAND PROJECT
The "Connected Capital Area" Broadband Consortium has a new website! Click here to view
What is the “Connected Capital Area” Broadband Consortium (CCABC)?
Broadband is now the critical 21st century infrastructure need. It is no longer simply a luxury, it is a necessary utility. However, gaps exist in both infrastructure and access to information and communications technologies, resulting in a “Digital Divide” that persists principally in rural or less urbanized areas of California. Moreover, those in areas that are connected still encounter cost and learning barriers. Closing these gaps requires a systematic and strategic approach to broadband access and investment that can be accomplished through a multi-party collaborative, regional-scale approach.
The “Connected Capital Area” Broadband Consortium (CCABC) is a regional broadband coalition which seeks to identify and coordinate strategic broadband investments in the Sacramento Region aimed at improving broadband infrastructure, access and adoption. Through this regional consortium, we seek to accomplish three primary tasks: 1) Develop a strategic plan for broadband infrastructure priority investments and support and encourage infrastructure grant applications; 2) Develop and implement pilot awareness and outreach campaigns to increase broadband adoption and usage; and 3) Support policymakers in understanding the importance of broadband and assist with removing barriers.
The “Connected Capital Area” Broadband Consortium (CCABC) was awarded a one-year $149,518 grant on February 16, 2012, and is one of a 14 regional consortia in the state funded by the California Advanced Services Fund Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia grant program. The partnership’s work is expected to commence in March, 2012.
Click here to view our action plan.
Click here to view our work plan.
To get involved or learn more contact Tara Thronson.
Why is broadband important?
Broadband is the essential 21st Century infrastructure for economic competitiveness and a high quality of life. It is the critical enabling technology for improved access to information for education, health care, e-government, public safety and emergency services, economic development, business attraction and retention, workforce development, mobility, entertainment, news and many other uses.
Broadband is the necessary digital foundation for the Sacramento region’s opportunity to gain economic leadership in areas of e-Health and Telemedicine and Smart Energy, including both the infrastructure and the development and application of information technologies and relevant content.
It is an important job growth tool. Sixty-two percent of Californians say people without broadband connections are at a major disadvantage when it comes to finding information about job opportunities or gaining new career skills.
Overall, broadband saves consumers time and money, increases productivity in the economy, and reduces impacts on the environment.
Existing Projects
Broadband as a Green Strategy
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) engaged Valley Vision to research the potential of broadband as a “green strategy” to reduce impacts on the environment. Valley Vision conducted an assessment of research that quantifies GHG emission reductions due to broadband-driven applications to determine the feasibility of developing a protocol that enables the monetization of emission reductions for use in a carbon trading system. To meet environmental integrity requirements, eligible reduction credits must be independently verified as surplus, permanent, quantifiable, and enforceable in a cost-effective process.
The scope of work included a literature review, supplemented with interviews and consultations with subject-area experts, and focused on the broadband-driven application areas of:
- E-Learning and Telecommuting for Work
- Telehealth and Telemedicine
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
- Efficient Energy Use and Smart Grid
- Smart Buildings
Click here for more information.
Noteworthy Past Broadband Projects
Scoping Study
Valley Vision partnered with our funders, the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, and many other key organizations, including the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, to take the pulse of the region with regards to broadband access and adoption in our 2009 Scoping Study. Click here to learn more about the results of the Scoping Study.
Broadband Leaders Summit & Broadband Business Plan Development
In 2010 Valley Vision, in partnership with CETF, the Sierra Health Foundation and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, led the next phase of a Sacramento Regional Broadband effort by organizing the first-ever California-wide broadband leader’s “summit” and facilitated a Sacramento Regional broadband business plan to organize stakeholders to prioritize strategic broadband investments. Click here to learn more about the Leadership Summit and the Broadband Business Plan.
Regional Consortia Technical Assistance
On behalf of CETF, Valley Vision conducted outreach with other regions in California to facilitate the formation of additional broadband consortia. This work included creation of template materials and governance models to be available for groups seeking to develop their own regional broadband consortia. Click here to view templates and examples of regional broadband planning projects.
Contact:
For more information, please contact Tara Thronson.
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