FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

You probably have questions about the project.  Here are a few answers we are aware of and will add additional questions with answers periodically.

Q. What exactly is Nevada County Connected?

Nevada County Connected is the name of a proposed project to build a carrier-grade middle-mile wireless broadband infrastructure that will provide high speed Internet connections for government, schools, public safety, residences and businesses. Under the auspices of the Nevada County Community Broadband Leadership Council — a committee of the Nevada County Economic Resource Council (NCERC) — and with assistance from Nevada County’s CIO, technology was identified that could best meet the Internet access needs of our community now and into the future.

The key elements for technology selection were sustainability (could the system utilize new wireless technologies in the years ahead), scalability (could it grow both in available bandwidth and location), accessibility (could it be an open network for multiple uses, frequencies, and wireless technologies), redundancy (could it function if a link in its network is damaged), and immediacy (could it be built within the tight time constraints of Federal stimulus funding deadlines — 18 months from receipt of grant).

Q. How will Nevada County Connected be funded?

During the summer of 2009, proposals for a 80-100% “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (ARRA) grant from the “National Telecommunications and Information Administration” (NTIA), and a 10% matching “California Advanced Services Fund” (CASF) grant from the California Public Utilities Commission (CA PUC) were submitted to fund the project.

As of late October 2009, the Nevada County Connected project is in middle of the grant application process. Governor Schwarzenegger, under advisement of the State CIO’s office, has recommended that our project go to “step 2″ as one of the top 30 projects out of over one hundred infrastructure proposals submitted from California in round one. The California Public Utilities Commission has drafted a resolution recommending that our 10% matching CASF grant be approved by the Commissioners at their November meeting. So far, we have jumped over some major hurdles, but have yet to be approved for Federal funding. If approved for Federal funding in late November / early December, the project would need to begin immediately.

Q. Why does the project need public funding?

Typically, the reason that many less dense locations in Nevada County don’t have access to high-speed Internet access is that installing the wires for either DSL or for cable are deemed cost-prohibitive by the corporations that provide those services. In Nevada County that includes AT&T (DSL), and Comcast or Suddenlink (cable). The same is true for Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), as the cost for building infrastructure needs to be spread out among the customer base.

In the same way that rural telephone service infrastructure was funded by the Federal government, funded rural broadband Internet service infrastructure enables comparable cost for high-speed services as found in more urban locations.

Q. What is the difference between “broadband”, “high-speed”, and “DSL”?

The words and services of Internet access can be confusing. “Broadband” or “high-speed” are the generic terms for any Internet service that is faster than dial-up access — 56kbps. Federal agencies loosely define “broadband” as advertised download load speeds of 768kbps and upload speeds of 220kbps, which are far below speeds offered in most other developed nations. Broadband Internet access over copper wire phone lines is called “DSL”. Cable companies offer wired broadband Internet access over their fiber-optic networks. Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) offer wireless broadband Internet access over specific frequencies dedicated to these services over a land-based tower network. Cellular phone companies offer wireless broadband Internet access over their mobile frequencies via a land-based tower network. And satellite companies offer wireless broadband Internet access over yet other frequencies via satellites orbiting miles overhead. (See broadband comparison chart.)

Q. Why is Nevada County Connected a middle-mile project?

Without a pre-built infrastructure and wholesale access to bandwidth (called “backhaul”), Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) typically cannot offer reasonable pricing for broadband Internet service to customers. The Nevada County Connected project will build a tower-based wireless infrastructure, then make it and its bandwidth available to local WISPs to provide (what is called) “last-mile” service for both residential and business customers. As an added benefit, the infrastructure will support broadband access for public safety and emergency services, plus provide more cost-effective and faster broadband Internet access to schools, rural health facilities, and regional government offices.

Q. What speeds will be available at what cost?

Although pricing to residences and businesses will be determined by individual WISPs, wholesale pricing via Nevada County Connected will allow WISPs to be competitive with existing wired services, and much less expensive than satellite services.

Q. When will it be available?

If the Federal grant application is approved and awarded, then the project will begin immediately. In order to meet Federal stimulus requirements, it is expected that the network will be up and running within 18 months.

Q. Will it be available in my neighborhood?

The project is centered in two geographic areas of Nevada County — the general more remote area surrounding Truckee, and the area north and east of Nevada City. The redundant tower ring infrastructure will also enable broadband Internet access to be deployed throughout most of the unserved addresses in western Nevada County.

Q. I want to help make sure we get this in our neighborhood, what can I do?

Please sign up to be a Nevada County Connected supporter. You’ll be sent news flashes as the project progresses, and you will be able to help us identify specific neighborhoods that need broadband Internet access. Click here to sign up now.