Wireless Internet Access Status of WiFi Programs in the City of Charlottesville May 3, 2012

Family Internet Access Survey Student assignments, online resources and electronic textbook use will grow with implementation of CCS computer initiative Goal of the survey was to reach out to community to identify current access to technology within the home Confirmation of access to a computer and access to the internet were solicited Overall 42% of all families with rising secondary students responded An average of 22% of those that responded do not have internet access from home

Incoming CHS Students Surveyed Spring % 8 th Do not have a home computer73 of 183 =40% of grade responded 21% 9 th Do not have a home computer90 of 257 =35% of grade responded 20% 10 th Do not have a home computer114 of 282 =40% of grade responded 16% 11 th Do not have a home computer100 of 263 =38% of grade responded

Incoming Middle Students Surveyed Spring BufordWalker 19% 6 th Do not have a home computer22% 4 th Do not have a home computer 27% 7 th Do not have a home computer30% 5 th Do not have a home computer 77 of 191 = 40% of 6 th grade responded68 of 191 =36% of 4th grade responded 73 of 161 =45% of 7 th grade responded74 of 159 = 47% of 5th grade responded

Geographic Distribution of Responses

Rationale for Student Tablet Selection Instead of Thin ‘Connected’ Computers Windows 7 Tablet Computers for Students  Similar to thin client - light weight, long battery life and limited moving parts  Provide offline access securely to instructional resources, content creation and ebook reading saved to local storage  In the Fall students will have the option to access to shared virtual CCS computers for those that wish to occasionally leverage a home, library or community computer for coursework

Other Localities with Municipal Networking Roanoke Virginia installed free WiFi zones in 2003 in its downtown area, centered within the Market Square area with coverage available outdoors in one to two blocks in all directions Bristol Virginia installed fiber in 2003 with Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU), creating a nonprofit called "Optinet“. Currently it is a municipal broadband Internet service that covers Bristol as well as the Southwest portion of the state of Virginia with approximately 9,000 paying customers. 14 others in Virginia are deploying networks. Mostly fiber and a few wireless. Nationally nearly 50 localities have been identified that provide variations of WiFi.  Mostly coverage of downtown and park areas similar to Charlottesville. Many are free and some cost.

Factors and Next Steps Statewide offering of Comcast  Terms of service restricted by family participation in Free & Reduced Lunch Program  Accounts in good standing  Not a customer of Comcast internet service within past 90 days City of Promise Planning Grant  Network Implementation Grant Considering options for long term solution in specific area of the city  Considering tiered internet service program  Includes evaluation of providers and costs. National providers and vendor currently leasing school wireless spectrum City Fiber Network Agreement Restrictions Guidance from School Board?