[SEO-Members] "LEO Libraries" Workshop: Broadband from Space

Fri Apr 1 15:34:29 EDT 2022

Sent on behalf of the Gigabit Libraries Network Team.

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- Libraries in Response -

"LEO Libraries" Workshop: Broadband from Space

Registration Open<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leo-libraries-workshop-broadband-from-space-tickets-301963871067>
Invitation Only
Friday 4/8/22
11am ET

Began in 2021, this initiative seeks to evaluate the potential of low earth orbiting satellite systems to reach the most difficult to serve facilities with 150-500 Mbps connections.
Pandemic has clarified a near universal need for access to digital services like telehealth, distance learning, remote working, e-gov services, public information and as backup against outages. "LEO Libraries" is an initiative that marries potentially game changing low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet access technology with the myriad services of public libraries.
Workshop* to:

  *   assess new low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite capabilities and prospects for underserved libraries, particularly rural facilities with poor internet connections, to rapidly upgrade.
  *   consider quickly standing up local projects to evaluate potential benefits/pitfalls of these emerging space networks for performance, reliability and impacts.
We'll inventory the range of needs, resources and timing to shape a national effort to have impact in the near term (3-6 months).
Speakers:

  *   Rebecca Hunter, Senior Manager Government Affairs, Starlink
  *   Dan York, Project Leader, Low Earth Orbit Satellites, Internet Society
  *   Richelle Montoya, Director, Torreón (NM) Navajo Tribal Library
  *   Carolyn Donath, Director, Conrad (MT) Public Library

Assess goals:

  *   Expand and enhance public access to library digital services/internet
  *   Increase community resilience against disasters and outages

Review:

  *   LEO systems performance reports at libraries
  *   Current and anticipated developments in availability and pricing
  *   Project evaluation criteria: e.g reliability, speeds, costs, facility impact
  *   Discuss next step actions

Background:
STATEMENT OF NATIONAL NEED
The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the digital divide into a social, educational and economic crisis. Libraries are doing their best to help anyone get online to make the most of the internet and/or to access other library digital services. Despite these efforts, many facilities remain without stable and high quality internet access. Recent surveys by the Public Library Association (PLA), Pew, and the FCC all found that over 20 million people across the US do not have home broadband access, meaning that they cannot easily access digital services, increasingly necessary for everyday life.
The picture is even starker for rural America. While approximately 97% of urban Americans have access to high-speed internet, that figure drops to 65% for rural Americans and 60% for those living on Tribal lands. The Pew Center reports that, even with recent gains in adoption of digital technologies in rural areas, rural adults are still less likely to have access to home broadband and other digital tools. Even when rural Americans do have access to the Internet within their home, it also tends to be much slower and less reliable than comparable plans in urban areas.
This rural-urban divide is particularly problematic because it reproduces other inequalities within rural areas. Internet connectivity is vital to improving educational access, expanding job opportunities, diminishing outward migration (i.e., 'brain drain'), and much more within rural areas. Rural libraries can be vital partners in helping expand internet connectivity outward within these rural communities. However, many of these libraries themselves do not have adequate access to the Internet.
Market failures have meant that thousands of rural libraries do not even meet FCC broadband minimum standards of 25Mbps connectivity levels for homes. Fortunately, new technologies are emerging to potentially disrupt this inadequate broadband infrastructure ecosystem: low earth orbiting (LEO) communications satellites. These LEO satellites have begun to be deployed initially by SpaceX through its Starlink constellation, which is still in early deployment stages, but the first operational commercial residential service providing robust, low latency broadband from space.
Starlink has also recently announced a new Premium service for libraries and other small enterprises at promised connectivity speeds of 150-500 Mbps. Starlink is among a handful of LEO systems in development and the only one in general use today.
Questions remain:  Are these systems reliable? What connection speeds do they consistently provide? How much do they cost? How difficult to set up? What impacts might be expected on library facilities, staff and other related equipment? How might these upgraded tech hubs impact their wider communities?
Session Partners:

  *   Gigabit Libraries Network
  *   International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
  *   Internet Society

Early Reports:
"Starlink worked great and I would have kept it had I not gained fiber service. Very reliable, even during snowstorms. I do believe that this is a perfect solution for the most remote locales." - Joe Sawasky, CEO Merit Networks (MI)
"The speed is just amazing in our area! I am excited for my community and especially for the students that need this access for school work!" -Richelle Montoya, Torreón, NM Navajo Tribal Library Director
"Our initial readings are mind-blowing. People note the speed and certainly come here if they have anything large they need to download. The speed is unbelievable. Almost instantaneous." -Carolyn Donath, Conrad MT Public Library Director

Registration Open<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiglibraries.us4.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D6dc7f62bf2785cc68a03a6c8d%26id%3D0384191f5e%26e%3D6011c4ff38&data=04%7C01%7Cmarshams%40library.ohio.gov%7Ce75328d2171b410630f308da13d6e75f%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C637844110966388198%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=mp2UtBopa9WJbPjjBF9SyqXBtJU0yigV1fbNgviaoQc%3D&reserved=0>
Invitation Only
Friday 4/8/22
11am ET

* Workshop is intended to address specific connectivity issues at public libraries. No recordings or press permitted.

Top image from BigThink:  "Even in the digital age libraries are an investment in children"<https://bigthink.com/high-culture/library-benefits/>

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