TERRA Broadband Adoption Evaluation & Planning

1. ISER TERRA Evaluation:Pre-Broadband Phase Heather E. Hudson Director Institute of Social and Economic Research University of Alaska Anchorage

2. Research Plan • Phone Survey of residents in TERRA region • Current use of computers and Internet • Use of smartphones, tablets, etc. • Interest in broadband adoption • Concerns/questions about broadband • Interviews with key informants • Businesses, native corps and nonprofits, NGOs • Current use of Internet • Needs/potential benefits of broadband • Literature review: broadband and rural development • What do we know about broadband that is relevant for rural/remote Alaska?

3. Preparation • Planning Phase • Meetings with GCI, UUI, Bristol Bay Telephone, Nushagak Telephone Co-op, Bush-Tell • Meetings with representatives of SWAMC and Lower Yukon Economic Development Council • Questionnaires obtained from NTIA and OECD • Design and pretest questionnaire • Hire and train interviewers • Contacts with UAF • Publicity • PSAs on KDLG and KYUK • Interview on KYUK • Notices disseminated by health districts • Information on ISER website, including links to ConnectAK and State Broadband Task Force

4. Implementation and Next Steps • Have completed ~ 200 phone interviews • Complete telephone interviews by June 29 • Analyze data • Conduct key informant interviews • Analyze data • Complete regional data collection and literature review • Write draft report