Geography & Economics

and the

Indiana Broadband Map

BY: Kathy Lamb Kozenski; Spring, 2013

Classroom sessions/estimated time: minimum of one classroom session

Grade Level(s): This lesson plan highlights high school, Social Studies Academic Standards BUT the lesson
activities and concepts can be taught at upper elementary and middle grades, too.

Purpose: Students will engage in a series of activities in order to better understand the economic value of the
Indiana Broadband Map, as part of the National Broadband Map.

National Geography Standards addressed:

Geography Standard 1 (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4)
Geography Standard 3 (3.1, 3.2)
Geography Standard 11 (11.1, 11.2, 11.4)
Geography Standard 18 (18.1, 18.2, 18.3)

Indiana High School Social Studies Academic Standards addressed:

(http://www.doe.state.in.us/standards/HS-SocialStudies.html)
 Geography & History of the World: 3.5, 6.4, 8.4, 9.3
 Advanced Placement Human Geography: I C 1-2, D, E; II C 3; and VI A 1, C 7
 APHG/ELA Connections spreadsheet at http://www.iupui.edu/~geni

Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to

1. find the Indiana Broadband Map website,
2. determine local Broadband access capabilities (upload and download speeds),
3. find the National broadband Map website,
4. locate the IndianaMap website to find data about Indiana,
5. explain the purpose behind the Indiana Broadband Map,
6. explain why access to the Internet/Broadband sources is economically important to a state, and
7. discuss the Broadband access distribution in Indiana.
a. Where is it? Why/Why not?
b. Is it needed everywhere? Why/Why not?
c. How could access be improved?
d. What would your life be like if you did/did not have access to the Internet?

Background:
 Teacher should pre-read the attached What is Broadband? paper for background
knowledge
 Teacher should pre-read the article by Kit Eaton on Fast Company, What Does 2,000-Times-Faster
Broadband Look Like?, November 7, 2012; the article may be inappropriate for younger students.
http://www.fastcompany.com/3002790/what-does-2000-times-faster-broadband-look. Mid-article
(Business as unusually fast…) is a two-paragraph statement that suggests an economic impact
statistic related to increased broadband speeds.
  Another article that a teacher may use (after reading): Broadband as an Economic Driver:
What Are the Economic Benefits of Broadband? by David Salway at About.com Guide. The article
provides economic impact possibilities from a variety of sources IF broadband access increases and IF
broadband speeds increase. (NOTE that the sources suggest possibilities -- not necessarily statistically
valid numbers.)
http://broadband.about.com/od/economicdevelopment/a/Broadband-As-An-Economic-Driver.htm

Materials Required:
 Computer with access to the Internet and capability to display screens or computer lab
 Permission to access the following websites:
o Indiana Broadband Map http://www.indianabroadbandmap.com/#
o IndianaMap http://www.indianamap.org
o About.com (see above)
o Fast Company (see above)
 Copies of the What is Broadband? paper for students – if appropriate
reading/comprehension levels
 Various maps of the state and community
 Copies of the blackline maps of Indiana for each student or small groups of students (see the PPT
document)

Procedures:
1. Ask the students the questions below. Log the answers on the chalkboard/whiteboard/large piece of paper
for all to view.
Questions:
1. How many students have access to the Internet from their home?
2. How many students have access to the Internet from school?
3. Where else might the students have access to the Internet? (local library, parent office building…)
4. How many students have access to the Internet wherever they travel (via i-phone or other portable device
with access to 3-G/4+-G networks)?
2. Discuss how their lives would change if there was no Internet. Discuss how their family’s lives would
change. Discuss how the community’s functions would change: school, trash/garbage management, water
quality monitoring, grocery supplies, transportation routes and congestion, weather forecasts, police and fire
responders, and other ideas you or the students have that are appropriate for your community. The goal is to
get them to realize how closely tied people and communities are to the Internet.
3. Ask the students to define broadband. After comments, provide the accurate definition from the What
is
Broadband? paper.
4. Highlight the types of broadband available.
5. Depending upon the age group of the students, discuss the types of broadband available from their
Residences and from the school.
6. Visit the Indiana Broadband Map to obtain a list of providers in the school’s area:
http://www.indianabroadbandmap.com/# . (ALL information is private and secure; no names are required.)
7. Through the IN Broadband Map portal,
 you can search for broadband access either by entering to your county, entering your address, or
activating the point tool (looks like a push-pin) on the state map.
 The buffer distance is how large a radius you would like to conduct a search for providers: feet
or miles.
 You can select to search for wire-based or wireless providers.
 If you know your census block, you can also search for providers within the block.
  Once you search, the list of providers is available in the lower left-hand corner;
o If you hover over a provider, the Type of Broadband is given along
with upload and download speeds
o You can export this list to Excel.
8. Encourage students to discuss the IN Broadband Map portal with parents/guardians and to encourage their
data contributions to the IN Broadband Map, either through checking broadband access at their location OR
by completing an on-line Questionnaire (wire line only; not wireless). Everyone’s contributions ensure
the accuracy of the Indiana broadband data, which results in more research, development and expansion of
faster, broadband service for Indiana citizens.
9. Next, Visit the IndianaMap, a free GIS (geographic information systems) software that makes available about
270 types of data (layers) per county.
 For this exercise, click on VIEW the Map (under the antique map image); you should see a
shaded relief map of Indiana with a few major roadways.
 Next, have the students select Layers (upper left-hand tool bar). A list will drop down connecting
users to the top nine map themes: basemaps, demographics, environment, geology, government,
hydrology, imagery, infrastructure, and reference. For this exercise, students should select
demographics; scroll down the list to select Population Density Blockgroups.
 Notice the change in the map. Discuss observations.
 A Legend can be accessed via the button in the upper right-hand tool bar. Where is the state
most densely populated? Why? Where is the state least densely populated? Why?
 Close out the Population Density Blockgroups map.
 Next, through Layers, select infrastructure; scroll down the list to select Communications
Broadband Coverage Wireless.
 Notice the changes in the map. Discuss observations. Close out the map.
 Next, through Infrastructure, select Communications Broadband Coverage Wireless.
 Notice the changes in the map. Discuss observations. Keep this map open and select the
Communications Broadband Coverage Wireless map – both will be open at the same time
presenting a combined map image (this is the beauty of GIS technology via a strong and reliable
broadband mechanism).
 On all three map layers, specifically identify you school/community location – even if
approximate.
 Notice the parts of the state with no wireline or wireless broadband coverage. Discuss possible
reasons for why this is - - remembering the population density map.
10. On the blackline map of Indiana, roughly highlight the areas of the state where no broadband access is
available; students can utilize the other maps as needed/for reference.
11. Students should highlight or note the types of broadband access available in their community.
12. In summary, broadband access might be available, but it might be slow or very slow for certain needs and in
many locations throughout the state.
13. As appropriate, students read through the Kit Eaton and David Salway articles highlighting a few items that
support the need for access to faster broadband in Indiana. This may be done as a class with only review of
the most pertinent components of the article (based on the teacher’s assessment).
14. Students in Geography & History of the World analyze how communication changes have led to both
cultural convergence and divergence; analyze the impact of changing global patterns of commerce on the
local community; and analyze the impact that broadband technologies has on the physical environment.
15. Students create a public service campaign informing the school, local school board, local elected officials,
and local business leaders about the importance of broadband access to the community: radio
announcement, school production/television station, posters, postcards, Internet outreach/message…

Assessment:
 Students engage in classroom or small group activity.

Adaptations/Extensions:
  IF appropriate and needed, students write letters to local elected officials providing data, maps, and
information about the need for broadband (faster) access in the community.
 Analyze broadband access in the United States via the National Broadband Map or other sources.
 Analyze global broadband access; relate to GDP, population/population density, literacy rates, poverty,
and type of government leadership.

Resources:
 Indiana Broadband Map website -- http://indianabroadbandmap.com

 National Broadband Map website -– http://nationalbroadbandmap.gov

 Indiana Broadband Mapping Project (information) -- http://www.in.gov/gis/Broadband.htm

 Indiana Broadband Mapping Questionnaire -- http://www.in.gov/gis/BroadbandQuestionnaire.htm

 IndianaMap, via The Indiana Geographic Information Council, http://www.indianamap.org

 What Does 2,000-Times-Faster Broadband Look Like?, Kit Eaton, Fast Company, November 7, 2012;
http://www.fastcompany.com/3002790/what-does-2000-times-faster-broadband-look

 Broadband as an Economic Driver, What Are the Economic Benefits of Broadband?, David Salway,
About.com Guide.

 An article from The Atlantic Cities: Place Matters, February 28, 2014; The Most Revealing
Broadband Adoption Maps We've Ever Seen;
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2014/02/most-revealing-broadband-adoption-maps-weve-
ever-seen/8517/
What is Broadband? The term broadband commonly refers to high-speed
Internet access that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up access. (Federal Communications
Commission, http://www.broadband.gov )

Types of Broadband: includes several high-speed transmission technologies such as:

 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) (wireline transmission technology that utilizes existing copper telephone
lines; limited access by users)
 Cable Modem (enables cable service providers to utilize existing coaxial cables that deliver pictures and
sound to your television; limited access)
 Fiber Optics (converts electrical signals carrying data to light and sends the light through transparent
glass fibers about the diameter of a human hair; limited access)
 Wireless (connects a home or business to the Internet using a radio link between the customer’s location
and the service provider’s facility; can serve urban, suburban, & rural communities)
 Satellite (satellites orbiting the Earth dedicated to broadband communications; urban, suburban, rural)
 Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) (delivery of broadband over the existing low- and medium-voltage
electric power distribution network; emerging technology; potential to reach all areas)
The broadband technology you choose will depend on a number of factors. These may include whether you are
located in an urban or rural area, how broadband Internet access is packaged with other services (such as voice
telephone and home entertainment), price, and availability. (http://www.broadband.gov/broadband_types.html)

How is broadband different from dial-up

service?
 Broadband service provides higher-speed of data transmission. It allows more content to be carried
through the transmission “pipeline.”
 Broadband provides access to the highest quality Internet services—streaming media, VoIP (Internet
phone), gaming, and interactive services. Many of these current and newly-developing services require
the transfer of large amounts of data that may not be technically feasible with dial-up service. Therefore,
broadband service may be increasingly necessary to access the full range of services and opportunities
that the Internet can offer.
 Broadband is always on. It does not block phone lines and there is no need to reconnect to network after
logging off.
 Less delay in transmission of content when using broadband. (FCC)

Concern about the lack of Broadband access:

Business leaders, educators, elected officials and many others are concerned about the lack of access to the
Internet via broadband mechanisms for many citizens and communities. Access to high speed Internet via
broadband sources enriches everyone’s life and enhances the economic vitality of a community and state. For
example,
 Broadband can provide access to a wide range of educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities and
to diverse resources because broadband is not limited by the physical landscape.
 Broadband can promote better health care for unserved or underserved populations through remote
diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and consultation.
 Broadband provides for better public safety through connecting warning systems to the public,
transportation monitoring, and real-time security.
 Broadband can promote economic development through increased e-commerce, creating new jobs,
attracting new industries, and working with regional, national, and worldwide markets.
 Broadband improves gaming capacity through faster wire and wireless mechanisms AND improves multi-
player gaming experiences through VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) allowing voice communication
via the Internet. (for students 
  Access to a variety of services through the broadband enhance all aspects of our daily lives. For
additional details, please, read the “Advantages of Broadband” highlights at the Federal Communication
Commission Broadband website: http://www.broadband.gov/broadband_advantages.html

As a result, the FCC was tasked with the creation of The National Broadband Plan.

Overview of The National Broadband Plan in

terms of Broadband:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama on February
17th, 2009. The FCC is currently working in coordination with the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program to create and
implement The National Broadband Plan. The Plan states that all people of the United States will have access to
broadband capability and shall establish benchmarks for meeting that goal. As a result of The National
Broadband Plan, each state, territory, and the district had to create a plan. The Indiana Broadband Map guides
the way for all Hoosiers to have access to the broadband, thus, enriching the lives of individuals, communities,
and the state. http://indiana.gov/gis/Broadband.htm

We Need YOUR Help !

Access to high-speed Internet, also called broadband, helps individuals quickly find products, services, and
resources that can assist them on a daily basis. However, some of Indiana’s citizens do not have access to
broadband. We, at the state through the Indiana Office of Technology Geographic Information Officer, are
working to improve this situation.

We need your help to accurately identify where broadband coverage exists, and to determine its level of
performance. In order to do this, we would like you to answer a few questions. We will test your connection
speed while you provide answers.

We will collect this data and provide it in map format to others to determine how and where to improve
broadband coverage across the state. http://indiana.gov/gis/BroadbandQuestionnaire.htm Amanda - do you want
citizens to fill out the questionnaire and/or utilize the interactive map?

Video about Broadband:

A strong video advocating broadband access as a 21st Century “must have resource” for all citizens.
Broadband is considered to be “an indispensable infrastructure for the 21st Century”... “the foundation for our
new economy, the foundation for our democracy in the digital age” … “broadband is a platform for opportunity,
spurring economic growth and job creation, a platform for innovation enabling anyone anywhere to dream big
and bring those dreams to life, and a platform for solutions addressing issues in education, healthcare, energy,
public safety” … “the rest of the world is not standing still, and we are lagging”… “embracing the goal of digital
literacy, every child must leave high school capable”…quoted from the FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski. To
view a 5-minute video with Mr. Genachowski discussing The National Broadband Plan visit
http://www.broadband.gov/plan .