Empowering Shoals: Proposal Submission for Enhanced Digital Infrastructure and Community Connectivity

Project Kickoff: Pre-Visit Preparations for Enhancing Internet Access in Shoals,  Indiana (09/05/2024) 

On September 5th, 2024, our team, led by Professor Keith Dayton and comprising senior  consultants Bhakti Patrawala, Vaidehi Bhatiya, Jayesh Prasad Anandan, Anurag Reddy  Vookanty, and Prajwal Kaushal, gathered to initiate groundwork for the Shoals internet  access improvement project. This effort was sparked by an urgent need to submit the  Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) grant application, which was crucial for boosting  internet infrastructure in Shoals, Indiana. 

Later that evening, at 9:30 PM, we held a strategic pre-visit meeting to fine-tune the agenda  for the upcoming site visit. We discussed essential tasks, the specific sites to be visited,  and finalized our list of stakeholders to meet with in Shoals. This proactive planning  ensured the team was well-prepared for the site visit, enabling us to make meaningful  strides toward meeting the ROI grant deadline. 

Inaugural Site Visit: Strategic Foundations for High-Speed Internet Expansion in  Shoals (09/06/2024) 

On September 6th, 2024, our team embarked on the first site visit to Shoals, Indiana, as  part of the project aimed at improving internet access for the community.  

1. Business Engagement and Data Collection: Our day started with visits to local  businesses, including BoMac's and SC Draperies, where we gathered information on  the internet service providers they used. During breakfast at BoMac’s Drive-In  Restaurant, we had a productive conversation with the owner, Todd Baker, who  shared his perspective on the town’s internet needs. He identified important public  spots for internet hubs and spoke about the impact of limited internet access on  students post-COVID. We personally tested internet speeds and bandwidth across  different locations, analyzing foot traffic and bandwidth needs to ensure robust 

internet coverage. We also identified key areas of high footfall such as those  frequented by residents, students, and visitors, including popular events like the  Catfish Festival. 

2. Conversations with the Shoals Public Library: We later visited the Shoals Public  Library and spoke with the librarian, Sylvia, who shared insights into the library’s  internet setup, content moderation platforms, and the essential role the internet  plays in providing access to public services. Sylvia highlighted the increasing need  for internet access to help residents apply for jobs and access government services.  This meeting reinforced our understanding of the critical need for reliable internet  across public spaces in Shoals, especially for educational purposes. 

3. Infrastructure Exploration: After gathering input from businesses and the library,  our team then split into three groups to evaluate 13 potential hub locations,  considering factors like Wi-Fi availability, electrical access, and community  suitability. Each site was documented with photographs to guide future planning.  Our team proceeded to key locations where residents congregate, such as faith based organizations, the historical society, the town hall, and the ballpark. We  assessed the availability of necessary infrastructure like power sources at these  sites, ensuring their suitability for hosting public internet hubs. 

Refining Strategies: Survey Development and Preparations for the Second Site Visit in  Shoals (09/07-08/2024) 

After our initial visit, we convened to strategize our return to Shoals. The objective was to  conduct a thorough survey to gather data on residents' internet challenges and identify  specific providers servicing both sides of the river. On September 7th and 8th, 2024, our  team concentrated on synthesizing the information collected during our inaugural site visit  while preparing for our next steps in enhancing internet access in Shoals. 

• Data Analysis: We meticulously reviewed all gathered data, exploring various  internet provider plans and speeds to better understand the landscape. 

• Survey Creation: We developed two comprehensive surveys:

o General Survey: Aimed at gathering insights into residents' preferred internet  providers and their internet usage activities. This would enable us to  

categorize users into light, medium, and heavy categories, facilitating an  accurate analysis of bandwidth requirements. 

o Student Survey: Specifically designed to evaluate students' reliable home  internet access and their bandwidth needs based on video streaming  frequency. 

Material Preparation: Each team member focused on preparing essential materials for our  upcoming visit, which included refining surveys and creating detailed maps. This  meticulous preparation was vital for ensuring a productive second site visit and enhancing  our understanding of the community's internet access needs.

Second Site Visit: Engaging the Community and Assessing Internet Needs in Shoals  (09/09/2024) 

On September 9th, 2024, our team conducted our second site visit to Shoals, focusing on  community engagement and assessing internet service satisfaction among residents. The  day began with logistics; we picked up a rental car, collected printed A2-sized maps and  survey forms, and created digital versions of the surveys for email distribution. By 9 AM, we  were en route to Shoals, ready to engage with the community. 

Upon arrival, we divided into two teams and successfully gathered survey responses from  24 residents, including employees at the library, town hall, courthouse, and JayC store.  After collecting survey data, we visited the Sparklight and RTC offices in nearby towns to  inquire about internet service quotations. Unfortunately, both offices were limited to  customer support, but we obtained contact information for further assistance. 

Following our data collection, we returned to Shoals to gather the completed surveys and  visited a site called "Overlook" to calculate the bandwidth requirements for each hub. This  analysis involved discussing operational details and planning next steps. We arrived back  

at Luddy Hall around 8:30 PM, where we analyzed the pros and cons of each potential  location and service provider, focusing on how to maximize coverage across Shoals within  budget constraints. 

During this visit, we aimed to connect with as many residents as possible to understand  their internet service providers, speeds, and satisfaction levels. The surveys revealed a  general dissatisfaction with current services, with many residents expressing a need for 

improved internet access for essential tasks such as job applications and accessing  government benefits. We noted that Sparklight was generally well-regarded for its decent  services in Shoals, while Frontier faced criticism for providing below-par services. Later  that day, we attempted to contact current providers for additional insights but were  directed to reach out online—an impractical request given that many residents lacked  reliable internet access. This visit reinforced our commitment to addressing the  community's internet needs and motivated us to continue our efforts in improving  connectivity in Shoals. 

Provider Discussions & Grant Preparation: Strategic Decision-Making and Planning  (09/10/2024) 

On September 10th, our team focused on finalizing provider discussions and preparing for  grant submissions. Jayesh and Anurag took the lead in following up with RTC, Sparklight,  and Smithville to obtain service quotes tailored to our project requirements. We convened  virtually at 5:30 PM to deliberate on our findings and finalize the provider selection. After a  thorough discussion, we unanimously decided to proceed with Sparklight, recognized for  its strong service offerings and favorable pricing. 

Following our decision, the team diligently prepared essential materials, including the  project budget, survey analysis, and the grant proposal. At 9:30 PM, our professor joined  the meeting to review the documents and provided critical feedback regarding the grant  proposal's strict character limits for each section. This revelation necessitated a complete  reworking of all our materials. After the professor's departure at 10:30 PM, we remained  focused and continued revising our plans, working collaboratively until 11:30 PM to ensure  we met the grant requirements. 

The following day, on September 10th, we reached out to various providers, including  Frontier (Smithville), Sparklight, RTC Communications, and Starlink, to gather additional  quotes for setting up six Wi-Fi hotspots across Shoals. We received competitive quotes  from both Frontier and Sparklight, which aimed to meet our project's goals. However, RTC  Communications indicated that they would not be able to profitably extend their fiber  services beyond Shoals, limiting their feasibility for our project. 

Starlink presented a significant challenge with its high upfront hardware costs, ranging  from $599 to $2,500 per unit. Although they offered satellite internet services, their speeds  (25-100 Mbps) were insufficient for the number of users we aimed to support, and they did  not guarantee consistent speeds. Frontier, on the other hand, quoted an exorbitant $1,800  per hub for dedicated internet services—unnecessary for our community-focused project.

Ultimately, Sparklight emerged as the only service provider in Shoals capable of delivering  high-speed internet (940 Mbps) at reasonable prices. Moreover, several local businesses  that already utilized Sparklight's services expressed high satisfaction with their  performance. This positive feedback further solidified our decision, ensuring we would be  able to provide reliable internet access to the community. 

Proposal Development and Finalization: Strategic Preparation for the ROI Grant (09/11- 09/12/2024) 

On September 11th and 12th, our team dedicated time to refining our proposal for the ROI  Grant, focusing on creating structured documentation and gathering critical insights.  Following our groundwork, we collaborated to develop a comprehensive Q&A formatted  document aimed at assisting town council members from Shoals in completing the grant  application, which was also structured in a Q&A format. This document included essential  information for the application, such as an introduction to the project, a detailed  implementation plan, anticipated outcomes, and responses to questions regarding the  socioeconomic impacts of the project on the community. 

In addition to the application document, we crafted a budget document that accounted for  various expenses, including equipment costs, installation fees, and ongoing energy costs.  We also created a timeline document, outlining a structured timeline for the end-to-end  implementation of the project, which could be attached as supporting materials for the  grant application. On September 11th, we invited a site technician from Sparklight to  conduct a high-level site survey of the proposed locations, which proved invaluable in  determining the equipment requirements and enhancing the accuracy of our budget  document. Budgeting was a challenging aspect of this process, necessitating multiple  discussions with internet service providers (ISPs) to ensure precision in our financial  estimates. 

The proposal finalization process began in earnest on September 11th as we revisited our  work to ensure alignment with grant requirements. We convened at 1:00 PM and again at  5:00 PM to assess our progress. By 9:00 PM, we met with our professor for a thorough  review, finalizing each section of the proposal, including the project description, goals,  budget, timeline, and evaluation metrics. Additionally, we developed content to highlight  community support, incorporating key findings from our surveys to bolster our case for the  project. Despite Anurag’s cautious prediction of potential last-minute changes, we felt  confident in the proposal's strength by the end of the evening.

However, on September 12th, we faced a minor setback. Initially believing we had  completed the proposal, we received an email from our professor requesting a review of  similar initiatives in Washington and Owen Counties for comparative analysis. While this unexpected request was initially unsettling, it ultimately provided us with valuable insights  into how our project differed from others in the region. Later that day, at 5:39 PM, we  received another email requesting additional details regarding the budget and timeline.  Despite initial shock, particularly from Vaidehi, we regrouped quickly, made the necessary  updates, and met with the professor once again to confirm the revisions. With his approval,  we concluded the proposal, feeling satisfied with the final product and prepared for  submission. 

Proposal Submission and Capacity Building: Final Steps (09/13/2024) 

On September 13th, the day of our proposal submission, we encountered a last-minute  hurdle. Just as we believed the final proposal was ready for submission, we received an  email that morning containing suggestions from Cary. In response, the team quickly  gathered to address the necessary modifications to the budget, ensuring that our proposal  met the expectations outlined in the feedback. Once these adjustments were made, we  submitted the final proposal to the professor.