Internet Readiness Self -Assessment

Internet Readiness Self-Assessment

1. Does your leadership currently have a "smart community" vision? In order to have a "fully-articulated" vision there will need to be an Internet strategy and department business plans based on a collaborative program that includes engaging a cross-section of your local citizens, businesses, academic institutions, and other government entities?

2. Does your government currently provide public access to the Internet at libraries, schools or other publicly accessible facilities? Please explain if the services are being provided locally or through a private or public gateway or other privately or publicly funded entity.

3. What incentives or support does your government provide for public and/or private programs in your community? Also, state if you are unsure of how to get or structure these types of incentives.

4. What financial or other targeted incentives do you provide to attract or retain network and technology-centric businesses in your community? List the companies in your area that are dependent on technology.

5. What support services (technology-related consulting, training, employee recruitment, business development, etc.) are available in your community to assist growing network and technology-centric businesses?

6. How many internally "pre-wired" commercial buildings are available in your community that are specifically equipped to facilitate the needs of network and technology-centric businesses?

7. Does your community's planning, building, or zoning department maintain this type of information?

8. How many commercial buildings are available in your city that support voice and or data communication services directly into the property via fiber optic communication facilities (i.e. SONET ring services)?

9. Does your community's planning, building, or zoning department maintain this type of information?

10. How many facilities-based commercial communication carriers offer services in your community?

11. Does your community have a local cable TV service provider, and if so does the provider offer, or plan to offer, communications services over their cable TV infrastructure?

12. What kinds of commercial wireless communication services (i.e. analog cellular, digital PCS, paging, Internet access, etc.) are available in your community?

13. Are there residential developments in your community that are "pre-wired" with infrastructure for high-speed communication services delivery (i.e. fiber to the curb)?

14. What kind of high-speed network access services (i.e. ISDN BRI, DSL, DS-1, ISDN PRI, DS-3, Frame Relay or ATM) are available for businesses in your community?

15. How many Internet service providers (ISP) offer Internet access services in your community, and what access methods (dial-up, DSL, DS-1, DS-3) do they support?

16. What percentage of the access lines connected to the local exchange carrier (LEC) central offices (CO) in your community utilize digital switching technology?

17. What is the percentage of "connected" households are there in your community or that rely on your organization for services? This can be ascertained from your Local Exchange Carrier or (LEC) by looking at the number of second and third lines in households.

If you are unable to find the resources to answer all of these questions completely eCities.org can help by performing a low-cost network and technology assessment for your community or organization. The process may be covered by a variety of independent, state or Federal grants that support the development of network infrastructure for communities and organizations.

iPlan is a private consulting firm that functions in unison with eCities.org to develop a comprehensive approach to reducing or eliminating the barriers to entry to the Internet for communities and organizations throughout North America. As part of it's effort to establish some working guidelines for the same type of effort in Canada, the Economic TeleDevelopment group established a 14-point questionnaire that we have adapted for a broader audience and applications. iPlan has added additional questions as well. The questionnaire is a guide to evaluate your organization or community's progress towards fully competing in the digital economy.

From a "Telecom & Information Infrastructure Survey: A Fourteen Point Checklist" with comments and additional information provided by eCities.org and iPlan.

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