Thank you to Garret and to Eric Frederick of Connect Michigan (see below) for replies to my question. Eric referenced the Digital Edge initiative benchmark. Looks like that target is "Each public Internet user is allocated at least 500 Kbps upload and 1 Mbps download of network bandwidth capacity". Just dealing with the download speed aspect, meeting that benchmark with a 1Gbps Internet connection, would mean you could have 1,000 simultaneous Internet users. That seems a little crazy. So let's move the benchmark up to 5 Mbps of download bandwidth per user (NetFlix recommends this<https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306> for streaming HD quality video). A 1Gbps Internet connection would serve 200 users simultaneously maxing out their bandwidth allotment. If you are still reading this, I understand the idea of aspiring to bandwidth at levels where you don't even have to consider it as a realistic limiting factor in doing anything. But in a practical 'bang for the buck' world, I'm still looking for a way to calculate what I should buy at the top end to provide a high quality service when you get down to the desktop level. The fact is, you can do simple calculations assuming peak number of users at peak capacity, but in reality, use is very spiky. Does the following approach make sense--Decide on a level of capacity you'd like to provide at the desktop level, say 5 Mbps. Pare that down to a lower 'average' level that accounts for the reality that not all of your simultaneous users are streaming NetFlix at HD levels (what is that magic factor?) Multiply that modified average Mbps by your maximum number of simultaneous users (patron computers + wifi users + staff users) Enough for now. I need to prepare my turkey... -Sheryl From: Frederick, Eric [mailto:efrederick@connectmi.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 10:59 AM To: Knox,Sheryl Cormicle Subject: RE: Benchmark for Bandwidth? Hi Sheryl, Sorry for the delay, I am on paternity leave. Here is some information from our Chief Policy Counsel that might help. For the E-rate program, the FCC has adopted bandwidth "targets" for public libraries. These are not *required* for E-rate funding, but the FCC will be using it to measure and judge the effectiveness of the E-rate program. These targets were proposed by the American Library Association. For public libraries that serve less than 50,000 population, the target is 100 Mbps For public libraries that serve a population of 50,000 or greater, the target is 1 Gbps The library "service area" is defined by reference to the IMLS Public Libraries in the United States database, http://www.imls.gov/research/public_libraries_in_the_united_states_survey.aspx<http://t.signauxtrois.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XZs8pTd2PN5w6qJCRs1VsW1p7Y5W56dzg5f7Q6DWx02?t=http%3a%2f%2fwww.imls.gov%2fresearch%2fpublic_libraries_in_the_united_states_survey.aspx&si=5704799858196480&pi=96cca5cc7ec8471faf54c6da4984487a> (wherein every library reports the population of their service area). For schools, the "short-term" benchmark is 100 Mbps for each 1,000 users (students and staff) and in the "long term" it is 1 Gbps for each 1,000 users (student and staff). Those are the FCC E-rate targets - relatively simplistic but a useful starting point. For a more sophisticated approach based on number of user terminals etc., the ALA -funded Digital Edge project established some benchmarks as well. http://www.libraryedge.org/benchmarks/organizational-management/devices-and-bandwidth<http://t.signauxtrois.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XZs8pTd2PN5w6qJCRs1VsW1p7Y5W56dzg5f7Q6DWx02?t=http%3a%2f%2fwww.libraryedge.org%2fbenchmarks%2forganizational-management%2fdevices-and-bandwidth&si=5704799858196480&pi=96cca5cc7ec8471faf54c6da4984487a> It is my understanding that the ALA based their 100 Mbps/1 Gbps recommendation based on the Edge benchmarks. Eric Frederick, AICP, LEED AP Executive Director, Connect Michigan Fellow, Prima Civitas Foundation 517-994-8024 - mobile From: Knox,Sheryl Cormicle [mailto:knoxs@cadl.org] Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 1:29 PM To: Frederick, Eric Subject: FW: Benchmark for Bandwidth? Hi Eric. Does this ring any bells? Do you have any pointers? From: Knox,Sheryl Cormicle Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 1:11 PM To: michlib-l@mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: Benchmark for Bandwidth? Looks like the E-Rate program is going to have more money available than ever before to subsidize broadband access. The FCC is poised to raise the cap another $1.5 billion/year<http://t.signauxtrois.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XZs8pTd2PN5w6qJCRs1VsW1p7Y5W56dzg5f7Q6DWx02?t=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nytimes.com%2f2014%2f11%2f17%2fbusiness%2ffcc-chief-aims-to-bolster-internet-for-schools.html&si=5704799858196480&pi=96cca5cc7ec8471faf54c6da4984487a>, from 2.4 billion to 3.9 billion. And there's another $2 billion in play for the next couple years form 'leftovers' and due to changes being made in the program. So $5.9 billion. Those of us at the workshop at LM yesterday are 'locked and loaded' to make best use of that. And it got me thinking about what is a good, target bandwidth to aspire to? Is there a formula? The NYT article above about the cap increase references a 'rule of thumb' for schools in the near term of "100MB of Internet bandwidth per 1,000 students" and in the longer term 1GB per 1,000 students. Is anyone familiar with a similar 'rule of thumb' or benchmark for libraries? Such a benchmark would have a lot of caveats, for sure. Maybe you have an internal performance goal for bandwidth to the patron desktop you'd like to share? _____________________________________ Sheryl Cormicle Knox, Technology Director Capital Area District Libraries - Administration 401 S. Capitol Avenue, Lansing, MI 48901-7919 517-367-6347 | knoxs@cadl.org<mailto:knoxs@cadl.org> cadl.org<http://t.signauxtrois.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XZs8pTd2PN5w6qJCRs1VsW1p7Y5W56dzg5f7Q6DWx02?t=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cadl.org%2f&si=5704799858196480&pi=96cca5cc7ec8471faf54c6da4984487a>