Bob Bocher - Library Technology Consultant
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning

Bob Bocher, Technology Consultant

Broadband and Internet Access
Much of my time over the past several years has been focused on assisting libraries and schools in obtaining adequate and affordable broadband connectivity and Internet access. This issue has assumed added importance since the telecommunication carriers have made repeated attempts via the legislature and courts to curtail the role of WiscNet, our state's research and education network. (Most K-12 schools and libraries get their Internet access from WiscNet.) I have authored a detailed paper on why broadband and Internet access have become such contentious issues in Wisconsin. I am a member of the WiscNet board.

BadgerNet
BadgerNet is the state's public-sector telecommunications network. All K-12 school districts and public libraries in the state can use BadgerNet. The cost of a BadgerNet circuit is 90% subsidized by the TEACH program. Unfortunately TEACH has limited funding which has resulted in some of the issues documented in the detailed broadband paper referenced above. In 2010 the State submitted and was awarded a federal BTOP grant to bring fiber to all schools and libraries on BadgerNet (467 locations) that still had old copper circuits. The State ultimately turned down the grant citing "irreconcilable federal regulatory hurdles." The letter declining the grant extolled the benefits of providing broadband over copper circuits. I am a member of the BadgerNet Advisory Council.

E-rate
Each year Wisconsin schools and libraries receive about $35 million in federal E-rate discounts. I help coordinate the E-rate program for the state and assist schools and libraries as needed. I'm a member of the State E-rate Coordinators Alliance (SECA) and the ALA's E-rate Task Force. Related to this, see my FAQ on CIPA (the filtering act).

Gates Grants
Wisconsin has received several grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The most recent was the Opportunity Online PC Grant for $738,400. The funding was awarded to one hundred WI public libraries to purchase 447 PCs. The grant ended in early 2012. The latest program the foundation (and ALA) is involved with is the Edge initiative. This initiative is intended to develop technology benchmarks to help libraries evaluate and improve their public technology services.

E-books:
In May 2011 the division sponsored a statewide E-book summit, which I coordinated. One major recommendation from the Summit was to develop a statewide e-book buying pool. Moving forward on this recommendation members of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium committed to raise a $1 million e-content acquisitions pool. The state library used $300,000 in LSTA funds as an incentive to help reach the $1 million goal. The funding effort—coordinated by the state’s regional library systems—reached its goal in September 2011. About 70% of the funding has been allocated to OverDrive for e-books and audiobooks.

LSTA Technology Grants
Each year the division allocates federal LSTA funds to help libraries and library systems in their technology needs. I oversee the LSTA technology grants awarded to libraries and library systems. The federal funding can be used for a wide variety of technology-related projects and programs.

Other
I review regional library system plans to make certain they comply with the state statutory requirement that systems engage in "Planning with the division and with participating public libraries and other types of libraries in regard to library technology and the sharing of resources." I also serve on various state committees.

In 2010 I received the Wisconsin Library Association's Special Service Award.

I have a special interest on privacy issues related to technology and co-authored a book on library privacy titled Privacy in the 21st Century: Issues for Public, School, and Academic Libraries.