"Integrated Agent-Based Model for Broadband Resource Allocation Analysis" (IEEE VTC 2020 Spring)
Channel: Wireless Innovation Laboratory - WI Lab
Date: 2020-07-09

Authors/Presenters: Jennifer Legaspi, Casey I. Canfield, Kuldeep S. Gill, Alexander M. Wyglinski, Shamsnaz V. Bhada


Conference: 2020 IEEE 91st Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2020-Spring)


Abstract: This paper introduces an integration strategy between ns3, a network simulator, and NetLogo, an agent-based model (ABM), to help answer policy level broadband allocation questions. Economic development is maximized by accurately modeling the communications system and human behavior together. The digital divide is well recognized as a root cause of economic inequality and a global problem in both rural and urban communities. Within the United States, federal and state efforts have funded investments in broadband infrastructure. However, available funds are limited or provided as 50-100\% loans and eligibility issues limit participation. Consequently, infrastructure planners are in need of new tools to strategically allocate available funds. While ABM is a popular policy analysis tool, other rural broadband analyses have not accurately incorporated network limitations. By integrating ns3 and NetLogo, we improve the validity of policy experiments by accurately representing both technical and human components of the system.