93 Million Americans Disconnected From Broadband Opportunities
On Tuesday the FCC released its National Broadband Plan Consumer Survey which found that affordability and lack of computer literacy are the main reasons why 93 million Americans are not connected to high-speed Internet in their homes. The survey results bolstered existing statistics that 80 million adults currently lack high-speed Internet. Most cited affordability, digital literacy, and relevance as the main barriers to adoption.
FCC Releases Working Recommendations for Upcoming National Broadband Plan
The FCC recently released working recommendations for key priorities that will be part of next month's unveiling of the National Broadband Plan. The recommendations are meant to bring greater high-speed Internet availability to the health care, education, and energy sectors, and move the federal government into a new era of engagement and transparency.
The FCC is scheduled to present its National Broadband Plan next month to Congress - and the stakes could not be higher. The Chairman of the Alliance for Digital Equality - a Speed Matters partner - Julius Hollis wrote last week about the need for a measured approach to ensure all Americans have access to fast and readily accessible broadband Internet.
The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new report on America's progress in achieving universal broadband access. Conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the report found that household access to broadband jumped from 51% in 2007 to 64% in 2009.
FCC releases first time census-tract data on broadband
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a report detailing census-tract data on high speed Internet service speed and availability. While the FCC has been collecting information on broadband providers since 2000, this is the first report that provides comprehensive data at a county level. The new data shows that the broadband gap even more apparent.
States win big in second round of broadband stimulus funds
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke recently announced the latest round of economic stimulus awards totaling $357 million for expanded high-speed Internet access. Nine states received record funding for broadband expansion. Nine states - California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin - received funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
FCC Chairman Genachowski Announces Support for Nationwide 100 mbps Broadband
FCC Chairman Genachowski previewed features of the FCCs National Broadband Plan in an announcement on January 16. Genachowski outlined a major component of the plan, a goal to have 100 million households at 100 megabits per second within 10 years.
Obama Administration Announces $1 Billion for Health Technology Job Creation
The Federal Government announced nearly $1 billion in Recovery Act awards to train over 10,000 new health IT workers and promote meaningful adoption of emerging technology in the health care industry.
LA Mayor Calls Broadband Availability Civil Rights Issue of Our Time
At last month's Digital Empowerment Summit, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proclaimed that high speed Internet availability is the civil rights issue of our time.
A planned deal between NBC Universal and Comcast raises serious concerns for consumers, media competition and workers. Recently, the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights brought the merger further into the spotlight by holing a hearing on the plan. Many people, including Sen. Al Franken spoke sharply against the deal.
ACI study finds network operators create more, better paying jobs
According to a new American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research study, "network" companies, such as AT&T and Verizon - produce more, better paying jobs than non-network companies like Google and eBay. It found that for every $1 billion in revenue, network companies provided 2,329 jobs while non-network companies provided 1,199 jobs.
Disability advocates laud CWA’s broadband plan recommendations
In its public notice on the National Broadband Plan, the Communications Workers of America cited the "adoption gap" as one of the main barriers to implementing effective broadband policy. CWA noted that individuals with disabilities are disproportionately less likely to adopt broadband, in part because of complications with accessibility. The Coalition of Organization for Accessible Technology (COAT) praised CWA for their inclusion of disability access in the recommendations.
CWA calls for broadband goal of 50 mbps downstream and 20 upstream by 2015
The Communications Workers of America used the FCC's last request for public comment before the release of the national broadband plan to issue a public notice laying out what they consider to be top priorities for the plan. CWA's proposals include bringing U.S. networks to world-class standards by setting ambitious, but achievable goals, with an immediate goal of 10 megabits per second downstream and 1 megabit per second up; and 50 megabits down and 20 up to 80 percent of the population by 2015.
Telemedicine centers bridge the medical gap all over the world
Broadband infrastructure is expanding job opportunities and increasing access to healthcare in rural villages across the world. The latest example comes from Uttar Pradesh, India.
Distance learning is a boon to strapped community colleges
With the price tag of college tuition rising and unemployment growing, distance learning is allowing community colleges to increase enrollment without overburdening finite resources. Thanks to broadband, offering courses virtually has never been easier - and that's good news to the nation's community colleges, which are being swamped by job seekers going back to school.
Watch for exponential growth, changing business model for mobile devices
According to a study by ABI Research, the market for broadband-enabled consumer devices - which range from smart phones and readers to GPS and mobile gaming systems - is expected to grow by a factor of 55 over the next five years.
FCC’s Levin: Broadband can help minority communities
In front of an audience of social justice advocates, the FCC's Blair Levin declared that "broadband can help people get access to better jobs, better education, better health care information and improved government services" - and it can broaden equality overall.
During an appearance on C-SPAN's The Communicators, CWA President Larry Cohen proposed ambitious goals for the expansion of broadband in America. "We need to aim higher," he said during a discussion of broadband speeds, "Only significant investment in broadband buildout will enable the country to catch up to the rest of the world regarding speed and accessibility."
Employment growth correlates with broadband availability according to a report released by the Public Policy Institute of California. Especially in sparsely populated areas, and in areas with tech-heavy industries, adoption and deployment of broadband increases the number of jobs available.
France announced public investments to promote the deployment and adoption of fiber networks. As in the United States, major French cities such as Paris are quickly becoming connected to high-speed networks. The challenge is extending that coverage to the more rural provinces that make up the majority of the country.
NTIA and RUS announce second round of broadband grants
On January 15, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced the availability of $4.8 billion of funding for grants and loans to expand broadband access and adoption in America. This is the second round of funding that was allotted as part of the 2009 economic stimulus bill.
NTIA broadband planning grants continue to roll out
The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced more grant awards to fund broadband mapping and planning in ten states. The recipients were designated entities in Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
CWA: FCC must preserve an open Internet while promoting investment, quality jobs
The Communications Workers of America expressed support for efforts by the Federal Communications Commission to protect an open Internet that are consistent with the need to promote investment in the nation's high-speed networks and create jobs. In comments filed with the Commission, CWA pointed out that it was critical that open Internet rules "do not have the unintended consequence of dampening the private investment needed to build the next-generation broadband networks that will bring our nation's broadband capability up to global standards and create and maintain good jobs."
60 percent of American adults subscribe to broadband at home, says a new survey from the Pew Research Centers Internet and American Life Project. This figure is down from 63 percent in the April 2009 survey.
New legislation would close tax loophole, shut down $600 million Verizon windfall
A new piece of legislation has the potential to shut down a $600 million corporate tax windfall in the Verizon-Frontier deal, and protect consumers, workers, and communities.
CWA, broad coalition raise concerns on Comcast-NBC mega-merger
A broad coalition of industry, labor, and public interest organizations, including CWA, has written a letter to President Obama and Congress expressing grave concern over Comcast's proposed merger with NBC-Universal.
Telemedicine and remote monitoring could save $197 billion
The United States economy could save $197 billion over 25 years by implementing policies that support remote monitoring and other telemedicine technologies, according to a new report.
For a rural Alaskan couple, broadband comes before all else
Bretwood Higman and Erin McKittrick live in a yurt a portable dwelling traditionally used by nomads in the remote town of Seldovia, Alaska, where a trip for supplies store could mean a plane ride. The couple goes without many of the trappings of modern life: they chop their own firewood, cook with a stove, and draw water from a well. However, when it comes to broadband, their attitude is a bit different.
Eighteen states and two territories ring in the New Year with NTIA grants
Between December 22 and December 31, The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced an additional twenty broadband mapping and planning grants in eighteen states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
US Crafts Plan To Quicken Broadband Speeds NPR One of the key goals of the national broadband plan will be to provide Internet access to Americans in rural areas who don't have any — and to urban ...
Be Thou For The People Free Market Mojo (blog) A recent article from CNN Money details Google's plan to bring high-speed internet to the people. It's the 21 st century equivalent of the Oklahoma land ...
Enablence Keeps South Texas at the Forefront of Rural Broadband - MarketWatch (press release)
Enablence Keeps South Texas at the Forefront of Rural Broadband MarketWatch (press release) In 1999, it achieved a world first when it delivered DSL Broadband to 100% of its subscribers. Eager to build an advanced, future-proofed network that would ...
Presentation by the WA Rural Broadband Cooperative Snohomish Times The City Council has requested a presentation from the Washington Rural Broadband Cooperative (WA-RBC) at the March 2nd Council Meeting. ...
Call for broadband rural concessions ABC Local ... regional councils in Queensland's Wide Bay region says it will petition the Federal Government over its rollout of the National Broadband Network. ...
CLA proposes broadband grants scheme Top 10 Broadband New funding should be released to aid the rollout of broadband services in rural areas, it has been suggested. The Country Land and Business Association ... News Archive - March 2010Cable.co.uk
PRINCE GEORGE'S OFFERS BROADBAND OPPORTUNITIES - Washington Continent
PRINCE GEORGE'S OFFERS BROADBAND OPPORTUNITIES Washington Continent ... with the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) in the Department of Agriculture, which is administering broadband grants under the Recovery Act. If funded, ...
Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), chairman of the Senate antitrust subcommittee, has written to NBC to express concern that some of its Internet coverage of the Winter Olympics is limited to pay television subscribers.
Congress told that Comcast/NBC merger a big crapshoot
Congress held another hearing on Comcast's proposed buyout of NBC Universal on Thursday, and as at earlier gatherings, the critics came out swinging. Perhaps the most intriguing testimony came from economist Thomas Hazlett, who was circumspect about prospects for the proposed deal.
Microsoft made its most vehement and public attack on Google on Friday, calling its rival's actions potentially anti-competitive, and urging victims to file complaints to regulators.
Pokey Mobile Broadband Isn't Cutting It in the New App Era
As more people pick up smartphones and shell out for mobile data plans, carriers, application developers and phone manufactures need to keep one thing in mind: Speed matters. Even if...
Google May Spend 'Hundreds of Millions' on Broadband
Google said it may spend as much as "hundreds of millions" of dollars on an experimental broadband service that offers Internet speeds 100 times faster than current networks.
Four reasons gigabit 'demo deployments' won't matter
It's difficult to criticize any effort to boost the capacity of broadband networks here in the U.S. But forgive us for feeling that high-profile demo deployments, attention-grabbing announcements and even over-arching national plans are unlikely to truly drive broadband deployments.
Fourth quarter earnings reports from four different Independent telcos reveal a mixed bag this week as the companies seek new revenue sources to compensate for continued line loss in their traditional voice business.
IBM survey: land lines to disappear, mobile broadband to explode over next decade
IBM surveyed 8,000 consumers and 60 telecom company executives to get a sense of Internet-related trends over the next decade, showing that broadband will continue to evolve and expand while traditional communications infrastructure -- those copper lines we've used to make phone calls for decades -- will rapidly disappear.
Could Another 9-11 Be Mitigated by a $16 Billion National Public Safety Broadband Network?
Although broadband infrastructure companies are building out a national network of high-capacity fiber optics for broadband, the needs of emergency service "interoperable public safety" communications aren't being met by these private plans. So the Federal Communications Commission is recommending that Congress allocate $6 billion in Federal cash to build a nation-wide, fiber network and lay out a further $6 billion to $10 billion to fund its ongoing operations over the next 10 years.
Lower-Income and Less Educated Still Face Broad Digital Divide
More than 75% of Americans, across racial and ethnic groups, now use the Internet on a regular basis. Seventy-nine percent of Whites, 69% of African Americans, 59% of Hispanics, and more than 83% of other racial and ethnic minorities, including Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans, and multiracial Americans are now online.
Broadband and New Media Strategies for Minority Radio
On January 26, 2010, the FCC's Office of Communications Business Opportunities hosted a roundtable on Broadband and New Media Strategies for Minority Radio.
USDA Broadband Initiatives Program Round 1 Approved Projects as of February 17, 2010
The Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service has released a list of 33 broadband stimulus projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
9 Out Of 10 Fake Scientists Agree: Neutrality Means Job Losses
The network neutrality debate has seen no limit of dumb arguments from both sides of the aisle. Since the argument really heated up in 2005 with AT&T CEO Ed...
Many electrons have been spilled in response to the recent Italian court decision that found several Google executives guilty of privacy violations, after a video was uploaded to Google Video that showed an autistic boy being tormented by bullies. One big question is: is Google a media company?
Sen Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who is investigating the safety of health information technology, appears to be interested in exploring whether the Food and Drug Administration should regulate such products.
Pennsylvania broadband network slated as health data conduit
A broadband network planned for Pennsylvania may become a key conduit for health information in the state. Earlier this month, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded a $99.6 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant to the Keystone Initiative for Network-Based Education and Research (KINBER).
ONC unveils 'popHealth' for EHR-based quality reporting
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT began making available today open source software that will let physicians extract data automatically from their electronic health record systems and generate quality reports and analysis on their patients' healthcare.
Europe 'will not accept' three strikes in ACTA treaty
This headline is presented in partnership with:
The European Commission has pledged to make sure the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) will not force countries to disconnect people for unlawfully downloading copyrighted music, movies and other material.
The Australian government will not exempt universities, libraries and small businesses providing open Wi-Fi services from its Digital Economy Bill copyright crackdown.
HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting
Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
March 17, 2010
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting
Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
March 24, 2010
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
NTIA Awards $7.25 Million BTOP Grant to the California Emerging Technology Fund
The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced a $7.25 million Recovery Act investment to bridge the technological divide and increase economic opportunities in vulnerable and low-income communities in Los Angeles, the Central Valley, Orange County, San Diego, and the Inland Empire in California. The grant will fund digital literacy training for more than 675,000 individuals, enabling them to make use of key educational, employment, and health resources online.
NTIA blocks Reid's plea for broadband stimulus extension
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has rejected a plea from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to extend a deadline for broadband stimulus applications.
'Up to' claims for Internet connection speeds next to worthless
When it comes to high-speed Internet access, are you getting what you pay for? Although Internet service providers market "up to" speeds, consumers may rightfully ask "What's the usual speed?"
Note to FCC: To drive broadband adoption, change the way it's marketed
Mobile broadband adoptionMobile broadband adoption is going to be the big challenge. Part of the of problem is that there is not much competition so companies can charge exorbitant prices. The other problem is that that the provicers prohibit and or strongly discourage tethering with cell phones.RE: Note to FCC:...
National Broadband Plan: E-Rate changes are welcome news
Maybe, but...It may happen. There are a number of challenges. The Comission still has to submit the plan for final review. The politics at that juncture could prove ugly....who will pay to keep schools open for the community to access the resourcesThe tax payer of course. But the dumbasses will...
National Broadband Plan: E-Rate changes are welcome news
As more details of the FCC's National Broadband Plan emerge, it looks as though the antiquated E-rate rules that prevent many schools from sharing their Internet access with their communities will be changing. E-Rate, a program that subsidizes large percentages of Internet access for schools and libraries in poor...
100Mbps to the home? How about to schools instead?
Bah, it's popular to talk stuff like thisbut in my neighborhood, all 266 schools in the district have been interconnected with fiber optics, at the rate of 1GBps. That was done five years ago...What the heck are you talking about?How about...Schools buy more books and encourage students to read them.RE:...
At least we have it ntntBetter to skip WiMax and go straight for LTE. ntntRE: WiMax deployments ramp globally, but U.S. lagsWhat does the word 'covered' means? 'In service' only or including 'in deployment / planned'?Reason why the US always gets it last because..Corporations like to milk their customers dry...
Hey, Google! My school will take a bit of that broadband
You might get your wish Christopher. A rural area, and, a blogger onsiteALREADY using Google apps to blog about the whole experience.Google wants rural communities see that they CAN have super high speed broadband, and it costs almost nothing compared to the benefits. Of course the telcos that are...
Hey, Google! My school will take a bit of that broadband
Antitrust and regulatory concerns be damned, I want high-speed Internet. If Google has to provide it since Verizon won't step up to the plate, that's fine by me. However, Google's recent announcement of their plans to deploy gigabit fiber to homes in their broadband "experiment" leaves me hanging....
Valdes and Astronaut putting VA VistA in the cloud
Astronaut VistA and Virtual MachinesI installed a fully self-contained WorldVistA EHR on a Windows box, using virtual machines.The Astronaut system installs the database server separately from the clients (which is the way the VA does it.) I therefore installed the server in a VirtualBox virtual machine running Ubuntu Linux 9.10...
"for both billing and law enforcement purposes"......and one might add: for repressive regimes to keep their thumbs pressed firmly to the backs of their citizens. Or organized crime, unethical politicians pretty much all of them. Or yet another way for companies to deliver me advertising....oh boy.On the issue...
As I was driving through the small town in which our district is based yesterday, I was pondering a conversation I'd had with a local fiber company. In middle-of-nowhere Massachusetts, as in much of rural America, broadband is not easy to come by. It's expensive and the kind of...
Verizon Wireless revamps calling plans; Goes for customer grab ahead of 4G
Long overdue revampI'm sure these new ways to overcharge us will be much more exciting than the old methods by which Verizon overcharged us.Still way to expensiveWhile I do miss the Verizon network, I do not miss my Verizon Bill.It's ludicrous that I can get unlimited mobile / text &...
Why 'Free Conference Calls' are like Russian Roulette
When you're calling your important prospect with a free conference call number, you probably don't realize the increasing chances of getting a number unobtainable message like this as digital telco disruption escalates. Conference calls are an vital part of collaboration, with millions participating...
FCC still not looking out for citizens enoughThe FCC still seems to cater to comm companies FAR more than protecting the interests of customers. The fact that they allow cell carriers to charge thousands of dollars per megabyte for text message data rates is one indication. The fact that they...
Antitrust: Time to break apart the phone companies -- again?
Actually,those 'guaranteed revenue' companiesAre not so rare. Food companies, oil and gas companies, phone companies, electric companies, water utilities.... the list goes on and on if I had enough time to think of them all.That is why we need to break up any company that gets more than a 10%...
News to know: Nook; Yahoo; Sun; Net Neutrality; Apple; Windows 7
Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNET's around-the-Web tech coverage. Ed Burnette: Meet Nook: Barnes and Noble's sexy new book reader Matthew Miller: B&N Nook ebook reader revolutionizes...
No freaking surprise hereThe rockofeller administrator oops obama administration. Will give you billions to expand your network. So let me get this straight AT&T Verizon etc. Are the internet gatekeeper pimps making money hand over fist. And now are &umb #ss goverment is going to give them more to holly...
The report says the same things we all knew: That the U.S. Government wants to subsidize the cost to deploy broadband to rural areas with incentives. That it needs more reports and analyses and that there are a few application forms to fill out to receive grants. by Doug Hanchard
Implementation and Evaluation of a TDMA MAC for WiFi-Based Rural Mesh Networks
WiFi mesh networks with outdoor links have become an attractive option to provide cost-effective broadband connectivity to rural areas, especially in developing regions. It is well understood that a TDMA-based approach is necessary to provide good performance over such networks. While preliminary prototypes of TDMA-based MAC protocols have been developed,...
Google's response to AT&T's charges on Google Voice
Here's Google's response to AT&T's charges that Voice discriminates against users in certain, expensive locations. Google's argument: yes, the common carrier system is broken and should be fixed so that local carriers can't rip off common carriers for outrageous connection fees. >Under the common carrier laws, AT&T...
News to know: Microsoft; T-Mobile Cliq; MotoBlur; @facebook; Oracle
Here are todayââ¬â¢s notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNETââ¬â¢s around-the-Web tech coverage. Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft founds, funds a new open-source foundation Is Microsoft stalling on its GPL Linux drivers? ...
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