Virginia Tech Foundation and Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative Win Middle-Mile Grants
Broadband Stimulus
February 8th, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 8, 2010 – While the federal government is closed today due to inclement weather, Sen. Mark Warner and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra announced the newest broadband stimulus grants.
The two Virginia projects will receive $21.5 million in funding to expand middle mile networks to rural and underserved areas of the state.
Snow Leads to Cancellation of Blacksburg, Va., Broadband Stimulus Workshop
Broadband Stimulus
February 8th, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 8, 2010 – The NTIA/RUS Round Two Public Workshop scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, 2010, in Blacksburg, Virginia has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
This leaves two remaining Round Two Workshops, out of the 10 originally scheduled: Thursday, February 11 in Fayetteville, N.C.; and Friday, February 12 in Atlanta, Ga.
PTO To Reexamine VoIP Patent
Copyright
February 8th, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 8, 2010 – The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has agreed to reexamine a voice-over-Internet protocol patent at the request of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
FCC Wrestles With Depth, Breadth of Net Neutrality Comments
FCC, National Broadband Plan, Net Neutrality, Net Neutrality Comments
February 8th, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 8, 2010 – The Federal Communications Commission has received thousands of comments both lauding and criticizing its proposed plan to address the controversial issue of network neutrality.
To Comcast-NBCU CEO’s: Consistency in Message to Regulators a Must
Expert Opinion, Transparency
February 6th, 2010
Recent hearings before the House on the proposed merger between Comcast and NBCU drew both accolades and skepticism for regulators on Feb 4, 2010. The skepticism seemed to come from what was perceived as inconsistencies in previous statements by CEO’s Roberts and Zucker from what was being purported in the public meeting.
South Carolina and Rhode Island Score Big Wins in Public Broadband Computing
Broadband Stimulus, Broadband's Impact
February 5th, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 5, 2010 – The Commerce Department on Friday announced two additional broadband stimulus funding grants: $5.9 million to the South Carolina Technical College System, and $1.2 million to a consortium of Rhode Island’s 71 public libraries.
Both grants were made under the portion of funds — $50 million in the first round of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program — earmarked by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for public computing centers.
“Thanks to this funding, public computer centers and computer labs throughout the state of South Carolina will be able to serve more than twice the current number of users,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in a statement.
The Journey of a Million Miles Begins With Basic Broadband Research
Broadband Data, Expert Opinion
February 3rd, 2010
PHILADELPHIA, Penn., February 3, 2010 – Investment in broadband infrastructure, most believe, is essential to our nation’s future economic health.
In an information economy, the race is to the swift: those who can quickly access more, better information will innovate, communicate, and transact at a far greater rate than those who cannot. That’s how the argument goes. As our nation prepares to invest billions in broadband infrastructure, it appears that “We the People” have accepted that argument.
One nagging question remains: is the argument valid?
Three Minority Business Groups Criticize Net Neutrality Rules
Broadband's Impact, Net Neutrality
February 2nd, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 2, 2010 – Three minority business groups came together on Tuesday to criticize proposed network neutrality regulations, and discussed their joint filing on the subject at the Federal Communications Commission.
Harry Alford, president of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Justin Nelson, president of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and Javier Palomarez, president of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce participated in the conference call.
FCC Advisor Advocates Universal Service Fund Reform
Broadband Stimulus, FCC, National Broadband Plan, Universal Service
February 2nd, 2010
TAMPA, Fla., February 1, 2010 – Broadband is as important today as television and radio were in the last century, a senior policy advisor for the Federal Communications Commission said at an association annual meeting this week.
Mississippi Partners With Mapping Firm BroadMap
Broadband Stimulus, National Broadband Plan, States
February 2nd, 2010
WASHINGTON, February 2, 2010 – Mississippi’s Office of the Governor and broadband mapping firm BroadMap have announced that they plan to work together to collect and verify the availability, speed and location of high-speed Internet access across the state.