NEW ORLEANS, September 30, 2009 – The chief of staff at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said Wednesday that there will be changes in the rules governing the broadband stimulus program, and that the government would begin seeking comments on changes in mid-October. Keep Reading
The Media Access Project will hold the third session in its 2009 MAPPING CHANGE series on October 8 in Silicon Valley for a conference exploring the issue of “smart grids.” MAP aims to bring together experts on communications, information technology, energy, and infrastructure to discuss policy developments and implementation strategies promoting smarter energy management and environmentally sustainable technologies. Keep Reading
As the new Federal Communications Commission takes up the task of changing the Universal Service Fund, the task will be all the more complex because of the intrusion of broadband policy objectives and proposed changes to the contribution methodology, panelists said Wednesday. Keep Reading
ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, announced a newly created position of Vice President, Government Affairs (Americas), with primary responsibility for policy development and advocacy before the U.S., Latin America, and Canadian governments. Keep Reading
The American Cable Association praised the House and Senate Judiciary Committees for recently passing bills that would change the rule allowing for redistribution of copyrighted content by cable television operators. ACA said the rule had been a financial burden on small and mid-sized cable operators, especially operators that have consolidated operations in the pursuit of greater efficiency. Keep Reading
An agreement reached by the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was praised Wednesday by Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., Chairman of the Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON – September 29, 2009 – From the beginning, BroadbandCensus.com has aimed at providing academics, consumers, government officials and industry with the high-quality data needed about the state of broadband throughout the country. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 29, 2009 - Current broadband mapping data is not specific enough in detail to help the Federal Communications Commission produce a national broadband plan, despite recent revisions to agency data-collection practices, staff members said Tuesday. Keep Reading
Notwithstanding a recent proposal by the online advertising industry to strengthen standards governing consumer data collection, some on Capitol Hill still see a need for Congress to enact comprehensive privacy legislation. Indeed, Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., has promised to introduce legislation on this subject this fall. Over at the Federal Trade Commission, Chairman Jon Leibowitz has explicitly warned online advertisers that the FTC will take a regulatory approach if industry does not improve its self-policing efforts. Keep Reading
The United States is losing ground in innovation sweepstakes to Japan, Denmark and other nations, according to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. This is mainly because these and other nations have designed and funded federal policies to spur innovation, while America has not, says the think thank. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 29, 2009 - An outpouring of news: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced network neutrality rules, President Obama touted an innovation agenda, FCC Commissioners Clyburn and Copps addressed universal broadband, the U.S. Broadband Coalition unveiled its final report, and the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference hosted seven top administration officials and more. Keep Reading
The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) have embarked upon a 30-day period of accepting responses from existing service providers in their reviews of service area classifications, which will includes defining the unserved and the underserved areas for the BIP/BTOP infrastructure applications. The Public Notices can be viewed at: http://broadbandsearch.sc.egov.usda.gov/DefaultARRA.aspx. Keep Reading
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for General Consulting Services (No. 2010-MBI-01). The goal is to pre-qualify firms to provide consulting services to support the goals, activities, and work products of the MBI. Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Va., September 28, 2009 – Top telecom officials from the Obama administration said that better broadband data, and greater transparency about the operations of government, were two of the key technology policy priorities factoring into the FCC's, and the government’s, approach to technology. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 28, 2009 - State utility commissioners want the Federal Communications Commission to put broadband carriers on notice that the agency’s own broadband data collection does not relieve operators of the obligation to comply with state requests. Keep Reading
"Civil Rights to Cyber Rights” is a new book by Jabari Simama that claims that those without cyber skills will soon be superfluous in the American, not to mention the global, economy. Simama describes broadband and other digital technologies as tools to empower, build and connect people and communities. He also points out that “unless we bring access to and literacy of digital technology to all Americans, we are heading toward a society and world of information haves and have-nots.” Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Va., September 28, 2009 – “Beer and Broadband Mapping” was the informal name appended to a spirited and lively discussion that capped the first day of the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference here at George Mason School of Law on Friday, September 25. Keep Reading
Hitachi Communication Technologies America has announced that its Hitachi's Node+Zero radio frequency of glass module has been accepted by the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for use by the Rural Telecom Infrastructure and by the Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. Keep Reading
A Congressional workshop will examine the proper application of antitrust policy to the information technology sector and scrutinize the direction the new administration is taking. The workshop will occur on October 16 in the Rayburn Office building. The workshop has the potential to explore how the application of government antitrust law can significantly affect innovation and investment, for good or ill. Keep Reading
Faculty members from the state of Pennsylvania participated in a three-day workshop to discuss the challenges that face the United States, in a conference titled "Beyond Broadband Access: Data Based Information Policy for a New Administration," reported the Daily Collegian. Keep Reading
The Federal Communications Commission has issued a notice seeking comment on whether more radio spectrum is needed for wireless broadband services. The notice is part of the Commission's process in crafting a national broadband plan, which is due to Congress in February 2010. Keep Reading
Google has been accused by AT&T of violating the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules for blocking Google Voice calls to some rural areas. In a letter to the FCC, AT&T urged the Commission to level the playing field and order Google to play by the same Internet Policy rules as other carriers. Keep Reading
The Federal Communication Commission's proposed net neutrality rules could hamper innovation on the Web, said David Farber, as guest on a panel held Friday at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Farber is a professor of computer science and policy at Carnegie Mellon University and a former chief technology officer for the FCC. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 28, 2009 – The U.S. Broadband Coalition, an assemblage of more than 160 organizations pressing for a comprehensive national broadband strategy, on Thursday released its final report at the Federal Communications Commission. Drew Clark, Editor of Broadband Census News LLC and Executive Director of Broadband Census Data LLC, was co-Chair of the coalition’s Metrics Working Group, together with Rob Atkinson, President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Below are excerpts from the final “policy options” crafted by the working group and included in the final report. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 17, 2009 – A three-panel workshop on the role of wireless spectrum in the Federal Communications Commission’s national broadband plan considered how one could tell the value of spectrum: by its current use, by its cost, and by demand. These were the central discussions at the agency’s Spectrum workshop on September 17. Among the issues discussed were fourth-generation wireless supply and demand, sources of spectrum, and innovation in spectrum access. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 17, 2009 – Panelists with divergent viewpoints weighed in at the Federal Communications Commission workshop on September 17 on the question of whether the U.S. broadband policy should take cognizance of intellectual property issues such as copyright infringement Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 15, 2009 - Most hospitals are unable to effectively use telemedicine because of the lack of a truly high-speed connection, said Douglas Van Houweling, CEO of Internet2, speaking at the Federal Communications Commission broadband workshop on September 15. Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Va., September 26, 2009 - Fiber to the home has been touted by many as the next great leap in broadband connectivity, and in Japan has already become the leading method of broadband connectivity, with speeds reaching 1 Gigabit per second. Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Va., September 26, 2009 - Whether internet service providers will accelerate early efforts to prioritize bandwidth, and what impact such measure might have upon the open internet, were actively discussed by panelists at the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference here. Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Va., September 26, 2009 - Location-based software has become one of the hottest new web applications, fueled by the expansion of smart phone users, these applications allow users to share their location with their friends or search for businesses based on the user’s location. Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Va., September 25, 2009 - In a panel about the socio-economic impacts of broadband, panelists all agreed that the overwhelming limiting factor in proving the benefits to broadband was the lack of solid broadband data. Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Va., September 25, 2009 - Mobile broadband is the fastest growing segment of the broadband market. According to Jonathan Banks, who directs policy development for the telecommunications industry association US Telecom, the number of wireless broadband users is expected to grow 130% between 2008 and 2012. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 25, 2009 - The annual Telecommunications Policy Research Conference, a must-attend event for academics focused on broadband-related topics, begins at Friday at 2 p.m. ET at Geoge Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Va. It is likely to be particularly noteworthy this year. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2009 - A national broadband strategy must take steps to stimulate adoption and use of technology at a variety of levels, said a report by the U.S. Broadband Coalition, which presented the report at the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 23, 2009 – The U.S. Broadband Coalition, an unprecedented coalition of more than 160 organizations pressing for a comprehensive national broadband strategy, announced the release of its report at the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, September 24, 2009. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 23, 2009 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Tuesday highlighted the importance of a robust broadband network for issues pertaining to security, safety and the provision of healthcare. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 23, 2009 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski's announcement of his intention to codify the commission's 2005 Internet Policy Statement into actual, enforceable federal regulations using a valid legal process drew expected reactions from the usual parties. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 22, 2009 – Public and transparent broadband data has now been elevated to the level of a fundamental principle, at least in the Monday speech by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski. But it’s worth reflecting on the time – not so long ago – when the quest to collect this kind of broadband data was an unrealized vision at the losing end of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 22, 2009 – Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said Monday that a large percentage of African Americans still have not made the use of the Internet a priority in their lives, especially at home. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 22, 2009 - Network neutrality principles outlined by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Monday found industry groups and Congress drawing strong lines in reaction to his proposal. Keep Reading