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According to a Pew Research Center Internet & American Life Project study, "The Mobile Difference," nearly 40 percent Americans have positive and improving attitudes about their mobile communication devices, thereby further immersing themselves into a more robust digital lifestyle.
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How will broadband affect burgeoning controversies over health care? The answers to this question and more came courtesy of a Broadband Cenus-hosted, hour-long panel discussion. View a video of the discussion.
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President Obama on Innovation and Sustainable Growth. President Barack Obama has new plans to strengthen the economy that will all favor people with hi-tech educations.
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Elevate Miami, a comprehensive Digital Inclusion program launched by the city of Miami, aims to serve youth, low-income families, minorities, seniors and residents facing barriers to digital inclusion.
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The Knight Center of Digital Excellence held its first Stimulus Webcast Session for Knight communities and program directors July 23. Watch it online now.
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By pushing hard on broadband, lawmakers hope to close the "digital divide" that has long separated rural America. In doing so, they hope to give rural consumers access to the same sorts of high-speed services and opportunities - think telemedicine, distance-learning and Web-based commerce - that city dwellers have enjoyed for years.
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Archive for the ‘national broadband plan’ Category
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
A crucial part of President Barack Obama’s transparency agenda has always been to increase public participation in government by bringing it online. In fact, you may have heard him or a member of his administration discussing e-government as a key element of a national broadband plan.
These statements are not just rhetoric – using broadband to increase civic participation in policymaking efforts is the law. No, you didn’t just misread that sentence – there’s a law stating what a national broadband plan must include, and e-government is stamped right on it.
Now that we know the law, let’s take a closer look at what drives successful e-government initiatives – information. After all, information has allowed civilians to participate in local and national government since there’s been a government.
“Informing Communities: Sustaining democracy in the Digital Age,” a report by The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, provides an outstanding perspective on how “information is as vital to the healthy functioning of communities as clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health.”
According to the report, “America needs ‘informed communities,’ places where the information ecology meets people’s personal and civic information needs. This means people have the news and information they need to take advantage of life’s opportunities for themselves and their families. They need information to participate fully in our system of self-government, to stand up and be heard. Driving this vision are the critical democratic values of openness, inclusion, participation, empowerment and the common pursuit of truth and the public interest.”
| Are you an informed community? |
| According to the report, a community is a healthy democratic community – an “informed community” – when:
• People have convenient access to both civic and life-enhancing information, without regard to income or social status.
• Journalism is abundant in many forms and accessible through many convenient platforms.
• Government is open and transparent.
• People have affordable high-speed Internet service wherever and whenever they want and need it.
• Digital and media literacy are widely taught in schools, public libraries and other community centers.
• Technological and civic expertise is shared across the generations.
• Local media – including print, broadcast, and online media – reflect the issues, events, experiences and ideas of the entire community.
• People have a deep understanding of the role of free speech and free press rights in maintaining a democratic community.
• Citizens are active in acquiring and sharing knowledge both within and across social networks.
• People can assess and track changes in the information health of their communities.
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The commission also states that to achieve its vision of informed communities, the following three fundamental objectives must be pursued:
Maximizing the availability of relevant and credible information to communities
The availability of relevant and credible information implies creation, distribution and preservation. Information flow improves when people have not only direct access to information, but the benefit also of credible intermediaries to help discover, gather, compare, contextualize and share information.
Strengthening the capacity of individuals to engage with information
This includes the ability to communicate one’s information, creations and views to others. Attending to capacity means that people have access to the tools they need and opportunities to develop their skills to use those tools effectively as both producers and consumers of information.
Promoting individual engagement with information and the public life of the community
Promoting engagement means generating opportunities and motivation for involvement. Citizens should have the capacity, both individually and in groups, to help shoulder responsibility for community self-governance.
A large part of the report also focuses on the importance broadband technology and new media in revitalizing traditional journalistic roles and values. Since the advent of the 24-hour news cycle and the subsequent rise of sometimes superfluous content, many have forgotten the media was initially created to serve as a “watchdog of the government” – to provide civilians with accurate information on what their elected public officials were doing and to take those officials to task when they overstepped their bounds.
Traditional, accurate journalism efforts on civic affairs have always played a crucial role in providing individuals with the necessary information to participate in government. That service can only be enhanced as consistent innovation creates new information channels. The challenge for media outlets is to revamp their old business models to better incorporate new broadband technologies while staying true to their original “watchdog” role.
However, it’s extremely difficult to predict what kinds of innovation will occur in any industry, yet alone communications. But given what we have today, it’s imperative for public bodies to invest in the creation of universal broadband access for all Americans. Enabling citizens to participate in civic affairs through the accessibility of a national broadband infrastructure is a proper role for government.
Tags: 24-hour news cycle, Barack Obama, broadband, Broadband Expansion, community, digital, e-government, education, government transparency, high-speed, information, information channel, informed communities, innovation, Internet, journalism, Knight, Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, network, new media
Posted in Opinion, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
 In any national broadband strategy, adoption and use need to play a major role. We’ve seen numerous examples of broadband driving future applications that will enhance lives. Advances in education, health care and economic development are out there, and many Americans are going to need to increase their technological competencies in order to realize the benefits.
While the U.S. Broadband Coalition submitted a report on a national broadband strategy to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Sept. 24, it recently submitted another that offers more detailed policy suggestions.
The Broadband Adoption and Use Working Group, chaired by Charles Benton, of the Benton Foundation; Link Hoewing, of Verizon; Karen Archer Perry, of the Knight Center of Digital Excellence; and Kenneth Peres of Communications Workers of America, collaborated with more than 30 authors representing over 25 different firms to create a new report that was delivered to the FCC Oct. 29 and will be showcased in a public forum at the FCC Hearing Room in Washington D.C. Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. EST.
“Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy,” is a robust document focusing on policy options that promote: inclusion, increased intensity of broadband use, interoperability, integration of broadband and technology into other programs, and expanded innovation. The report’s hundred plus policy ideas address each of these principles directly.
Inclusion
As more functions in our society move online, the cost of digital exclusion continues to escalate. Conversely, the value associated with any given Internet-enabled service increases as more people or devices access that service. This report includes specific recommendations to bridge the digital divide. Its universal design principles seek to bring access to people with disabilities. The benefits of broadband can potentially reach 40 percent of American adults who currently have inadequate or no access.
Intensity of Broadband Use
While broadband appears to be well integrated in some sectors of our nation’s economy, we’re actually in the beginning stages of broadband adoption as a whole. The potential to further leverage broadband technologies across society and the economy creates unparalleled opportunities to grow our economy and enrich lives.
The report covers a number of policy options designed to increase adoption and use in the areas of economic development, health care, public safety, education, energy and sustainability, and democracy and civic engagement.
Interoperability
While broadband developments to-date are founded on the natural interoperability of Internet Protocol (the method by which data is sent from one computer to another), more application-level interoperability is needed to accelerate development across sectors and constituencies such as in health care and public safety. The report points out where policy and standardization can drive additional deployment and create new, more effective use models.
Integration of Broadband into Everything
Broadband technology and Internet-based applications can no longer be managed and funded in “technology silos” of policy and investment. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is integral to social services, education, health care, safety, civic rights and engagement, and all other sectors of the economy. The report recommends ICT investment and policy be incorporated into other federal and state programs such as housing, social services, education, and health care as integral funded and mission-aligned program components.
Investment
Strategic investments such as those made through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act’s broadband stimulus funding, Universal Service Funds and USDA Rural Health programs are critical to filling gaps in the market in terms of access, adoption and applications.
Innovation
The hallmark of the Internet age has been innovation. While change is necessary to broaden and deepen the impact of broadband across the U.S., changes must also preserve and encourage continued innovation at all levels of the economy and market. A number of recent studies have shown the Internet is the new platform for innovation not only in the U.S. but globally. Consider the number of new applications and devices over the past few years.
Could any of us have accurately predicted this exact kind of innovation would take place? Can we accurately predict the future possibilities that exist? Probably not.
But as the Coalition suggests, we can encourage policies that will “focus not on protecting status quo but in continuing to create a fertile environment for U.S.-based innovation, expansion as well as adoption and use.”
Over 30 industry experts from 25 firms contributed to “Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy,” In addition to the report co-chairs, Alcatel-Lucent, Net Literacy, Telcordia, Utilities Telecom Council, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, OneCommunity and many others contributed to this report.
Each report section includes a statement on the opportunity, barriers and possible policy options to be implemented at the federal, state or local levels of government. While the report reflects a few areas of contention, there is strong overall agreement that increasing the adoption and use of broadband technology and services is good for America and for Americans.
With the Internet celebrating only its 40th birthday and search functions just over 10 years old, this is still a field in the early stages of growth and value. There is much we can do to create greater inclusion in adoption and to drive for greater value across those sectors where broadband is already in use and this report includes a menu of serious options for consideration.
Future events
The “Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy” report will be publicly released Nov. 13 and will be showcased in live and webcast events at the FCC Headquarters on the same day at 1 p.m. EST. Please check the Knight Center website for more details, go to www.BB4US.net or contact Karen Archer Perry at kperry@knightcenter.org.
Tags: Alcatel-Lucent, American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, bandwidth, benton foundation, broadband, Broadband Adoption and Use, Broadband Adoption and Use Working Group, Broadband Expansion, Charles Benton, Communications Workers of America, digital, digital divide, economy, education, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, healthcare, ICT, Information and Communications Technology, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, Interoperability, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Karen Archer Perry, Kenneth Peres, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Link Hoewing, national broadband plan, Net Literacy, network, OneCommunity, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, public safety, rural communities, stimulus, Telcordia, telemedicine, U.S. Broadband Coalition, underserved, Universal Service Funds, USDA Rural Health, utilities, Utilities Telecom Council, Verizon, Washington D.C.
Posted in Digital news, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
The third in a four-part series on the Federal Communication Commission’s six net neutrality principles:
During a recent webcast from the Brookings Institute, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski explained six principles of net neutrality and proposed making them official rules. Let’s take a closer look at proposed rules three and four, which focus on devices and competition.
No. 3: As long as they don’t damage the network, consumers can connect any legal devices of their choosing.
If you follow the wide-ranging discussion on devices, you’ll find there’s a lot of overlap. The third principle would seem to relate only to third-party devices like Sling Media’s Slingbox (a TV and video streaming device that is blocked on some 3G networks), but many industry executives involved in the net neutrality debate are also chiming in on what devices are used to connect directly to broadband networks.
We’ve seen the obvious example at work – a cell phone. But when considering the phrase “any legal device of their choosing,” the FCC’s third principle includes any non-phone device that contain Wi-Fi modules, such as Apple’s iPod Touch, Microsoft’s ZuneHD and Blu-Ray players that offer integrated Netflix streaming. Internet radio devices, web-connected home security systems and cameras with integrated wireless connectivity should be considered as well.
With all these devices in play, the net neutrality issue quickly becomes handset exclusivity – a practice where wireless carriers make exclusive deals with device manufacturers. Two examples at work currently include Google’s partnership with Verizon Wireless and Apple’s partnership with AT&T.
Both the FCC and Congress have spent some time looking into wireless handset exclusivity arrangements, especially as it plays into the FCC’s fourth net neutrality principle:
No. 4: Consumers have a right to competition.
The FCC’s fourth principle would ensure customers have the right to competition across the Internet spectrum, not simply in terms of choosing a service provider.
Net neutrality advocates claim there is a necessity to regulate the infrastructure and prohibit private enterprise from implementing methods to alter or promote one entity over another.
A worst-case scenario would be if a service provider would favor information from Microsoft over Google by purposely slowing Goggle’s content delivery to create a competitive disadvantage. Another would be a wireless carrier making enough exclusive deals with equipment manufacturers to effective eliminate smaller competitors and force consumers to choose between device or service.
An Internet stranglehold by a handful of organizations could also limit across-the-board innovation. Consider AT&T’s public statement that real-time gaming is an “aspirational service” and not a core broadband application. It’s an interesting statement, considering a Harvard Business School study on the video game industry demonstrated that innovative devices, ubiquitous broadband access, improved games and increased reach led to U.S. sales of software, hardware and accessories reaching $18.9 billion in 2007, an almost 40 percent growth over 2006. The Nintendo DS, a handheld broadband gaming device, was the top-selling gaming device in 2007 with 8.5 million units sold.
Could this statement be pushback from an infrastructure that can’t support gaming and is trying to undermine not only a competitor, but also an entire platform of innovation that millions of Americans take advantage of on a daily basis?
The rise of various, multi-tasking devices that can provide broadband access and other services has various industry leaders looking for ways to best position themselves as the market begins to take a more concrete shape. The FCC’s net neutrality principles as they relate to devices and competition (and how it eventually chooses to enforce them) will play a major role in that process.
Further reading:
• Part one
• Part two
• Part four
Tags: 3G, Apple, AT&T, Blu-Ray, broadband, Broadband Expansion, Brookings Institution, competition, Congress, digital, economy, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Google, Harvard Business School, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, Internet radio, iPod, Julius Genachowski, Microsoft, Net Neutrality, Netflix, network, Nintendo DS, security system, Sling Media, Slingbox, Verizon, video games, Wi-Fi, ZuneHD
Posted in Digital news, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
After more than 18 months of discussion and debate, the U.S. Broadband Coalition released its report on a national broadband strategy at a meeting at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Sept. 24.
Led by President Jim Baller, who has served as a contributor to the Knight Center of Digital Excellence blog and e-newsletter, the nonprofit coalition includes large and small communications providers, technology companies, manufacturers, labor unions, educational institutions, utilities, consumer groups, public interest organizations, units of state and local government, and other stakeholders committed to our broadband future. (For a more detailed history of the coalition, read Baller’s guest viewpoint “The birth of a broadband coalition.”)
The 49-page report includes sections on opportunities that universal, affordable broadband connectivity could create; federal policy options designed to stimulate broadband investment, adoption, use, availability, progress assessments and accountability; and a general set of overall plan goals, which include:
• Every American home, business and public and private institution should have access to affordable high-speed broadband connections to the Internet.
• Access to the Internet should, to the maximum feasible extent, be open to all users, service providers, content providers and application providers.
• Network operators must have the right to manage their networks responsibly, pursuant to clear and workable guidelines and standards.
• The Internet and broadband marketplace should be as competitive as reasonably possible.
• U.S. broadband networks should provide Americans with the network performance, capacity and connections they need to compete successfully in the global marketplace.
In addition, there are sections detailing more specific narrative goals, timetables for where the coalition believes the U.S. should be in 2015 and 2020 in terms of speed and availability, and how topics such as open access, network management and competition should be handled.
According to Baller, very few groups were calling for a national broadband strategy at the time his began this effort in early 2008. The report, which also includes a complete listing of all coalition members, shows how important the discussion has become and how many have come to the table to be a part of it. With the FCC tasked to prepare a national broadband plan by Feb. 17, the coalition’s work could play a major part in how that document is formed.
However, the coalition isn’t finished yet. A final, more thorough report is scheduled for a Nov. 1 release.
Tags: Baller Herbst Law Group, broadband, Broadband Adoption and Use, Broadband Expansion, digital, economy, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, infrastructure, innovation, ISPs, Jim Baller, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, national broadband plan, open Internet, open network, U.S. Broadband Coalition
Posted in broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
In a recent webcast from the Brookings Institution, Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski opened up on Net Neutrality, proposing new rules that would protect an open Internet on all wired and wireless networks.
The FCC has disciplined home broadband providers for traffic censorship in the past, but has never laid down a set of solid rules until Genachowski’s speech. Specifically, Genachowski spoke on measures that would prohibit discrimination of content or applications by Internet service providers and would ensure network management practices are transparent. His speech also touched on regulating how wireless companies carry Internet traffic to cell phones – an industry first.
Genachowski’s remarks come at a time when both the FCC is becoming more proactive in seeking input for a national broadband plan, and other Net Neutrality issues being discussed at both the private industry and government level. For example, the federal government is currently investigating Apple’s process for approving iPhone applications and the video game industry is going on the offensive against pushback from an AT&T suggestion that real-time gaming is an “aspirational service” and not a core broadband application.
At the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, we support Genachowski’s thoughts on Net Neutrality as it ties in to our ideas on the subject of open network s. (For a more information, read Chief Technology Officer Mark T. Ansboury’s column, “The case for open broadband infrastructure.”) It’s in everyone’s interest to pay close attention to this issue. Net Neutrality can serve as a way for our nation to move our networks further faster.
Tags: Apple, AT&T, broadband, broadband applications, Broadband Expansion, Brookings Institution, digital, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, infrastructure, iPhone, Julius Genachowski, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Mark Ansboury, national broadband plan, Net Neutrality, network, open Internet, video games, webcast, wireless Internet
Posted in Digital news, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
The latest social networking effort from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to solicit opinion on what a national broadband plan should include is beginning to gain some traction.
Ideascale, a Web 2.0 crowd-sourcing tool, is giving users an outlet to discuss, evaluate, suggest and rank ideas on a rolling scale.
And users are taking advantage of it.
Since Ideascale’s launch Sept. 11, 109 different ideas have been voted on 4,294 times. The top-voted idea (201 for, 25 against) is “Bring the United States mobile broadband pricing in line with the rest of the world.” Categories receiving the most attention from users are “Best Practices/Big Ideas,” “Deployment,” “Wireless Broadband” and “e-Government/Citizen Engagement.” In addition to suggesting and commenting on proposed ideas, Ideascale also keeps track of how different issues are voted on through an Activity Chart, and measures how heated a topic becomes with a Controversy Meter.
The FCC is also using Ideascale in conjunction with its other social networking outlets – Facebook and Twitter. It has its own tab on the FCC’s official Facebook page, which allows visitors to link directly into any topic. Twitter users can share topics with others and receive Ideascale-specific notifications when available.
The FCC stated that Ideascale is a “platform that will be especially useful as the Commission develops a national broadband plan, which will provide a strategy for reaching all Americans with robust broadband.”
We at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence couldn’t agree more. These social networking applications – along with the FCC’s official blog, Blogband, are allowing for a more robust discussion on key components of a national broadband plan as well as a higher level of government transparency.
Tags: Activity Chart, Blogband, broadband, Broadband Expansion, Controversy Meter, digital, Facebook, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, government transparency, Ideascale, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, national broadband plan, network, Twitter, Web 2.0
Posted in Digital news, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
At a recent Federal Communications Commission workshop, consumer advocates spoke out for federal policies that disclose practices of broadband providers. The point: Consumers must understand their privacy protections as well as the data-collection activities of Internet providers.
As broadband networks expand nationally as a result of investments under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, consumer protection issues will be at the center of the national debate. How secure are our Internet highways? What information about individuals will be available - and not available - to third parties?
We at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence will follow this debate closely, as public policy, in this case, will need to catch up to advances in technology. Keep checking our blog for updates.
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, broadband, consumer protection, data collection, digital, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Internet, Internet Service Providers, ISPs, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, network, stimulus, workshop
Posted in ARRA, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »
Friday, September 11th, 2009
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is holding a number of workshops designed to promote an open dialogue with service, equipment and applications providers, as well as community and other groups on a variety of topics important to the creation of a national broadband plan. Workshops began in late August and, as of now, are scheduled through Oct. 20. Remaining topics range from health care to cyber security to broadband accessibility for those with disabilities.
All interested parties are encouraged to suggest topics and questions for panelists. Meetings will be broadcast live over the Internet when possible, but for those who can’t attend or view meetings the day of, the FCC said all sessions would be archived to ensure that everyone has access to the content.
While the workshops are relatively new, the idea of the FCC reaching out to the American public for suggestions is not. The FCC released a Notice of Inquiry April 8 asking for public input regarding what a national broadband plan should include. FCC broadband advisor Blair Levin said he was surprised at the poor quality of filings received in response to the April 8 Notice of Inquiry, specifically criticizing some of the industry input as “long on philosophy and short on details on how to get the plan done.”
Since the initial inquiry, the FCC has released two additional Notices, the first regarding whether broadband is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion, and the second addressing wireless innovation and investment. Due dates to comment on these Notices are Oct. 2 and Oct. 12, respectively.
While the FCC said workshops being conducting are allowing staff to take ownership of parts of the plan and narrow down action items on broader issues, Levin stated the commission will be requesting more information through hearings and “very narrow [and] very focused” public notices this fall.
Needless to say, the FCC is giving the public a host of opportunities to engage in meaningful debate on how a national broadband plan should be put together. These workshops and notices are ideal for public forum, and those who want their voices heard should take advantage of the chance to provide clear and poignant insight.
Check the FCC workshops schedule for a complete list of upcoming workshops and take some time to suggest topics and questions. Also, be sure to follow the Knight Center of Digital Excellence blog for more information and insight on the national broadband plan.
Tags: Blair Levin, broadband, Broadband Expansion, Broadband.gov, cyber security, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, healthcare, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, national broadband plan, Notice of Inquiry, wireless innovation and investment
Posted in Digital news, national broadband plan | No Comments »
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