Access to broadband, and furthermore use of broadband, is imperative for U.S. citizens to maintain their competitive edge in an increasingly global economy. Broadband allows educational, employment and healthcare opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach for many. At Connected Nation, our goal is ubiquitous broadband availability and a radical increase in household and business broadband adoption, and we realize that collecting accurate data and mapping out broadband penetration is an important first step. There is good news on this front as the Congress is poised to give final approval to S.1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act.

At Connected Nation, I have personally seen communities go to great lengths to gain access to broadband. I have pictures of telecom workers using mules to run fiber in hilly rural Kentucky. I have pictures of entire towns turning out to receive their broadband matching grants. I have met Valerie Davis. Valerie has multiple sclerosis, but with broadband she can work from home, and care for her children, and maintain a sense of normalcy that before broadband was unattainable.

These stories and thousands of others show that the need for broadband transcends cities, towns, and communities. It’s not just urban areas who want and need broadband. Urban and rural areas, alike, have much to benefit and gain from broadband deployment and use. We have seen in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio that public-private partnerships can help us reach our collective goal of a connected nation, but I cannot stress enough the need for effective broadband mapping policies and the critical role of public/private partnerships. S. 1492 is a positive step forward in the right direction.

Based on what we have seen that has proven effective, four principles are necessary to create an effective broadband mapping policy. First, it must be relevant to consumers - consumers need to be able to see that they can indeed get broadband at their address. Second, it must be relevant to providers - we need to be able to demonstrate where and why providers should extend and improve their networks. Third, we need to make it relevant to policy makers - we must assure policy makers that there is suitable infrastructure throughout the country and help pinpoint rural and other areas where public resources may be necessary. Fourth, we need to incorporate digital literacy — understanding that access to broadband’s opportunities hinges not only on connectivity, but understanding how to use that foundation to lead a higher quality of life. Mapping policies that serve the needs of consumers, the public sector, the private sector, and communities, can make national broadband deployment a reality.

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Eye on the Environment: Commuters urged to save money, air
Ventura County Star
September 28, 2009

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Vermont to Rate EMR Impact
Government Health IT
September 26, 2008

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Broadband has taken center stage these past 24 hours. In last night’s debate, Senator Barack Obama cited the need to get broadband to all Americans as part of his plan to get the economy back on track. Senator McCain calls broadband deployment a “top priority.” The Senate has heeded the call by their two most prominent members by passing legislation late last night that would improve the way broadband is mapped throughout the U.S. Better mapping will make it easier to identify those areas throughout the U.S. who are missing out on the broadband promise — from more access to health care, access to the nation’s best education resources as well as the environmentally-friendly practices associated with broadband — like telecommuting.

The House of Representatives has 48 hours to get this bill on its suspension calendar. Don’t waste any time!!! Call your representative’s office and encourage them to get S. 1492 to the floor!! Stay tuned for additional coverage and help us get the word out on the importance of passing S. 1492!

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The Internet is becoming more and more accessible to seniors, and this is offering life-enhancing benefits.   Data from a national survey sponsored by Verizon FiOS and Retirement Living TV shows that seniors are accessing the Internet for health information at similar rates to their younger compatriots.   This is great news, considering health concerns generally increase with age. Broadband offers the promise of more information — delivered quickly to your fingertips from the comfort of home. In some circumstances, this could mean the difference between life and death, such as preventing adverse drug interactions.

According to the survey data, 62% of wired Americans over the age of 65 use the Internet to access medical information.   One can conclude based on this data that more broadband adoption among seniors means greater access to much needed health information. Another interesting statistic that came out of the study is the percentage of seniors who believe the Internet has improved the way they get information about health care — 68%. While the human benefits of providing easy access to health information is foremost, the enormous cost savings that would stem from making health care information more accessible should not be forgotten. Especially at a time when health care costs are soaring nationwide.

We make no apologies on NextGenWeb for touting broadband to the hilltops!   We encourage you to read this study as further evidence of broadband’s ability to offer greater access and better savings in health care for the people who need it most — America’s seniors. Click below to see the press conference announcing the survey results.

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With so many Americans concerned about the economy, it can be hard to get your head around all the different issues and policies being discussed.   This is especially the case during a presidential election year.   From gas prices and health care, to housing and the job market — Americans are feeling the pinch.

Today, ITIF and Silicon Flatirons hosted a conference titled “Innovation Economics for the Next Administration.”  Their goal was to bring together policy analysts, economists and technology experts to discuss the state of the American economy and what needs to be done to ensure the safety of our financial future.   The discussion was substantive as well as focused on real things government and individuals can do to get America’s economic engine humming again.

Michael Mandel, Chief Economist at BusinessWeek and panelist at the conference, recently published an article in his magazine discussing the financial crisis.   Mr. Mandel points to a whole new way of thinking — innovation economics. Ever since America began, we have been at the forefront of innovation across the globe. One specific recent example is the Internet. The Internet provides the opportunity to communicate at a faster rate than we ever have before — providing the opportunity for greater democratic participation and a platform for the kind of ingenuity we have grown accustomed to in the U.S.

The broadband networks that deliver the wealth of information that is the Internet are vital to our now information-based economy, as well as to solutions to other significant national challenges like energy, the environment, health care and education.

But the real benefit of broadband continues to be its ability to inject progress and change into all sectors of the American economy. There are numerous, human examples throughout the country of how access to broadband is providing more economic opportunity in our communities. According to Phil Weiser, Director of Silicon Flatirons, “Broadband is the driver of our economy, and must be treated as such.”

In dealing with the current economic downturn, the vital role of broadband investment should not be overlooked — for it will play a central role in our nation’s efforts to restore health, growth and opportunity throughout our economy.

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The March To Next-Generation Bandwidth: The View From Tennessee
The Tennesseean
September 21, 2008

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The future of TV is now. According to a recent report by TNS, “nearly one-fifth of American households who use the Internet watch television broadcasts online, double the viewership from 2006.”  Not surprising when you consider that more people than ever tuned into the Olympics online — thanks to broadband.

With the fall television season upon us, the online TV explosion continues.   The major networks all are offering an unprecedented number of new and returning shows online (some in advance of their network premieres) all thanks to broadband.   Just last week, NBC.com had its most watched video ever — 5.7 million online views €”with the return of Tina Fey to Saturday Night Live.   Amid the current financial crisis, many Americans also are relying on broadband for Wall Street updates, with record daily CNBC.com viewership spiking 26%.

Whether we want escapist fun or the latest facts, broadband brings our content to us on our terms.   Of course, it’s nice being able to watch your favorite shows when you feel like it — instead of rushing home for the start of “Grey’s Anatomy.”  But there’s also virtually unlimited programming, from millions of amateur videos to sites like MLB.TV, where you can watch nearly every game of the major league baseball season — over broadband.   See a theme?

Thanks to the billions (with a B) in investment being made by America’s broadband providers, the high-speed Internet and all that it makes possible is reaching more and more Americans.   In the absence of heavy-handed government regulation — broadband continues to flourish — making our lives a little easier and, yes, entertaining.

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Click below to view the archived footage of this event.

Live TV : Ustream

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While we continue to work through technical difficulties at the event site (technology is great but sometimes can be a headache) we are still listening intently to the presentations and discussions taking place at the Cleantech Forum in Washington DC.   They’re focused on the future of the environment and new technologies that are instrumental to the rather large effort to reduce humanity’s carbon footprint.     There was a mention of the disadvantage people in rural areas have because of their inability to get to their job without driving. Telecommuting over broadband networks can allow people to perform their job at the same level without ever leaving their home, even in rural areas. Increased access to broadband for these rural areas would allow more people the flexibility in their work that people in urban settings experience. This would make staying near home or in the area of their choice more of a possibility.   Access to robust, high-speed Internet networks over broadband is the starting point of making that concept a reality.   More to come  €¦

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