NextGenWeb recently attended an event hosted by the Alliance for Public Technology. The event featured Ken Kelly, Director of the Washington DC office of The Children’s Partnership, who spoke about the mission of the organization and the positive effect broadband access has on the nation’s youth.

Click below to view NextGenWeb’s interview with Ken Kelly and to hear stories of how broadband technology is rapidly improving the way America’s children learn, communicate and grow.

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This live stream has already occurred. Please check back later this week for interviews with the winners.

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NextGenWeb.org caught up with Representative Zack Space (D-OH) who recently introduced legislation to help spur broadband deployment and investment in rural communities. In the interview, Space outlines the urgent need for the broadband loan amendment he offered to the 2007 Farm Bill to help increase broadband access in his district and other rural areas.

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NextGenWeb caught up with Thomas C. Dorr, Undersecretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture at NCSL to discuss three ways the USDA is trying to simplify the RUS broadband loan program included in this year’s Farm Bill currently before the U.S. Senate.

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Last week, John Nichols, writing on his blog at TheNation.com, wrote a piece titled Don’t Fence in the Web. We at NextGenWeb strongly disagreed with much of the content of the entry, and asked The Nation to run our response in the interest of an open and free debate.

The Nation declined. Which begs the question: What is The Nation afraid of?

Here, in its entirety, is the response The Nation didn’t want you to see:

Political commentators have a frustrating habit of characterizing the network regulation debate (better known by the spin-doctored name “net neutrality €?) as a Goliath vs. Goliath battle. That narrative may make for good soundbites, but it’s far from being a complete €”or fair €”characterization of those advocating against net regulation. (more…)

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NextGenWeb.org continued its extensive coverage today during day 2 of this year’s NXTcomm conference in Chicago. Click this link to see what industry experts and providers are saying about new technologies and services and the importance broadband plays in their rollout and development.

Click Here for Complete Coverage

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Today, I testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding broadband deployment — particularly to under-served and unserved areas — and the nation’s inventory of existing broadband service.

There is growing bi-partisan consensus on the importance of broadband investment, deployment, access and adoption. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Innovation Agenda and the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force both identify broadband deployment as a key national objective.

I told the House committee that I fully support their initiative to create a map to illustrate where Americans have access to advanced communications services and where they do not. This legislation – the proposed Broadband Census of America Act of 2007 – is aimed at pinpointing those areas. It’s a practical way to identify where resources need to be targeted.

In my testimony, I offered suggestions to the Committee on ways to accomplish this goal. These suggestions include:
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Wow. Clean sheet, new blog. Where to start? I guess I’ll start with the obvious – who am I, and why am I doing a blog?

First part is easy: I’m Portia Krebs. I’ve worked in public policy for years. Up front. I currently work at USTelecom and am immersed in the intersection between communications, entertainment and technology. It is a fascinating intersection — fast-paced, with new things happening almost every day. Think of all of the new gadgets and services we have that we never dreamed of just a year ago. Oh, and one other thing — I’m big college football fan, so if the postings tail off this fall, well €¦

So why am I doing this blog? That’s easy, too. We all know what cool things the Internet has done for all of us — think what life was like before it! And, because of my work, I can only imagine what a bigger, faster Internet can bring us. A cleaner world €¦ less driving (yes!) and fewer rush hours (Yes!) €¦ Being able to talk to my doctor on line, or have my grandmother’s health be monitored on line. Downloading music and movies… faster.

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