03/10/2009 by NextGenWeb
Health Transformation
National Review
March 9, 2009
Click here to read the full article: www.nationalreview.com
Jefferson’s Moose — A New Model for Exploring the Internet
02/25/2009 by NextGenWeb
Looking to history to better understand the present is not very unusual, but applying Thomas Jefferson’s exploration of the New World to today’s exploration of the Internet is truly an exceptional and fascinating theory.
Last evening, Amplify Public Affairs hosted Professor David Post for a discussion of his recently released book, In Search of Jefferson’s Moose: Notes on the State of Cyberspace. Post began his speech the way he began each opening lecture in all three courses that I took from him as a student at Temple Law School — with the disclaimer that he does not have the answers. A humble approach for an Internet scholar so accomplished in law, technology, anthropology, music, and more.
The introduction by Gigi Sohn of Public Knowledge, the discussion by the author, and even the thoughtful Q&A with the Internet policy savvy audience, all held closely to the book’s theme of scalability.
• How will the Internet sustain the increase in bandwidth heavy applications?
• How will we regulate this intangible and ever growing public territory?
• What system will best allow for future, yet-to-be discovered projects?
I look forward to reading the book for enjoyment and exploration €¦ but not necessarily for answers, per orders from the author himself.
01/16/2009 by NextGenWeb
State Pursues Health-Information Technology
Louisville Courier Journal
January 16, 2009
Click here to read the full article: www.courier-journal.com
Debunking the OECD Rankings Myth
04/11/2008 by NextGenWeb
What’s the problem with OECD numbers? First, they place too much reliance on residential broadband subscriptions and fail to take into account tens of millions of Americans who access broadband through various platforms and wireless connections. For example, there are now an estimated 50,000 Wi-Fi hotspots operating on campuses, in latte shops and even in fast food restaurants all over America. Big Mac and a broadband connection to the Internet anybody?
The OECD numbers also may not fully account for millions of broadband users in government and in business. According to iPass, the United States is by far the world’s leader in wireless “sessions,” showing vastly more usage than Western European countries and Japan. Access to U.S. broadband service in many areas of the country is ubiquitous and free.
Then this week, the New York Times’ Silicon Valley beat reporter John Markoff opened his article on U.S. broadband this way: “Contradicting earlier studies, conventional wisdom and politicians’ rhetoric, European researchers say that the Internet infrastructure of the United States is one of the world’s best and getting better.” He was referring to a new study by Insead, the business school near Paris, on behalf of the World Economic Forum, a policy and conference group based in Switzerland.
According to the report, the United States ranked 4th out of 127 “economies” on the Insead Networked Readiness Index. If that tells us anything, it’s that U.S. broadband capability is at the top of all competing economic powers in a rapidly changing and dynamic technological world.
And what about the old canard that the U.S. is falling behind on getting advanced broadband technologies installed in the “last mile” to homes and businesses? Again, way off the mark. On Verizon’s Policy Blog, Link Hoewing, the company’s Assistant Vice President for Internet and Technology Issues, reports that the US continues to lead the world in building fiber to home networks. He also quotes a report by IDATE, the French research group, which had this to say:
At end 2007 the “magic” barrier of 1 million FTTH/B subscribers has been passed in Europe and we reached nearly 5 million Homes Passed. Nevertheless FTTH is still concentrated to only a few countries as Europe remains far behind leaders such as Japan and the US.
In fact, almost every American can get some type of broadband service today.
David McClure, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Internet Industry Association, puts his finger on the problem with the way U.S. broadband data has been distorted — often for political purposes — in a recent commentary in the Des Moines Register. Research conducted by the U.S. Internet Industry Association has shown that as of 2008, “virtually every U.S. household and business has access to broadband” and that includes rural areas. He raises these key objections to the data presented by OECD:
- The data confuses broadband deployment (making broadband available to consumers) with broadband adoption (consumers actually subscribing to broadband services). We measure adoption rates, and then make sweeping and massively incorrect conclusions about deployment.
- The data are old. In the past two years, the deployment of broadband over fiber, wireless, cellular and satellite has been nothing short of breathtaking. DSL and other landline broadband services continue at an amazing pace. Yet these accomplishments are ignored because policymakers are looking at data that is two to five years old – before this broadband push kicked in.
- The data are deliberately distorted and misrepresented for political purposes. This is generally done to promote government regulation of networks and network operators, as is the case with “network neutrality” initiatives and more recent calls for regulation of network management practices.
“While there is still work to be done to upgrade and enhance these choices,” McClure concludes, “broadband deployment is active, vibrant and successful.”
We couldn’t agree more. So keep an eye on these pages in the weeks ahead as we set the record straight on the tremendous progress that U.S. broadband providers are making in bringing this essential service to all Americans. The facts are clear and compelling.
Broadband: It’s the Green Network
04/02/2008 by Portia Krebs
Yesterday NextGenWeb attended the Freedom to Connect Conference in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Kathy Brown, Senior Vice President for Public Policy at Verizon, gave a speech talking about all innovative ways broadband can create a cleaner environment. She emphasized the importance of a continued dialogue focused on the ways broadband can reduce our carbon footprint. “The more people that become aware of the great ways broadband technology can contribute to the challenges of climate change, the better,” she said
One of the examples highlighted was telecommuting. People working from home utilizing a broadband connection takes cars off the road and saves billions of dollars in fuel cost. Further, it drastically reduces traffic, greenhouse gas emissions and America’s dependence of foreign oil. Additionally, office-to-office teleconferencing applications allow workers to have a real virtual presence from home.
Bottom line: Broadband can play a greater role in facilitating energy efficiency. It is the “Green Network”.
Click here to read the full ACI study Kathy referenced in her speech. We invite you to learn more about the ways broadband is green!
Click here to watch Kathy’s speech and below to view her presentation.
Walter McCormick on “The Communicators”
03/14/2008 by NextGenWeb
USTelecom CEO Walter McCormick was recently interviewed on C-SPAN’s “The Communicators.” When asked about the potential dangers of H.R.5353, a bill aimed at government regulation of the Internet, Walter explained:
“We are trying to build today the information super highway for the information economy of the 21st century. This is an extraordinarily important endeavor. The nation that has the most robust information super highway is going to have a strong international competitive advantage. Pursuant to that, we are making extraordinary investments. This legislation (H.R. 5353) would call into question the wisdom of those investments. It would call into question whether or not those who are investing to build networks are doing it in the right way. And it’s not just companies like us making those investments. It is all who are investing in networks: universities, hospitals, wireless companies and campuses. All of these would come into question under this policy which would in effect get the government to manage the way in which the Internet is built and operated.”
To view the rest of Walter’s comments on the dangers of H.R.5353, the importance of broadband deployment in the US and the life-improving potential of broadband applications, please click below.
Broadband & Education: The Opportunity
03/13/2008 by Keith Krueger
America made a wise investment in creating E-rate a decade ago. Because of this on-going investment, our nation’s classrooms and libraries are nearly all connected (100% of schools, nearly every classroom). Some have suggested that now the job is done. But today, classrooms need high bandwidth connections.
Slow bandwidth in schools limits potential opportunities for students. These learning opportunities are made possible through services such as video streaming, videoconferencing, secure data submission, voice over IP, digital downloading, online courses and 1:1 computing. These applications require high levels of bandwidth and robust school networks.
Hollywood Speaks Out Against Internet Regulation
03/12/2008 by Portia Krebs
Hollywood film makers are taking a strong stand against Internet regulation proposals that would add new layers of government involvement to the management of the Internet.
Dan Glickman, chairman and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America was in Las Vegas this week addressing the movie industry and members of the National Association of Theater Owners. He warned industry leaders that Hollywood was facing a growing threat of “lawlessness.”
To Read More Click Here
The Potential and Promises of Broadband
03/07/2008 by NextGenWeb
NextGenWeb recently hosted a Stakeholder Briefing on Capital Hill titled “The Potential and Promises of Broadband”. Featured speakers at the event included Congressman Zack Space (Ohio’s 18th Congressional District), Michael Manley (Outreach Director, UAMS Center for Distance Health), Ronald Blackburn-Moreno (President, ASPIRA Association Inc.), and Tom McDonald (CEO, BeSafe). The purpose of the event was to provide the speakers a platform where they shared how broadband has positively impacted their respective fields, including the economy, healthcare, education, and public safety. Congressman Space discussed specific instances in which broadband has led to more job growth and greater opportunity for people in his district.
To hear Congressman Space’s remarks, Click Here
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