Category: broadband

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy today announced fundamental reforms to existing telecommunications regulations in the interests of Australian consumers and businesses.

These reforms will drive future growth, productivity …

By John Cox / Sep. 11, 2009 / Computerworld: The IEEE has finally approved the 802.11n high-throughput wireless LAN standard.

There’s been no public announcement yet by IEEE. But Bruce Kraemer, the long-time chairman of the 802.11n Task Group …

Thinking about the future of the Internet, and our ISOC-DC event “A Discussion on INTERNET 2020″ this Monday evening at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center, see www.isoc-dc.org.

Where will the Internet be then?  I see an Internet overrun with mechanical devices, connecting, internetting, sharing, and Twittering all on their own.  Maybe us humans can fit in around the edges.

Consider this device I have in my hand.

PRODUCT X:

Weight: 0.1 ounce.
Size: 1.28 x 0.96 x 0.08 inches.
Fits easily in wallet or shirt pocket, you won’t know it is there.

Obviously, no keyboard.  Heck, no keys or buttons at all.

When activated, it fires up built-in Wi-Fi, connects to the Internet, logs in and blows, say, gigabytes of data to a server of your choice.

All this fast, essentially at Internet upload speed.  Fast.

WASHINGTON, August 27, 2009 – … NTIA and RUS …  announced today that they received almost 2,200 applications requesting nearly $28 billion in funding for proposed broadband projects reaching all 50 U.S. states and territories and the District of Columbia. This is the first round of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding …  with $4 billion available through loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations.

The NTIA/RUS news release here

A good description of the broadband stimulus program and current status from eSchool News:

Aug 6, 2009 | FCC Headquarters, DC |FCC NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN WORKSHOP | OPEN GOVERNMENT & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:

Recorded webcast:  http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/mt080609.ram

Related documents:  http://www.broadband.gov/ws_egov.html#reldocs

Agenda:

9:30 am       Opening by FCC Chairman Genachowski

9:35 am       Workshop Introduction, Eugene Huang, Moderator

9:40 am Panel …

 
July 22, 2009 | Pew Internet & American Life Project:  2 reports released.

ITIF Response to FCC National Broadband Strategy NOI (Notice of Inquiry)

July 22, 2009: As the FCC develops America’s first national broadband strategy it will be important to focus on both broadband supply and demand as well as the presence of market failures within the broadband marketplace. Relying on markets alone will not meet our country’s future broadband needs. Instead, to meet the goals for broadband coverage outlined by the FCC, targeted subsidies should be used to expand coverage and adoption beyond what the market will provide. In this FCC filing, ITIF discusses the policy and non-policy factors that affect broadband deployment and outlines an appropriate policy framework for a successful national broadband strategy.

Summary: A one-day informational meeting related to NSF’s Future Internet Design initiative. The meeting will discuss CISE’s plans for funding opportunities that relate to continued work on future Internet design. The primary goal of the meeting will be to provide information regarding funding opportunities for future Internet design and development within CISE.

 
Westin Gateway Hotel 801 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA

 
All-day meeting July 29, reception the previous evening.

July 15, 2009: Two interesting reports are available from the Wireless Communications Association, both giving valuable information about how the $7.2 billion available for broadband as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are likely to be used.

WCAI …

Apps for Democracy – a contest that cost Washington, DC $50,000 and returned 47 iPhone, Facebook and web applications with an estimated value in excess of $2,600,000 to the city.   Apps for Democracy produced more savings for the D.C. …