Blandin in Grand Marais

October 31, 2008

Community impact from the work we do is sometimes hard to see, and often even harder to measure. That said, it was a special pleasure to find in my email inbox this morning a message from Mary Kosak, a member of Blandin Foundation’s grant’s team, describing how the Broadband work we’ve been doing in Grand Marais “showed up” for her in unexpected ways during a recent site visit there.

Here’s the scoop, in Mary’s own words:

I traveled to Grand Marais yesterday to do a site visit for a potential grantee – Cook County Higher Education. They are an innovative, unique non-profit organization created in 1996 to serve the higher education needs of a rural-remote community. As the Director and Board Member explained to me, “We tried for umpteen years to get a community college here but just didn’t have the resources to support it – Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) was the answer to the expressed need.” CCHE collaborates with area colleges and universities, using a blend of technology and area professionals, to bring high quality degree and certificate programs to this community. I could go on and on about this wonderful program, but my point in writing today was to share all the terrific things they had to say about Blandin’s broadband efforts and the positive difference it’s making for their community. Director Paula Sundet explained what a difference it made to the community to have the high speed internet capabilities. She went on to list all of the agencies, organizations and groups that have benefitted from being a broadband community. Plus, due to the beauty of the area they have attracted many professionals can do their jobs from a distance thanks to the community’s robust connectivity.

1 Comment | Blandin Foundation, MN, Rural | Permalink
Posted by Bernadine Joselyn

ICF Announces the Smart21 Communities of 2009

October 30, 2008

We’ve talked about the ICF Smart Community awards in the past. It’s an extremely prestigious award. I’m sure we will learn more about the awards and the recently announced Smart21 communities at the Blandin Broadband conference in December where Robert Bell, from the Intelligent Community Forum will be speaking.

Here’s more info on the recent award announcements:

The Smart21 of 2009

The Smart21 of 2009 includes communities from 12 nations on four continents with populations ranging from 17,000 to 2.5 million.
• Albany, New York, USA; population 94,000
• Ashland, Oregon, USA; population 22,000
• Bristol, Virginia, USA; population 17,500
• Dublin, Ohio, USA; population 40,000
• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; population 1,035,000
• Eindhoven, Netherlands; population 297,000
• Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada; population 50,535
• Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia; population 509,000
• Issy-les-Moulineaux, France; population 61,000
• Kenora, Ontario, Canada; population 17,000
• Malta; population 405,000
• Manchester, England, UK; population 2,500,000
• Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; population 125,000
• Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa; population 1,200,000
• Porto Alegre, Brazil; population 1,400,000
• Riverside, California, USA; population 291,000
• Stockholm, Sweden; population 795,000
• Tallinn, Estonia; population 400,000
• Taoyuan County, Taiwan; population 1,950,000
• Trikala, Greece; population 52,000
• Westchester County, New York, USA; population 950,000
Eight of the communities were on the 2008 Smart21 list and three were named to the 2008 Top Seven. Ten of the 2009 Smart21 are North American communities, seven are from Europe, two from Asia-Pacific, one from South America, and one from Africa. In addition to individual cities and towns, the 2009 Smart21 includes two counties and two multi-city metropolitan areas.

“Each of these communities has demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities through innovative broadband applications,” said Louis Zacharilla, ICF Co-founder. “The ingenuity of these communities is exemplified in their investments in the future of the young, the growth and progress of job-creating businesses, and economic security. An overarching theme of the 2009 honorees has been the dedication to putting people first and building a ‘talent inventory’ that will thrive with technology and innovation.”

More information on each community is available at ICF’s Web site (www.intelligentcommunity.org/smart21). The Smart21 were selected from hundreds of candidates and submissions from communities large and small with submissions received from every continent.

About ICF

The Intelligent Community Forum (www.intelligentcommunity.org) is a think tank that studies the economic and social development of the 21st Century community. Whether in industrial or developing nations, communities are challenged to create prosperity, stability and cultural meaning in a world where jobs, investment and progress increasingly depend on broadband communications. For the 21st Century community, connectivity is a double-edge sword: threatening established ways of life on the one hand, and offering powerful new tools to build prosperous, inclusive economies on the other. The Intelligent Community Forum seeks to share the secrets of success of the world’s Intelligent Communities in adapting to the demands of the Broadband Economy by conducting research, hosting events, publishing newsletters and producing an international awards program.

Leave a Comment » | Conferences, MN | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Broadband come up in State Representative Election in Eagan

October 30, 2008

Diane Anderson, of Eagan is running against incumbent State Representative Sandy Masin, DFL-Eagan. A recent article in the Pioneer Press outlines their stand on the issues and mentions Masin’s interest in broadband:

To help businesses, Masin has worked to establish the state’s Broadband Task Force, which is exploring how to deliver statewide high-speed Internet service by 2015.

Leave a Comment » | Elections, MN | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

What’s up with the white spaces? We need to know by Nov 4

October 29, 2008

Have you ever watched a preschool kid carry a goldfish in a bowl? It’s not quite like watching a slow train wreck – but you know it’s not going to be good. Maybe it won’t be good for the goldfish, maybe it won’t be good for the kid, or maybe you’ll end up picking up the pieces and you wonder why you let it go on so long.

I’m starting to feel that way about the white spaces issue at the FCC. (I want to thank Christopher Mitchell for calling me today to remind me about it.) There is a sense of urgency as the FCC is going to endorse use of white space on November 4, 2008. (Since nothing else is going on that day!)

There’s been a lot of flip flopping about the use of the white spaces. The Digital Expansion Initiative posted a good video that explains how white spaces can be used. It definitely leans in one direction – but it’s so simple that I think my preschooler (who I don’t trust with fish) might understand the explanation.

The big hubbub is whether white spaces should be opened up to a wider broadcasting audience (such as wifi devices). The folks who promote wider use say yes. The traditional broadcasters say no. The FCC is about to say yes. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) have been saying no – loudly and clearly, especially to members of Congress – including Senator Amy Klobuchar.

So there’s been a counter push to contact the Senators to let them know what you think. So if you are so inclined – now is a good time to contact your Senator.

To go back to my original analogy – white space has been an issue that I have been trying to ignore, not actively ignore but ignore as I might ignore a preschooler who is heading for a minor collision yet is entertained for the time being. The problem is that something is going to happen soon.

3 Comments | FCC, Policy, Wireless | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Google Policy Fellowships for Summer 2009

October 28, 2008

If you are a student or know a student who would be interesting in technology policy, well then I have the opportunity for you…

Google just announced their second summer for the Google Policy Fellowship Program—to support students and organizations working on policy issues fundamental to the future of the Internet and its users. It’s a paid position ($7,000 for 10 weeks). Here’s the program overview from their web site:

Fellows will have the opportunity to work at public interest organizations at the forefront of debates on broadband and access policy, content regulation, copyright and trademark reform, consumer privacy, open government, and more. Participating organizations are based in either Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA , Ottawa or Toronto, Canada and include: American Library Association, Cato Institute, Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, Center for Democracy and Technology, Citizen Lab, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Creative Commons, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Future of Music Coalition, Internet Education Foundation, Media Access Project, New America Foundation, Progress and Freedom Foundation, Public Knowledge, and Technology Policy Institute. More information about the host organizations and the areas of focus for the fellows are outlined here.

Fellows will be assigned a lead mentor at their host organizations, but will have the opportunity to work with several senior staff members over the course of the summer. Fellows will be expected to make substantive contributions to the work of their organization, including conducting policy research and analysis; drafting reports and analyses; attending government and industry meetings and conferences; and participating in other advocacy activities.

I hope that they get some applications from rural areas because I think the perspective is a little different in rural areas and having fellows with a rural background might inform policy. Also I think training some policy experts and bringing them back home to rural areas would be a big boon for the areas.

The deadline to apply is December 12, 2008. Good luck! I’d nearly consider another graduate degree if being a student would get me in the door there.

Leave a Comment » | Funding, Policy | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

The Sputnik Moment

October 27, 2008

I read a lot of broadband reports – a lot. I generally find them kind of interesting. But occasionally you run into a report – or even just a report description that captures your imagination.

Sputnik Moment: The Call for a National Broadband Policy is such a report. It costs about $3,000 so I won’t be reading anytime soon but I read the description last Friday and then over the weekend I bored several family members with the idea.

The gist is simple – when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957 is lit a fire under the US. I wasn’t around then but I suspect it kind of scared folks into budgeting money for NASA and getting things going. Well, the report authors suggest that we might be there again.

I hope they’re right. Well, I think they’re right and I hope that folks can be spurred into action.

Obviously I’d like to see a big boost in broadband. I think it would help keep us green and bolster economic development in all areas. But also I’d like to see the US do something really well. It just seems like it would spur more success.

2 Comments | Research | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Oct 24, Broadband Task Force Notes

October 25, 2008

I attended the Minnesota Broadband Task Force on Friday October 24. It included a few presentations, as you’ll see below. Most of the presenters were kind enough to allow me to post their PowerPoint slides here. I can’t thank them enough as that allowed me to focus on their presentations rather than to take feverish notes. I did try to track questions.

Here are my notes. I have tried to put some organization around it – but at times it reads a little like a later James Joyce novel. Sorry! Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Broadband Applications, MN, Policy, Rural, education | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Broadband comes up in Eagan city Council elections

October 25, 2008

The quick take: Bruce “Buzz” Anderson and Gary Hansen are vying to fill an open City Council seat in Eagan (Twin Cities suburb). Both candidates were asked to answer a series of questions in writing; their responses were published in This Week Live. Both brought up technology when asked, “What other issues would you like to address if elected?” (No wonder Eagan has a reputation for being so wired.) Here are their responses:

Bruce “Buzz” Anderson

The city also has many long term issues to face. Those issues include keeping transportation infrastructure updated, continued sound fiscal management of the city, helping to fill the information technology void to provide for expanded connectivity where appropriate, preserving adequate open space and recreational facilities, retention of important public services such as fire and police, and expansion of the tax base. Business needs to be encouraged to grow in the city as that growth helps to lessen the tax burden for city residents on their homes.. Government cannot do everything however. The council will have to decide where the city should play a role or whether there might be a more appropriate role by the private sector. Sometimes the answer might be a public-private partnership where each segment can do the most efficient job, using each segment’s comparative advantage to deliver what is needed by citizens.

Gary Hansen

We need to assure an appropriate mix of quality housing. More affordable quality housing is needed for younger individuals and families that are just starting out, as well as long-time residents seeking housing options more suited to their needs. I will support efforts to enable the city to continue to make progress in assuring housing availability for all income levels. We also need to support the technology needs of residents and businesses. Telecommunications infrastructure and services are important to residents and to future economic development within the city. Eagan has evaluated the availability of broadband services for residents and businesses and fiber optic networks and telecommunications services necessary to support the needs of the city’s current and prospective large technology corporate citizens. I will advocate using the results of this evaluation to support the private sector to assure that the technology needs of residents and businesses are met.

Leave a Comment » | Elections, MN | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Why is FCC planning anything on Election Day?

October 25, 2008

I haven’t been following the big mergers much – but I thought that this perspective was interesting. I’m not necessarily advocating their perspective. I don’t’ really know how long it should take to approve a merger; though I know if you want something to fly under the radar take action on a holiday or a day when you know there will be other big news. As I said, I just found it interesting.

Congressional Probe Sought About Fairness of FCC’s Election Day Wireless Merger Plan

North Aurora, IL (Oct. 24, 2008) – Congress should investigate why the Federal Communications Commission scheduled its vote on two wireless mega-mergers on Election Day Nov. 4, according to a filing to the FCC by an industry group raising questions about the Commission’s track record of fairness.

The FCC’s announcement Oct. 15 of its vote on the two mergers (among a total of seven items) illustrates the deep flaws in the FCC’s fast-track review process said PART-15.ORG, which represents Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) world-wide. One deal is to combine the broadband wireless assets of competitors Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. into a nationwide carrier. The other is to approve Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel Corp., thereby creating the largest U.S. mobile carrier.

“Review of such major transactions when the nation and its watchdog institutions are preoccupied with a Presidential election is unprecedented and unjustified,” said the filing by PART-15.ORG, which plans to submit its comments this morning as part of the FCC’s review of the Sprint/Clearwire deal. The submission will be jointly with its member PDQLink, a WISP based in North Aurora, IL.

“These kinds of historic transformations of the U.S. competitive landscape do not have to be completed on short notice and on Election Day,” said PART-15.ORG Chairman Michael R. Anderson, who is CIO of PDQ Link and who filed its 20-page Petition to Deny the deal on Sept. 30. “Like the Wall Street bailout, this smacks of closed-door, special help for the most powerful,” he said, continuing:

The public needs assurance of accountability. Congress, the news media and so-called public interest groups should review this proceeding in depth, although that’s understandably difficult right now when many of them are preoccupied with the federal elections or concerned about the Commission’s vast authority in related areas.

The public hears lots of rhetoric about the need to expand the country’s broadband capabilities, or to reform Washington decision-making. This proceeding can help achieve each of those goals – but not if the country’s most powerful communications lobbyists secure their objectives when watchdogs are distracted or intimidated.

About PART-15.ORG
PART-15.ORG (http://www.part-15.ORG.) was organized in 2002 to advance the license-free sector of broadband wireless. Past and future public comments on the Sprint/Clearwire deal are on the PART-15.ORG’s website: http://www.part-15.org as well as the FCC’s website: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov//prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi (WT Docket No. 08-94). See also, http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520173082.

About PDQLink
PDQLink (www.pdqlink) began services in North Aurora, IL in 1995 as one of the pioneering WISPs in the U.S. Seeing a need for group education and action, its CIO organized the first WISP-only trade association, and expanded its activities to include conventions and partnerships with more broadly based associations. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the FCC’s Hurricane Katrina Independent Panel, making a number of recommendations to foster better emergency communications in disaster regions (http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/advisory/hkip).

Leave a Comment » | FCC, Vendors, Wireless | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

Broadband mention in Election of 7th District

October 24, 2008

OK, again this is a quick mention. I’m tempted to hold off on any mentions – but with the elections so foremost in folks minds it doesn’t seem to make much sense.

The race in the 7th District is between incumbent Collin Peterson and Republican Glen Menze. A recent article in the Alexandria Echo Press noted that “one of Peterson’s rural goals is to find a way to get more Internet broadband capability.”

Leave a Comment » | Elections, MN, Rural | Permalink
Posted by Ann Treacy

« Previous Entries