http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/news/public-safety-lobby-dblock-20100113/
Public-safety officials representing nine national organizations yesterday expressed encouragement that federal lawmakers and policy-makers understand the need for a dedicated wireless broadband network for first responders but remain unsure whether their request to have the 700 MHz D Block reallocated to public safety will be granted.
“I think all of us in public safety that were here in Washington [yesterday] feel better about — if not the prospects for the D Block — certainly that the message was heard that public safety needs a dedicated public-safety wireless broadband network,” said Chris Moore, deputy chief for the San Jose (Calif.) Police Cepartment and chairman of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC) spectrum working group.
http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2010/01/commerce-department-awards-10-more-broadband-mapping-grants-total-funding-is-97-million/
WASHINGTON, January 13, 2010 – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Tuesday announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program.
With the grants, the NTIA has awarded 51 of the 56 applications: one for every state, plus the district of Columbia and five territories. The NTIA has spent approximately $97 million on the applications, the agency said.
I point this article at a particular person whom insisted to me in a public meeting that “No one will ever want to read from those tiny screens; mobile is doomed”. ~michelle
http://www.mobile88.com/news/read.asp?file=/2010/1/9/20100109113552&sec=International&phone=Devices_1_Billion_New_Mobile_Broadband_users_2014
January 6, 2010 � Strategy Analytics forecasts growth of global active mobile broadband subscriptions via smartphones and other handsets, notebooks, netbooks and other consumer electronics from a base of 300 million in 2009 to 1.3 billion by the end of 2014. The Strategy Analytics Mobile Broadband Opportunities (MBO) service report, �Global Active Mobile Broadband Subscribers Forecast: 2008 – 2014,� also predicts that new technologies will play an important role in this growth, with LTE contributing 84% of net subscriber additions in 2014, and mobile WiMAX an additional 11%.
�Mobile Broadband is the exciting new frontier for consumer electronics, bringing a whole new world of connectivity, community and creativity to users. In 2014, almost half of mobile broadband net subscriber additions will be on devices other than mobile phones. Success will require new business models and partnerships, and Strategy Analytics is excited to see new announcements from Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile USA at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES),� says Susan Welsh de Grimaldo, Director of the Strategy Analytics Mobile Broadband Opportunities (MBO) service.
Even if this was satire (which it is apparently NOT) it’s not funny~ Michelle
Techcrunch.com:
No doubt seeking attention by making controversial decisions and statements, elitist social networking site BeautifulPeople.com says it has kicked out 5,000 users because other members signaled that they became too chubby celebrating Christmas and the New Year.
Broadband Breakfast.com:
More at the link!
WASHINGTON, January 4, 2010 – At a field hearing at the University of Chicago on December 21, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission voiced its commitment to provide broadband opportunities to small businesses – in spite of the feeling that small businesses are sometimes forgotten.
“When discussing the digital divide, small businesses are often overlooked,” said Norma Reyes, commissioner of the department of business affairs and consumer protection for the city of Chicago
I don’t agree with all points but it is interesting~ Michelle
Maximumpc.com:
More at the link!
A new computer is like a blank state–there’s a lot of potential there, but without some work on your part, it’s useless. It’s not hard to get started, but there are some essential first steps that everyone should follow when breaking in their new PC. In this guide, we’ve compiled a step-by-step list of essential tips, tricks and advice from many of our other features, to provide you with just the information you need to get off to a great start with any new PC. So if you got a new rig under the PC under the tree this year, or even if you’re just thinking about getting one in the future, read on to find out more!
I loathe bandwidth caps. I would love to see the data for analysis; I happen to know the ISP are being less-than-truthful about many items. Just add this to the list. ~Michelle
One analyst has had it with Internet data caps. Bandwidth hogs are a myth, he says, and caps simply penalize heavy users who cause no problems for others. Now, he’s throwing down the gauntlet and challenging ISPs to turn over some data for analysis.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/bandwidth-hogs-dont-even-exist-says-analyst.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss
There’s a spectre haunting Internet service providers—the spectre of the “bandwidth hog.” But does the mythical beast really exist? One telecom analyst is dubious, and he’s calling out the ISPs.
Benoit Felten is a Yankee Group analyst who covers fiber to the home issues from Paris, but his “bandwidth hog” challenge is a product of his personal blog, fiberevolution. Felten is a knowledgeable voice on fiber issues, and his blog reliably makes for an interesting read, but it rarely takes the adversarial tone it struck today.
more at the link…
There are some excellent recommendations in here, though I think the $ amount for NTIA BTOP is too low at only $50 million for a small projects grant. I heartily agree with the “Middle Mile Comprehensive Community” projects. ~ Michelle
http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2009/12/new-america-foundation-suggests-changes-to-government-grant-programs/
More at the link…
The New America Foundation and a coalition of 38 other groups on Monday submitted comments regarding grant programs of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce.
The comments specifically addressed the Broadband Initiatives Program of the Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture, and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Department of Commerce.
NAF commended both RUS and NTIA for their successful implementation of the broadband-related programs described in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.
NAF said that it recognized that the efforts of these organizations has not only inspired public discourse, but begun to stimulate job creation and long-term economic growth.
Gee, great. Another reason for Comcast to completely neglect our local franchise. What about the thousands of customers in our region? I think this actually increases the likelihood of a Comcast default on the local contract PROMISE to bring high speed internet to our area. ~Michelle
http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2009/12/comcast-consummates-the-deal-now-the-tough-part-begins/
More at the link…
It happened, as predicted by some and discounted by others; a Comcast-NBC Universal merger that has wide-ranging implications on both future Content and Internet usage. However, the tough part for Comcast begins now, today, and that is to placate dissenters like the Consumer Federation of America, the Free Press, and tough Federal Regulators that this will help both competition and increase access to broadband, not hinder it.
The Free Press has issued a press release denouncing the merger while giving reasons that the deal should be at least, a violation of Video Competition Anti-Trust Laws; see (Comcast-NBC Merger: Just Say No). On the other hand, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts released his own statement regarding the merger designed to get out front of the expected controversy that the deal would attract. (Comcast and GE to Create Leading Entertainment Company)
“We are prepared to make affirmative commitments to ensure that the pro-consumer and public interest benefits of the transaction are realized,” Roberts said. “Today, we have announced a number of initial commitments that expand on the capabilities that Comcast and NBCU have built over the years, and the new opportunities that this combination makes possible. These commitments address the needs of various audiences and stakeholders, and we will provide additional details on these and other commitments in our public interest filing with the Federal Communications Commission.”
Broadband, Tech News | Michelle | 
January 13, 2010 8:08 pm | 
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