July 2009
National Broadband Plan Workshop on E-Gov and Civic Engagement
Read a transcript of the workshop
Federal Communications Commission
August 6, 2009
9:30am-12:00pm
http://www.broadband.gov/ws_egov.html
Contact:
Andrew Nesi
Andrew.Nesi@fcc.gov
(202) 418-3601
The goal of this workshop is to evaluate how broadband can improve the performance of government specifically in terms of transparency and citizen participation and more generally in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. The workshop will consider various ways all levels of government, as well as governments in other countries, have used broadband to improve its performance in these ways and how those lessons might apply for purposes of developing the national broadband plan. The workshop will also consider the potential benefits of universal broadband in enabling various government operations to move to a digital platform in terms of improved performance, cost savings, and strategic benefits to the communications infrastructure.
Topics (Preliminary)
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- Key new technologies for government operations
- How government operations could change if there were universal broadband
- How can access to broadband amplify the goals of open and accessible government (increasing public awareness and participation in government)?
- What are new uses of broadband that would further open government and civic participation?
- How do new media, including social networking tools, advance civic participation, and are there limitations or concerns associated with such use?
- How can broadband infrastructure and services improve citizen access to local and national news, information, dialogue with government and other citizens, transactional efficiency, and participation in governance?
- Does access to broadband increase the ability of the average citizen to make her voice heard by the government and other citizens, and if so, how can this be advanced?
- What are the benefits of video streaming or video conferencing of government meetings to enable participation by those who cannot attend a meeting in person (because of distance, cost, disability, illness, and the like)
- Are there other applications of broadband technology that can improve civic participation and how can they be encouraged?
Agenda
9:30 am Opening by FCC Chairman Genachowski
9:35 am Workshop Introduction, Eugene Huang, Moderator
9:40 am Panel 1: A View from Government (45 minutes: 10 minutes from each panelist followed by 15 minutes for questions from the FCC moderating panel)
Vivek Kundra, Federal Chief Information Officer
Vivek Kundra provided insight into how his IT Dashboard and Apps for Democracy increased civic participation and made the government more efficient. He discussed how government investments in cloud computing and telepresence might result in improved performance while accelerating American broadband leadership.
View prepared presentation
Graham Richard, Former Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Graham Richard shared ideas about Fort Wayne Wired and Inspired to Gain and Retain Jobs. He talked about local high speed broadband applications in public safety, healthcare, energy and education.
View prepared presentation
Beth Noveck, Federal Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Open Government
Beth Noveck discussed new opportunities for governments to engage citizens through broadband and emerging technologies, including through the use of collaboration platforms.
View prepared presentation
10:25 am Open Q&A Period (15 minutes)
10:40 am Break
10:45 am Panel 2: A View from the Non-Profit Sector (45 minutes: 5 minutes for each panelist followed by 20 minutes for questions from the FCC moderating panel)
Norm Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
Norm Ornstein presented on civic engagement, the public square and campaign finance reform -- all in the context of the critical importance of universal access to broadband.
Andrew Rasiej, Personal Democracy Forum
Andrew Rasiej discussed innovative uses of broadband that enhance democracy.
Ellen Goodman, Rutgers School of Law
Ellen Goodman covered the role of public media in information creation, curation and connection, providing examples of current projects that engage and empower citizens and potential advances that could more powerfully connect people to information.
View prepared presentation
John Wonderlich, Sunlight Foundation
John Wonderlich presented on technology's potential to redefine how we interact, and government's opportunity to help redefine citizenship - to live up to President Obama's vision for a technologically empowered society, by creating a more transparent, connected democracy.
Beth White, Chicago 2016
Beth White presented on Chicago 2016's efforts to communicate their objectives via their website and other new media, how they have reached out to the community on a variety of issues, and their plans for communication of jobs, policies, and other information going forward.
View prepared presentation
11:35 am Open Q&A Period (15 minutes)
11:50 am Closing Statements/Adjournment
...and may we suggest:
Reinvigorating Democracy and Government from Benton's Action Plan for America
What some groups have already said about broadband and electronic government
Minority Media and Telecommunications Council
Field hearings on the proposed National Broadband Plan will enable the FCC to hear directly from those most in need of universal, competitive, affordable and accessible broadband service. At the hearings, the Commission can develop an exemplary record through the testimony of local witnesses. MMTC proposed that the Commission conduct fifteen hearings during the summer and fall of 2009. Ideally each of the commissioners would attend each hearing. These hearings would afford the Commission an opportunity to explore the transformative power of broadband to unleash new waves of innovation, to create jobs and economic growth, to improve national competitiveness, and to create new tools for:
- Telemedicine, to deliver efficient, affordable, and personalized healthcare to all Americans, wherever they may be;
- E-Learning, to provide high-quality education to the underserved;
- Telepresence or Telework, to provide reduced energy costs and consumption, and to create new global job opportunities;
- E-Government, to create and engage in civic participation and democracy;
- E-Commerce, to allow all communities, especially minority business enterprises ("MBEs"), to participate more fully in the global economy; and
- E-Service, to offer opportunities for citizens from communities of color to provide volunteer service to seniors, adults and youth.
Delta Regional Authority
There are seven recommendations having to do with applications plus a recommendation on implementations. These recommendations are designed to achieve the three IDelta goals defined in Volume I: improve education, enhance entrepreneurship, and improve healthcare.
E-Government: All communities will have Internet home pages that will provide information and services to their citizens, as well as the public outside the communities.
National Broadband Plan Workshop (Economic Growth, Job Creation and Investment)
See the webcast of this workshop
Wordle created from this workshop's transcript:
Federal Communications Commission
Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room)
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
August 26, 2009
9:30am-12:00pm
Contact:
Nick Maynard
Nicholas.Maynard@fcc.gov
(202) 418-2047
http://broadband.gov/ws_economy.html
The goal of this workshop is to evaluate the potential effects of increased broadband penetration and speed on U.S. productivity growth, economic growth, and employment. In addition to examining the potential effects of broadband on the macro-economy, the workshop will also examine studies that address how broadband is likely to affect specific sectors of the economy, including specific industries and geographic areas. In this regard, the workshop will consider the potential effects of broadband on capital investment, employment and innovation within particular sectors. The workshop will also consider how these sector-specific effects will affect the larger economy.
The workshop will also consider the likely benefits of broadband to consumers, particularly those in rural areas, such as providing greater access to consumer information and services, expanded educational and job training opportunities, and improved access to healthcare, via telemedicine - each of which will be explored in more detail in other workshops. Finally, the workshop will consider how these studies of the impact of broadband on economic growth, employment and investment can inform the design of the national broadband plan.
FCC Panelists:
- Donald K. Stockdale, Jr., Deputy Chief and Bureau Chief Economist, Wireline Competition Bureau
- Jonathan D. Levy, Deputy Chief Economist, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis
Panel: Economic Growth, Job Creation, Private Investment
- James E. Prieger, Associate Professor of Public Policy, School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University (see prepared presentation)
- Brent Goldfarb, Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland (see prepared presentation)
- Ralph B. Everett, President & CEO, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (see prepared presentation)
- Chris Forman, Associate Professor & the Robert and Stevie Schmidt Term Professor of IT Management, College of Management, Georgia Institute of Technology (see prepared presentation)
- Tom Wheeler, Managing Director, Core Capital Partners (see prepared presentation)
- Ryan C. McDevitt, Ph.D. candidate in economics, Northwestern University (see prepared presentation)
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- Approaches for determining the macroeconomic effects of increased broadband penetration on US productivity, economic growth, and employment
- Approaches for examining the sector-specific effects of increased broadband penetration on capital investment, sector employment, and innovation.
- Limitations of these broadband analyses
- Adapting these methodologies to the specific needs of national broadband plan
- Capital investment patterns
- Venture capital patterns
- Projected investment patterns
Here's a look at what some are already telling the FCC about broadband and economic growth...
Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance - ITTA
ITTA supports a National Broadband Plan that will facilitate the establishment and continued evolution of networks which enable maximum capacity, reliability, security, and reach. The support should be technology neutral and support maximum online functionality for consumers, with online functionality available in urban areas serving as the benchmark for successful rural deployment. The Commission should enter the marketplace only where normal economic forces are incapable of supporting deployment and subscription, and should not undertake any actions that would have the effect of discouraging private investment in broadband. Together, these guiding principles should result ultimately in greater broadband deployment and consequent consumer benefits across the Nation.
Windstream
Any federal funding for broadband should address issues that the market clearly cannot resolve on its own. With respect to broadband access, policymakers should focus public programs on enabling expansion of broadband to areas that lack networks capable of providing individual households access to core broadband applications, such as remote conferencing, online banking, and distance education. A subset of consumers has been unable to benefit from substantial private investment in broadband, because there is no rational economic case for deploying high-speed networks to consumers in very high-cost, low density areas. In response, the government should provide one-time-only grants to deploy broadband to households lacking access to networks capable of supporting core broadband applications. Ideally this initiative would receive immediate support from broadband funding made available pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act").
... and may we suggest
Economic Development and Job Creation from Benton's Action Plan for America
National Broadband Plan Workshop on Public Safety and Homeland Security
See a summary of this workshop
Watch a webcast of the event
Federal Communications Commission
Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room)
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
August 25, 2009
9:30am-12:00pm
Contact:
Jennifer Manner
Jennifer.Manner@fcc.gov
(202) 418-3619
http://broadband.gov/ws_pshs.html
The goal of this workshop is to examine existing and potential uses of broadband technology by public safety entities and ways in which broadband technology can enhance homeland security. The workshop will bring together representatives from the public safety community, government agencies, industry, and academia to discuss interoperability, redundancy, cyber security, 911, and pandemic response, among other issues. The first panel will focus on use of broadband applications by first responders to communicate emergency information and to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. This panel will also explore issues relating to interoperability, redundancy, and the cost of providing broadband access to public safety. The second panel will focus on the impact of broadband technology on particular homeland security issues, such as cyber security, pandemics, bioterrorism, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. The panel will also examine current and future public safety use of managed IP-networks.
FCC Participants:
- James A. Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (Ret.), Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB)
- Jeff Cohen, Senior Legal Advisor, PSHSB
- Jeffery Goldthorp, Chief, Communications Systems Analysis Division, PSHSB
- Carlos Kirjner, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Office of Chairman Genachowski
- William Lane, Ph.D., Chief Engineer, PSHSB
- John Leibovitz, Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB)
- Jennifer A. Manner, Deputy Chief, PSHSB (see prepared presentation)
- Kathyrn Medley, Chief, Satellite Engineering Branch & Acting Chief, Systems Analysis Branch, International Bureau
- Erika Olsen, Special Counsel, PSHSB
- Jon Peha, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer
Additional Government Participants:
- Laurie Flaherty, Program Analyst, Office of Emergency Medical Services, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
- Charles Hoffman, Chief, Disaster Emergency Communications Programs, Disaster Emergency Communications Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Daniel Phythyon, Chief, Policy, Planning & Analysis Division, Office of Emergency Communications, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Panel 1: First Responders Using Broadband Technologies to Advance Public Safety
- Charles Brennan, Deputy Secretary, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of Public Safety Radio Service (OPSR) (see prepared presentation)
- Stephen Carter, Vice President of Technology, Qualcomm (see prepared presentation)
- Pete Eggimann, Chair, Operations Committee, National emergency Number Association (NENA); Director, 9-1-1 Services Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, St. Paul, MN; NG 9-1-1 Trial Participant (see prepared presenation)
- Ralph Haller, Chair, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) (see prepared presentation)
- Glenn Katz, President & Chief Operating Officer, Spacenet, Inc. (see prepared presenaation)
- Harlin McEwen, Chair, Public Safety Spectrum Trust (see prepared presenation)
- Bill Schrier, Chief Technology Officer & Director for Information Technology, City of Seattle; representing the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) (see prepared presentation)
Panel 2: Homeland Security: Uses, Benefits and Challenges of Broadband Technologies Large Scale Events
- Andrew Afflerbach, Ph.D.; P.E., Chief Executive Officer & Director of Engineering, Columbia Telecommunications Corporation; representing National Association of Telecommunications Officers & Advisors (NATOA) (see prepared presentation, Case study and CTC report)
- Emmanuel Hooper, Ph.D., Senior Scholar & Researcher, Harvard University, Leadership for Networked World; Harvard-MIT-Yale Cyber Scholar; Founder, Global Information Intelligence (see prepared presentation and research)
- Murad Raheem, Branch Chief, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response; Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (see prepared presentation)
- Marcus Sachs, Executive Director, National Security & Cyber Policy, Office of Federal Government Relations, Verizon Government Affairs (see prepared presentation)
- Steve Souder, Director, Fairfax (Virginia) Department of Public Safety Communication
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- Interoperability
- Public safety use of high-speed connectivity, the Internet and associated applications
- Redundancy
- Cost-efficiencies and practical issues
- Cyber security and critical infrastructure
- Pandemic/bioterrorism events
- Coordination with other federal agencies and state and local governments
- Pre-planning/Reliability
A look at what some are already telling the FCC...
Yaana Technologies
The same challenges are faced by every other nation; and multiple intergovernmental and international cooperative venues exist for collectively dealing with cybersecurity. In addition, treaty instruments of which the U.S. is signatory, such as the ITU Constitution, the International Telecommunication Regulations, the Radio Regulations, and Convention on Cybercrime, additionally impose obligations and provide bases for cooperation. Broadband cybersecurity is also not an area where the U.S. can "go it alone." Common cooperative global cybersecurity and related identity management capabilities are essential. The Commission and its counterparts worldwide need to bring about the infrastructure-based, operational, and legal capabilities
New EA, Inc. DBA Flow Mobile
We recommend that the Commission initiate a new auction for the D-Block Public Safety Network as soon as possible. Specifically, we recommend that the Commission require aggressive build out on all licenses, promote dual use, ensure technological neutrality, give bidding credits, and adopt combinatorial bidding a part of this proceeding. Creating a Nationwide Interoperable Public Safety Network must be at the forefront of any National Broadband Plan.
MSS/ATC Coalition
To allow Mobile Satellite Services/ Ancillary Terrestrial Component networks to achieve their potential, the Coalition (The Boeing Company, Globalstar, Inc., DBSD North America, Inc., Inmarsat Inc., SkyTerra Communications and TerreStar Networks Inc) respectfully requests that the FCC, in developing its national broadband plan acknowledge the power of satellite systems for public safety and commercial broadband applications and recommend adoption of policies that promote widespread deployment of MSS/ATC networks and user devices.
Jon Melvin
The adoption of broadband connectivity by public safety agencies will likely be based on what is financially viable in any particular situation and geographical area. Total cost of service weighed against improved capabilities and efficiencies will dictate the rate of adoption of broad band technologies. With this in mind, the cost of service to Public Safety must be kept low enough that agencies can afford to implement technologies that are based on broadband connectivity. This includes both initial cost and reoccurring costs.
INTRADO
First and foremost, such a plan can only be developed after the adoption of a "total service" definition of broadband that necessarily includes public safety. Second, there must be a coordinated federal forum to address the myriad and complex public safety issues—federal leadership to coalesce the knowledge, information, and concerns related to a plan for deployment of nationwide next generation 911. To discharge its obligations under the ARRA with respect to a public safety plan, the Commission should adopt the "total service" definition of broadband and it or another federal agency must take steps—through a consolidated proceeding or a dedicated forum—to develop a framework for a nationwide next generation 911 system, identifying what functionality a system should include; critical features associated with the system, such as location accuracy; system security and redundancy; overarching governance through cooperative federal and state regulation; and effective funding models.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
In setting forth a comprehensive plan for advancing the build-out and utilization of a national broadband infrastructure, the FBI requests that the Commission give strong consideration to the
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Ace ("CALEA.") and the importance of ensuring that existing and new providers of facilities-based broadband services are capable of assisting law enforcement with lawfully authorized electronic surveillance. The FBI also requests that the Commission coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ("NTIA") and the Rural Utilities Service ("RUS") to ensure that applicants for funding for the provision of broadband services under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program ("BTOP") and the RUS's grant and loan programs are aware of their CALEA obligations. Given the requirement that providers of facilities-based broadband services implement lawfully authorized electronic surveillance capabilities, the Commission should integrate CALEA into the national broadband plan.
... and may we suggest
Public Safety and Homeland Security from Benton's Action Plan for America
National Broadband Plan Workshop: Smart Grid, Broadband and Climate Change
See a summary of this event
See a summary from the FCC
Watch a webcast
Federal Communications Commission
August 25, 2009
1:30pm-5:00pm
Contact:
Andrew Nesi
Andrew.Nesi@fcc.gov
(202) 418-3601
http://broadband.gov/ws_eng_env_trans.html
The goal of this workshop is to identify potential impacts of a National Broadband Plan on Energy, the Environment, and Transportation and to explore how the broadband and communications infrastructure can play a transformative role in meeting our national energy, environmental, and transportation goals. In particular, the FCC will be interested in learning about how broadband can accelerate efforts to build a smarter electricity infrastructure, also known as the Smart Grid. The Smart Grid, an important element of our national effort to build a clean energy and low-carbon future, is critical to enabling renewable power and plug-in electric vehicles at scale. The workshop will look at the network requirements and cost of bringing our nation's networks compatible with reducing energy use.
FCC Participants:
- Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner
- Colin Crowell, Senior Counselor to the Chairman
- Carlos Kirjner, Senior Advisor to the Chairman on Broadband, National Broadband Taskforce
- Julius Knapp, Chief, Office of Engineering
- John Leibovitz, Deputy Chief, WTB
- Dr. Jon Peha, Chief Technologist
- Nick Sinai, Energy & Environment Director, National Broadband Taskforce
Panel 1: The Smart Grid
- Eric Lightner, Director, Federal Smart Grid Task Force, U.S. Department of Energy (see prepared presentation)
- Dean Prochaska, National Coordinator for Smart Grid Conformance, NIST (see prepared presentation)
- Mark Dudzinski, CMO, GE Energy (see prepared presentation)
- Eric Miller, SVP of Solutions, Trilliant
- Henry Jones, Chief Scientist, SmartSynch (see prepared presentation)
- Joby Lafky, Program Manager, Electric Vehicle Management Platform, Gridpoint (see prepared presentation)
- Jason Griffith, Director, IT Telecom Engineering, AEP (see prepared presentation)
Panel 2: Broadband and Climate Change
- Matt Bauer, President, BetterWorld Telecom (see prepared presentation)
- Colin Buechler, SVP of Marketing, LifeSize Communications
- Skip Laitner, Economic Analysis Director, American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE)
- Maura O'Neill, Senior Advisor for Energy & Climate & Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Research, Education & Economics, USDA
- Chris Walker, former Director for North America, The Climate Group
- Sheryl Wilkerson, President, Willow, LLC (see prepared presentation)
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- Smart grid communications technology
- Smart meters
- Spectrum access and utilities
- Energy services in the home
- Electric vehicles
- Other green / clean technology
What some are already telling the FCC about broadband, energy, environment, and transportation ...
Southern Company Services
In order to advance the policy goals of the Recovery Act, Southern also urges the Commission to consider making additional spectrum available for utilities and other critical infrastructure industries, particularly in light of the new demands being placed on them by many of the same policies and mandates that are driving the efforts to expand broadband deployment.
Utilities already face significant spectrum constraints even as their need for spectrum is rapidly increasing. These constraints stand as an obstacle to the deployment of new energy efficiency
technologies (such as smart grid), as well as inhibit and frustrate utilities. ability to install the physical diversity and redundancy that is vital to CII networks.
The Telework Coalition
In order to take advantage of the 'New Ways of Working', broadband access to the home must be elevated to parity in thinking, policy, and resources with the physical transportation infrastructure of our nation. Simply expanding the availability of broadband will not fulfill the prime directive of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, i.e. JOB CREATION.
Where are these non-manufacturing jobs going to come from? In addition to the creation of new jobs as our economic recovery progresses, many can be repatriated from those that have been sent offshore, as the primary reason for this is based upon cost.
In studies we have performed as well as feedback we have received from organizations employing domestic Work@Home™ employees, most notably call centers, there is very little difference in the financial cost of U.S. home workers compared to offshore workers, while the levels of customer satisfaction and retention are much higher.
... and may we suggest
Energy and the Environment from Benton's Action Plan for America
Federal Communications Commission
Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room)
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
September 15, 2009
1:30pm
Contact:
Tom Buckley
Thomas.Buckley@fcc.gov
(202) 418-0725
http://broadband.gov/ws_healthcare.html
The goal of this workshop is to gather information concerning how and where broadband networks are deployed to provide telehealth services throughout the nation. Specifically, we will identify both the types of health care facilities and areas that have adequate connectivity to telemedicine broadband networks and where connectivity remains lacking. In addition, workshop participants will be encouraged to provide examples of successful telehealth programs and will be asked to identify whether telehealth diagnosis and treatment is covered under medical insurance. Finally, there will be a public safety component of the workshop seeking information how to ensure secure access to electronic medical records and coordination between federal, regional, and local emergency responders, particularly during public health emergencies, disasters or other large-scale events. Information and data obtained in this workshop will enhance the Commission's understanding of the barriers facing the health care community in accessing broadband telehealth connectivity as the Commission develops the National Broadband Plan.
FCC Participants:
- Erik Garr, General Manager, Omnibus Broadband Initiative, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (OSP)
- Dr. Mohit Kaushal, Director of Healthcare, Omnibus Broadband Initiative, OSP
- Ernesto Beckford, Attorney Advisor, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, WCB
Panel 1: Connectivity
- Douglas Van Houweling, President & CEO, Internet2
- Scot J. Eberle, CEO, FiberUtilities Group LLC
- Dale Alverson, Professor of Pediatrics & Regents' Professor, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
- John Clarey, Chairman, National Medical Wireless Broadband Alliance
- Raju Prasannappa, Chief Technologist, Harris Healthcare Solutions
tivity
Panel 2: Investment and Usage
- Aneesh Chopra, Assistant to the President & Chief Technology Officer, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
- Dr. Kaveh Safavi, MD, JD, Vice President & Global Lead Health Practice, Internet Business Solutions Group - Healthcare, Cisco
- Protima Advani, Practice Manager, IT Insights Program, Advisory Board Company
- Dr. Karen Rheuban, MD, Senior Associate Dean for CME & External Affairs Medical Director, Office of Telemedicine, University of Virginia; President, American Telemedicine Association
- Nina M. Antoniotti, R.N., M.B.A., Ph.D., Program Director, Marshfield Clinic TeleHealth Network
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- What benefits can broadband bring to healthcare providers? To patients?
- Do facilities in the health care industry have adequate access to broadband?
- Are there particular types of health care facilities that are more likely to lack adequate access to broadband, and if so, what are those types? Why are they likely to lack adequate access?
- Do different types of health care facilities require different connectivity speeds or have different infrastructure needs? What are the differences?
- Are there particular areas of the country where health care facilities are more likely to lack adequate access to broadband? What are the causes of such inadequate access?
- In what ways has the universal service Rural Health Care Program, including the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, increased broadband access to health facilities?
- Have recipients of such funding altered the way they have delivered medical services or the medical services they provide?
- To what extent do health insurance plans currently cover telemedicine diagnoses and treatments?
- How can broadband facilitate efficient, effective, and secure access to medical records? To the extent that greater safeguards are required, how can they be developed and implemented?
- What benefits can broadband bring to federal, regional, and local emergency responders? Do they have the connectivity and coordination they need, and if not, where and why not?
- What is the cost of deploying additional broadband infrastructure to these areas, facilities, and responders?
Here's a look at what some are already telling the FCC...
Rural Health Pilot Program Group of Internet2
We propose that the following goals should be championed by the Administration:
- To improve access to health care in urban and non-urban areas by leveraging the speed and connectivity of broadband telecommunications.
- To allow and encourage urban safety net and for-profit health care providers and institutions to participate in the rural broadband network to help achieve universal healthcare quality.
- To use broadband connectivity to:
- Provide access to specialty care as well as specialized health care resources and expertise;
- Encourage and enable collaboration among medical centers and community-based safety net providers;
- Provide better educational opportunities for rural physicians;
- Facilitate participation in research activities, such as clinical trials.
National Organization Of State Offices Of Rural Health
1. The National Broadband plan must address the question, "Does rural matter? If so, then we can start to create a broadband model that is needed - one that addresses issues of equity, empowerment and capacity building. The basis of our present system was a push for a public benefit that was shared by all. Without an accessible broadband base, rural entrepreneurs cannot compete. Capacity building is key, the nation is not able to use all of its human capacity without accessible, affordable broadband.
2. The FCC must build the plan with an eye to the new "green world" that we are in. Rural America is the new frontier for energy, environment, food and medicine production. These big issues all demand big broadband resources in the name of public good.
3. The FCC should engage State Offices of Rural Health in order to engage the wide perspective of rural communities, healthcare providers and facilities in the development of the plan.
4. The FCC should consider revamping the past REA model that brought electricity to rural America. That push to equalize opportunity made a huge difference in the productivity and
quality of life for rural Americans.
5. The FCC should work with other federal agencies to ensure that we have the right training programs that guarantee that the technology will be used readily.
6. The FCC should ensure planning reviews issues relating to reimbursement of related costs
needed to install and implement broadband infrastructure in rural America. This should include
costs of software and hardware tied to broadband utilization in rural areas. Health care, education and training need this support.
7. The FCC should ensure planning that investigates the feasibility to collect taxes from all modes of communication to ensure that a sustainable telecom model can be built and sustained. Cell phones, etc. should no longer be exempt.
8. The FCC should collaborate with other federal agencies to create a unified strategic broadband plan through which each agency could implement their individual programs. We must think organically, not linear, on these issues.
9. The plan should review current cost policies for grants/loans from the Rural Utilities Service.
Currently, funding can only be used to implement technology infrastructure. Future funding
should also support personnel and training costs associated with implementing such
infrastructure.
Michigan Public Health Institute
If our nation is going to realize the benefits of interoperable health IT, health care facilities are going to require not only high‐speed but also extremely reliable connections. As more and more health information moves to an electronic format, connectivity is becoming vital. As health care continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, it would be difficult to overestimate bandwidth needs. However, it is clear that health care organizations will need more bandwidth than a typical business of similar size; furthermore, due to the nature of the business, that bandwidth must always be available. Connections to hospitals and other emergency providers must approach "five nines" availability with an average uptime of 99.999%. This far exceeds the typical service level that ISPs provide and can require multiple, redundant connections. These connections must remain available in all weather, even in cases of natural or man‐made disasters. Recent events have shown that emergency and public health providers need more bandwidth, not less, in cases of disasters, particularly in pandemic or bio/chemical terrorist events, as the need to share information during these times are vital to public health.
University of Arkansas Medical Services
Erik Nyberg
As an health care IT leader, when I look at what prevents me from creating efficiency, coordinating activities, and using IT to improve the quality of care, affordable bandwidth is BY FAR my biggest limitation. Affordable 50MB+ connections everywhere will hugely improve this country in every way imaginable. The existing telephone companies have NO interest in doing this for us. Working with them is one of the worst parts of my job.
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
As we all know the maximum benefits of broadband Internet will not be realized until every American has the access, equipment, and skills necessary to connect to and navigate the Internet. In order to provide for these needs the FCC's national broadband plan should call for new programs. For instance, programs that encourage broadband providers to continue investing and building out their networks in rural areas would enable previously unserved users to connect. Cost is a major barrier to broadband access for many of our constituents. Programs subsidizing equipment and connection expenses (similar to the USF) will enable those of modest means to access broadband Internet. Finally, programs designed to educate prospective broadband Internet users should be implemented so they can more quickly realize the benefits. Each of these programs should be tailored to meet the needs of various groups of people, including those living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease by incorporating messages about access in widely distributed communications as well as creating communications targeted directly at the disability community, those who provide support services, and healthcare professionals. Above all, the FCC should advocate a path for continued private investment so these realities can be achieved.
And may we suggest...
the Health Care chapter from Benton's Action Plan for America: Using Technology and Innovation to Address Our Nation's Critical Challenges.
National Broadband Plan Workshop (Opportunities for Disadvantaged Businesses)
See a quick summary of this workshop
Wordle created from this session:
Federal Communications Commission
Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room)
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
August 18, 2009
1:30pm-5:00pm
Contact:
Gilberto DeJesus
Gilberto.DeJesus@fcc.gov
(202) 418-7331
http://broadband.gov/ws_disadvantaged_biz.html
FCC Participants
- Thomas A. Reed, Director, Office of Communications Business Opportunities
Panel 1: Institutional and Governmental Views
- Margot Dorfman, CEO, US Women's Chamber of Commerce (see prepared presentation)
- Cheryl M. Johns, Assistant Chief Counsel, Office of Advocacy, Small Business Administration
- Timothy McNeil, Director of Development, National Conference of Black Mayors
- David Ferreira, Vice President, Government Affairs; US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Raymond J. Keating, Chief Economist, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council
- Mark Gailey, Chairman, Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Telecommunications Companies
Panel 2: A View from Small and Disadvantage Business Broadband Entrepreneurs
- Anthony Washington, CEO, Destiny Broadband, Inc.
- Hung Nguyen, Proposal Manager, HCI\Integrated Solutions
- Todd Flemming, President & CEO, Infrasafe, Inc.
- JC Coles, President & CEO, Broadband Solutions
Panel 3: A View from Traditional Old-Line Businesses in the Age of Broadband
- Warren Brown, CEO, Cakelove
- Charles Ramos, CEO, CR Dynamics
- Auria Styles, CEO, The Mod Pod, LLC
- Cleveland Spears, General Manager and Program Director, Im4Radio
The goal of this workshop is to explore how broadband can help certain businesses. According to the US Census Bureau, minority-owned firms are growing four times faster than all US firms and accounted for over 50% of the 2 million businesses started in the US in the past decade. There are now more then 4 million minority-owned companies in the US and the US Census Bureau projects that minorities will become the majority in 2042.
The workshop will explore whether small and disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) are poised to take advantage of broadband technology and its antecedent benefits to help these businesses grow and reach new markets. It will explore whether communities where such small businesses reside are equipped with broadband, understand the value broadband brings to the business equation, and what, if any, role government, educational institutions and the private sector should undertake to assist SDBs to incorporate and harness the power of broadband.
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- How can broadband be used to spur the growth of small/disadvantaged businesses (SDBs)?
- What needs to be done to encourage small and disadvantaged businesses to become part of this information and wealth connector highway?
- Will institutions such as the SBA, Chambers of Commerce, community colleges, etc. need to play a collaborative role in bringing SDBs up to speed on the advantages of resources available?
- How do we reach non-English speaking or limited-English speaking entrepreneurs?
- What resources are currently out there in the public and private sector to raise the awareness of this new technology and its associated business benefits?
- How can we develop a strategic plan and public/private partnerships to insure that these entrepreneurs are not left out of the broadband revolution?
- What barriers exist to the full integration of broadband by SDBs? For example,
- financial;
- social/cultural;
- institutional;
- As government rolls out broadband stimulus resources now and in the future build-out, how do we ensure the inclusion of SDB in the future build-out process?
- How can small, disadvantaged businesses participate in the infrastructure phase such as wiring and building the pipeline?
- How can small, disadvantaged businesses participate as information and content providers of the service?
- How does the private sector and other stakeholders work with government and institutions to ensure that SDBs are able to grow and prosper in this environment by taking advantage of this technology?
- As an SDB, what unique business/community perspectives does it bring to the table in terms of underserved/unserved needs?
Here's a look at what some are already telling the FCC about broadband and small and disadvantaged businesses...
Latino Institution for Corporate Inclusion
Latino-owned businesses are too frequently not given the opportunity to compete with other vendors. Broadband can help alleviate some of these disparities and provide for the future success of Latinos. With broadband connections, Latinos can start businesses from home. A study by the AEA Competitiveness Series finds that Tele-work also expands the workforce by including working parents, the retired and semi-retired, the disabled and rural Americans.
The Latino Issues Forum finds that broadband enhances Latinos' access to tools that provide socioeconomic advantages. They assert that community-based organizations playa major role in providing underserved populations with access to broadband, as well as training and support services. As the LICI works to advance Latinos' economic success, we believe such services are essential to our community's professional development.
OPASTCO (Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies)
Broadband should be made a supported service under the High-Cost program. This would enable deployment to the highest-cost consumers in rural service areas. Equally important, it is necessary for ongoing operations and the network upgrades needed to provide "next generation" broadband technologies and speeds to these areas. The FCC should maintain the embedded cost-based support system for rural ILECs, as it has proven to be successful in promoting broadband deployment as well as being accountable to the public. However, the Commission should remove the cap on HCLS, which fails to account for the additional deployment and upgrade costs that rural ILECs must incur in order to provide robust broadband services throughout their territories. Also, support should be provided for the high middle-mile transport costs that rural ILECs often incur in reaching the Internet backbone, which can make the business case for offering higher speeds difficult. In addition, expeditious intercarrier compensation reform, including a replacement mechanism for lost access charge revenues, is key to rural ILECs' ability to make future network investments.
SBE Council
SBE Council believes that maintaining a pro-investment model needs to be an overriding goal of the National Broadband Plan. Billions of private sector investment in broadband has made powerful services and tools available to small businesses. The continued investment in this sector remains an isolated bright spot in our stressed economy. During this challenging economic period, it is essential that our policies -- and the National Broadband Plan itself - help accelerate the positive momentum within the U.S. broadband market. If the strategy of the plan is to ensure that "all people of the United States have access to broadband capability", then acknowledging the continued need for robust private sector involvement through an inclusive, investment-friendly plan of action is crucial.
Hispanic Technology & Telecommunications Partnership
Everyday, HTTP's network of organizations reaches deep into communities to meet the Hispanic community's most pressing needs. We increasingly rely on broadband and advanced technologies to serve the most vulnerable segments of the Hispanic population. Our members have witnessed how technology can create educational, economic, civic and social opportunities in even the most challenging circumstances. HTTP strongly urges the FCC to develop policies that ensure universal broadband deployment and adoption, so that more people can benefit from empowering technologies.
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
As many Korean Americans are small business owners, broadband creates new
opportunities for economic achievement for those in our community. Equipped
only with a broadband connection, an individual can create a business anywhere.
A Connect Ohio Technology Assessment found that median annual revenues for
Ohio businesses using broadband were double those of businesses that did not use
broadband. Broadband technology boosts productivity and improves efficiency.
Broadband has other important societal benefits. With broadband technology at
home, Americans can reduce their health care costs and trips to the doctor's office
through telemedicine applications. A study by the American Consumer Institute
revealed that telemedicine can reduce costs by 80% simply by allowing for basic
medical checks to be performed regularly at home and then transmitted to a central
database. Broadband also enhances educational opportunities and civic
engagement by connecting Americans to educational institutions and every level
of their government.
Covad Communications
1. Small Business Broadband Plan - a plan to increase the adoption of business-class broadband by small businesses, the engine of innovation and job creation in the United States ("US") economy. The plan contains the following key items:
- Preserving the legacy copper plant, so that carriers can continue to offer innovative business-class broadband services to small businesses.
- Total element long run incremental cost ("TELRIC")-based access to legacy monopoly bottlenecks, including copper loops, transport, and collocation.
- Open access to fiber and hybrid copper-fiber loops, using an actual cost, rate of return, pricing methodology.
- Removing the disruptive elements of the current forbearance process.
- Reasonable cost-based Section 271 rates for de-listed network elements.
- Oversight and reduction of special access rates.
2. Next-Generation Build-Out Plan - a plan to deliver at least 100 megabits per second ("Mbps") to the great majority of US customers by 2015. The plan contains the following key items:
- At least 100 Mbps to US customers by 2015.
- Upgradeable to at least 1 gigabit per second ("Gbps"), without the need to upgrade the last-mile.
- High cost exception: at least 10 Mbps for locations that cost more than $2,000 in installation costs or $75 per month in operating costs.
- Wholesale open access to the network, using an actual cost, rate of return, pricing methodology.
- Projected total cost between $100 billion and $125 billion, with $50 billion coming from the private sector and between $50 billion and $75 billion coming from public funds.
- Funded by telecommunications and broadband fees, rather than general appropriation funds.
... and may we suggest
Economic Development and Job Creation from Benton's Action Plan for America
National Broadband Plan Workshop (Disability Opportunities)
Federal Communications Commission
Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room)
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
August 20, 2009
9:30am-12:00pm
Contact:
Cheryl King
Cheryl.King@fcc.gov
(202) 418-2284
http://broadband.gov/ws_disability.html
FCC Participants:
- Blair Levin, Executive, Director, Omnibus Broadband Initiative
- Cheryl J. King, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs
- Gregory Hlibok, Attorney Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs
- Elizabeth Lyle, Attorney Advisor, Office of General Counsel
Special Observers:
- Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Issues
- Marcie Roth, Senior Advisor, Disability Issues, Department of Homeland Security
As of Monday, August 17, 2009, registered participants include representatives from the following organizations:
- AT&T, Inc.
- National Council on Disabilities (NCD)
- Sorenson Communications, Inc.
- Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI)
- Telecommunications Industry Association
- Verizon Wireline
- Verizon Wireless
- National Council on Disabilities (NCD)
- National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
- American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB)
- Northern Virginia Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NVRC)
- The Telework Coalition
- Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)
- Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
- The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University
- Research in Motion (RIM)
- Media and Democracy Coalition
The goal of the workshop is to promote an open dialogue between the FCC people with disabilities, advocates for people with disabilities, service providers, and other groups that have a stake in the future of broadband and its accessibility for people with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities already benefit from broadband Internet applications. For instance, accessibility software allows a blind person to "hear" what's written in text on a computer monitor. Video Relay Service allows a deaf or hard of hearing person to use sign language to converse with a person who does not. Access to broadband Internet promotes telework options for people with mobility or health issues. The workshop will explore, among other things, additional ways in which access to broadband may benefit persons with disabilities.
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- Challenges persons with disabilities face in gaining access to broadband services
- The potential for broadband services (including Internet-based telecommunications relay services) to enhance the communications options available to persons with disabilities
- Economic, educational, and other benefits of making broadband services more available to persons with disabilities
- Methods to incorporate universal design features into equipment and software to ensure that they are accessible
- Experiences about ways to serve individuals with disabilities through broadband
- Funding from other sources that can help drive broadband adoption among persons with disabilities
- Use of broadband to drive health care, education and job training to persons with disabilities
What some are telling the FCC about broadband and disability opportunities...
Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
The Wireless RERC submits that the build-out of broadband networks, particularly wireless based ones, can potentially create alternative employment arrangements for people with disabilities. Unemployment rates are higher among people with disabilities, with the unemployment rate of persons with a disability in April 2009 estimated at 12.9 percent, compared with 8.4 percent for persons with no disability. Findings from the research conducted by the Workplace Accommodations RERC leads to the conclusion that opportunities for some types of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) related workplace accommodation, such as telework could be enhanced by more widespread deployment of broadband. Ultimately, the use of advanced telecommunications, access to the Internet and broadband services can contribute to the creation of more flexibility in the workplace for everyone, including increasing the potential for people with disabilities to enjoy more job opportunities as well as independent living.
Global Disability Solutions Group
A significant barrier to adoption for the disability community is the cost of acquiring and
maintaining both broadband internet connection and assistive technologies. For those without
the requisite financial means to afford broadband internet access, a USF-like subsidy will help
lower the cost barrier and increase the chance that people with disabilities will connect.
Opportunities to obtain assistive technologies and to learn to use them are critical for some
segments of the disability community.
Telecommunications For The Deaf
The Commission's broadband plan should be mindful of the need to encourage innovation, research, and development and of the need to adopt policies that ensure accessibility for all Americans, including those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind, to existing and future broadband equipment and services. Broadband accessibility policies should seek to stay ahead of technology rather than reacting to technology developments and trying to retrofit technology. The Consumer Groups specifically urge the Commission to adopt technology-neutral accessibility requirements, regardless of the technology used for transmission or delivery. In doing so, the Commission should, for example, consider reviewing its closed captioning requirements to determine whether modifications should be made in light of the continuous movement of television programming to IP-based platforms. The Commission should also take action, when appropriate, to adopt rules and policies that ensure accessibility to broadband technology in addition to those in its broadband plan.
Coalition Of Organizations For Accessible Technology
In order to ensure the affordability of broadband, the Commission should modify the federal Low-Income Universal Service Fund program to allow people with disabilities to use Lifeline and Link-up subsidies to reduce the costs of broadband service and equipment. In addition, the Commission should adopt rules and policies designed to ensure full access to broadband services and equipment by promoting the development of universally designed broadband products and services that are accessible to the largest population, regardless of their functional limitations.
National Broadband Plan Workshop on Technology/Applications and Devices
See a summary from the FCC
Watch a webcast of the workshop
Federal Communications Commission
Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room)
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
August 27, 2009
1:30 pm-3:30pm
Contact:
James Miller
James.Miller@fcc.gov
(202) 418-7351
http://broadband.gov/ws_tech_applications.html
The goal of this workshop is to explore trends in the use of and development of broadband applications and devices. The workshop will identify the technologies and packages of technology pieces that comprise the "killer app" trend-setting broadband applications driving broadband use. It will also identify these technologies' requirements for broadband infrastructure and devices. Understanding both the trends and needs that facilitate growth in broadband applications and devices, the workshop will aid Commission efforts to identify metrics and data-gathering techniques to track and evaluate broadband infrastructure deployments, and develop key broadband policies to foster broadband application and device investment, development, and use.
The workshop will develop this background by answering crucial questions about how consumers use applications and devices, and the challenges to developing them. Workshop participants will discuss what innovative ways consumers are using broadband today. In what ways is consumers' use of broadband changing? How are evolutions in devices facilitating what consumers can do with broadband? How will applications evolve in the next 5, 10, and 15 years? Examining the technical requirements of applications and devices, participants will discuss if advancements in broadband infrastructure could make possible applications currently limited by the present environment? What are the challenges to developing broadband applications for fixed and mobile broadband? What changes in broadband devices and development platforms could realize new growth in applications? What changes in applications or devices will drive changes to networks? What regulatory or legal barriers constrain the growth of broadband applications and devices?
FCC Participants:
• Brian David, Adoption & Usage Director, Omnibus Broadband Initiative
• Julius Knapp, Chief, Office of Engineering & Technology (OET)
• James Miller, Attorney Advisor, OET
• Alison Neplokh, Senior Electronics Engineer, Media Bureau
• Stagg Newman, Chief Technologist, Omnibus Broadband Initiative
Panel 1: Current Experiences and Trends in Applications and Devices
• Anoop Gupta, Corporate Vice President for Technology Policy & Strategy, Microsoft
• Tim Napoleon, Chief Strategist, Digital Media, Akamai Technologies
• Robb Topolski, Chief Technologist, Open Technology Initiative, New America Foundation, Public Knowledge, Free Press
• Edward Seidel, Director, Office of Cyberinfrastructure, National Science Foundation
• Evan Young, Senior Director, Product Marketing, TiVo Inc.
• Bill Gurley, General Partner, Benchmark Capital
• Panel 2: Emerging Applications and Devices and the Infrastructure to Support Them
• Sunil Daluvoy, Senior Manager, New Business Development, Google
• Jeremy Liew, Managing Director, Lightspeed Venture Partners
• David Hsieh, Vice President, Solutions Marketing & Emerging Technologies, Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Laureen Cook, Vice President, 4G/LTE Strategy, Alcatel-Lucent
• Mathew Oommen, Vice President, Device & Technology Development, Sprint Nextel
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
Trends
- What are innovative ways consumers are using broadband today?
- How are the ways consumers use broadband changing?
- How are evolutions in devices facilitating what consumers can do with broadband?
- How will applications evolve in the next 5, 10, and 15 years?
Needs
- What advancements in broadband infrastructure could make possible applications currently limited by the available pipe?
- What are the challenges to developing broadband applications for fixed and mobile broadband?
- What changes in broadband devices and development platforms could realize new growth in applications?
- How may changes in applications drive changes to networks?
- What regulatory or legal barriers constrain the growth of broadband applications and devices?
- In what ways do applications and devices leverage legal, social, and technical features of cybersecurity?
National Broadband Plan Workshop (Technology/Wireless)
See webcast of the workshop
See a summary of the workshop
Wordle created from this session:
Federal Communications Commission
August 13, 2009
1:30 pm-3:00 pm
http://broadband.gov/workshops.html
Contact:
Rashmi Doshi
Rashmi.Doshi@fcc.gov
(301) 362-3011
http://broadband.gov/ws_tech_wireless.html
The goal of this workshop is to explore how the wireless technologies will evolve to address the demands for broadband access. The workshop will address two distinct groups of users: mobile and rural.
The mobile use of wireless devices is quickly migrating from making voice calls to accessing internet and being "always on". The increasing demand for access to broadband data on the move is creating many challenges. This session will consider how the currently planned 3G, 4G, and WiMax technologies will handle these challenges? Where to find additional spectrum to meet the new demands? What if the most desirable spectrum is not available? What role will the techniques that rely on opportunistic spectrum sharing play in the future? Will cognitive radio and software defined radios play a role in improving spectrum usage? What role service providers who rely on unlicensed spectrum play in providing broadband access? Can technologies allow licensed, unlicensed and satellite operators to offer a transparent service? What role will architectures based on femtocells or similar technologies play in the future delivery of broadband over wireless? What network and spectrum management techniques may be necessary to ensure efficient use of the spectrum? Are there potential techniques currently being researched that seem promising for future improvement in spectrum use?
The second session will focus on the opportunity for the use of wireless technologies to address the broadband needs of rural users. Given that several technologies have limitations in serving rural users, are there unique technologies for deployment in rural areas? Can the technology solutions for rural applications keep pace with urban development? Is the access speed "divide" likely to grow between urban and rural users or are there technology solutions to address the growth? What role different technologies - wireless, satellite, Broadband over Powerline, rural cable, wireline, and fiber play? Are there innovative proposals for combining these approaches? What are the limitations imposed by "long" last mile in many rural networks? How does wireless technology evolve to address the rural "middle mile" access? What role will unlicensed technology based solutions play in addressing rural needs? What future technology evolution may improve this situation? Are there unique solutions for very low density rural (like tribal lands) areas?
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- The role different wireless technologies will play in the future of broadband.
- Identify how the technology evolution will address the need for higher speed applications given that the available spectrum will continue to be limited.
- Alternative wireless based technological solutions for delivery of broadband services to mobile users or rural users.
- Difference in technology evolution based on how the spectrum is allocated - licensed , unlicensed, shared or some other model.
- Network management and cybersecurity related issues facing networks using wireless technologies.
Agenda
FCC Participants:
• Julius Knapp, moderator
• Rashmi Doshi,
• Stagg Newmann
• Robert Curtis
• NTIA (Invited)
Panel 1: Mobile Broadband
- Kristin Rinne, Senior VP Architecture and Planning, AT&T (see prepared presenation)
- Sten Andersson, Head of Wireless Networks Solutions, Ericsson (see prepared presentation)
- Barry West, President - International, Clearwire
- Scott Corson, Vice President of Engineering, Qualcomm Flarion Technologies (see prepared presentation)
- Milo Medin, CTO, M2Z (see prepared presentation)
- Tom Anderson, Head of Architecture for Mobility, Office of CTO, Alcatel-Lucent
Panel 2: Rural Broadband
- Mark D. Dankberg, CEO, ViaSat (see prepared presentation)
- Jim O'Connor, Director, CPE Engineering and Planning, Open Range Communications (see prepared presentation)
- Richard Keith, Senior Director of Strategy, Motorola (see prepared presentation)
- Vanu Bose, President and CEO, Vanu Inc.
- P. Kelley Dunne, CEO, Digital Bridge (see prepared presenation)
- Mark A. McHenry, Ph.D, President and CTO, Shared Spectrum Company (see prepared presentation)
- Brett Glass, CEO, Lariat.net (see prepared presentation)
National Broadband Plan Workshop (Technology/Fixed Broadband)
Wordle created from this session:
Federal Communications Commission
August 13, 2009
9:30am -12:00pm
http://broadband.gov/ws_fixed_bb.html
Contact:
Walter Johnston
Walter.Johnston@fcc.gov
(202) 418-0807
The goal of the workshop is twofold. First, to present a view on future broadband evolution: What are our future bandwidth needs? What type of services will need to be supported? What types of devices? What network capabilities will be needed to support this range of service needs? In addition to outlining some possible future requirements, some discussion of future network evolution will be included. There is an historical view associated with the evolution of the Internet. Does this evolution continue into the future? How do constructs such as overlay networks and cloud computing effect this historical view? Do some architectures promote competition and allow consumers more choice? What effect do specific architectures have on competition and innovation? Is broadband more than just about the Internet or is the Internet the defining vision for broadband?
Second, against this backdrop of possible future evolution, the current and future capabilities of the core technologies used to support fixed broadband applications will be discussed. What are the current performance characteristics of these core technologies (fiber, DSL, coax, satellite, terrestrial wireless)? What is the potential for future performance improvements? Who is best served by each technology and most importantly who is not well served? What specific policies would support further deployment of each technology? What barriers exist to connecting the largest number of peoples to broadband at the lowest cost? Should specific
Agenda
FCC Participants
• Julius Knapp, moderator
• Walter Johnston
• Stagg Newmann
• Robert Curtis
Panel 1: Mobile Broadband
- Dr. Victor Frost, Program Director, Network Technologies, National Science Foundation
- Bill St. Arnaud, CRO Canarie
- Adam Drobot, CTO Telcordia
- Vint Cert, Vice President and Chief Evangelist, Google
- John T. Chapman, Chief CMTS Architect, Cisco
- Henning Schulzrinne, Professor, Columbia University (see prepared presentation)
- Paul Misener, VP Global Public Policy, Amazon
Panel 2: Fixed Broadband Technologies
- David Burstein, Editor, DSL Prime
- Dr. Paul Henry, Broadband Wireless Systems Research Division, AT&T (see prepared presentation)
- Mark DePietro, VP Strategy/Business Development, Broadband Home Solutions, Motorola
- Marc Goldburg, CTO, Assia (DSL) (see prepared presenation)
- Jason Livingood, Exec. Director, Internet Engineering, Comcast (see prepared presentation)
- David Young, Vice President, Verizon
- Geoff Burke, Senior Director, Corporate Marketing, Calix
- Stuart Lipoff, President, IP Action Partners
The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. The FCC is inviting suggestions.
- Broadband vision
- ◦What capabilities will be required in the coming decade?
- Bandwidth needs?
- Service driven capabilities?
- Scalability, connectivity, routing, addressing, security, authentication?
- Future architecture challenges:
- What architecture models might evolve with what advantages/disadvantages
- Internet, Cloud, Broadband Commons, Other?
- Cyber-security
- What can be done to increase cyber-security?
- How can different architectures affect the environment?
- What are the challenges/inhibitors to broadband evolution?
- Fixed broadband technologies (Fiber to the Home, DSL, Cable, Satellite, Wireless)
- Current capabilities
- Bandwidth, economic competitiveness
- Future potential
- Bandwidth, future economics, performance tradeoffs
- Challenges to connectivity
- Barriers to connecting the largest number of people and devices at the lowest cost