September 2011

LightSquared claims to have solution for GPS interference problems

Wireless start-up LightSquared claimed to have found a solution that will prevent its network from interfering with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, even especially sensitive precision devices.

The company said it worked with Javad, a GPS manufacturer, to develop a system that will adapt precision GPS devices so they can operate in the presence of LightSquared's network. Martin Harriman, LightSquared's executive vice president of ecosystem development and satellite business, said the fix is affordable and "relatively simple." The company plans to test a batch of prototypes alongside additional tests required by the Federal Communications Commission.

Cable News Avoided Economists During Debt Debate: Study

Economists aren't necessarily the first in line at cable news networks when someone is needed to talk about economic issues. The watchdog group Media Matters for America said in a report that only 4 percent of the people brought on to talk about the debt ceiling issue on CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC this summer were actual economists. Most were politicians. Media Matters said that's understandable, given that Congress and the president decided the issue, but that it was important to include others in the debate. "The fact that economists are such a small part of the coverage speaks to a lack of depth that viewers are getting," said Ari Rabin-Havt, vice president of Media Matters.

It's time for America to talk class

[Commentary] In a week that saw the number of people in poverty hit a half-century high and President Barack Obama propose a tax increase on those with million-dollar incomes, will America and the American media finally dig in for a serious conversation about class? Ghastly economic news and grinding unemployment would say yes.

Data Points: Media Rich

Traditional media may have a little life left in it yet, despite anything you may have heard online. Wealthy Americans, even tweet-happy millennials, remain heavily engaged with old school media and advertising. In a new survey of affluent U.S. consumers (those with annual incomes of $100,000 or more), Ipsos Mendelsohn finds that half of the richest Americans actually own the newer technologies -- tablet computers, smartphones, and flat-screen TVs. One telling sign of their technological engagement? Although only 4 percent of affluents overall still use Myspace at least once in awhile, that's still twice as many as the 2 percent who've used a tablet computer to watch a movie.

How to Communicate During Disasters

As part of National Preparedness Month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released new tips for consumers aimed at preparing them for major disasters when communications networks are more likely to be compromised or damaged.

Nearly one month ago, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and Hurricane Irene struck the East Coast. In the minutes and hours that followed, mobile networks experienced significant network congestion, temporarily making it harder for millions of people to reach loved ones and emergency services. This tip sheet aims to help prepare Americans about how to communicate with each other, and loved ones, in the event of another disaster

The National Broadband Map Gets an Update

Earlier this year, we launched a ground-breaking interactive online map that shows what high-speed Internet services are available across the country. Like the spread of railroads and electrification spurred new economic opportunities during America’s past, broadband is supporting new economic opportunities in America today. Experts agree that we must better understand where sufficient broadband exists in order to address where it does not. The National Broadband Map, powered by a searchable database of more than 20 million records, has already drawn more than 500,000 different users. Today we are rolling out the first significant update of the map since it was unveiled in February.

The map has new data, current as of December 31. And the number of broadband providers supplying that data has increased to 1,731, up from 1,650 at launch. Most of these new additions are small providers, including rural companies in places as varied as Alaska and Massachusetts, that may not be household names. Including them in the map will help ensure that consumers shopping for broadband service are aware of all their options. In addition, the map now offers a new research tool that produces snapshots of individual broadband providers, showing where they offer service, what speeds they offer, and how much of the country – or of a particular state or county – they cover.

Gov O'Malley Urges Investment in Cybersecurity Education

Calling cybersecurity an "urgent priority," Gov Martin O'Malley (D-MD) emphasized the need for government and the private sector to work together to "invest in the skills of our people" and create new jobs in the cyber field.

In part, he said job creation will depend on “how quickly we move good ideas from labs to the commercial sector.” Gov O’Malley described a state-wide cybersecurity initiative begun three years ago that includes partnerships with Maryland-based federal labs such as NIST and the National Security Agency, enhanced technology transfer efforts, and expansion of the cybersecurity career pipeline. He also discussed several programs that the state of Maryland has implemented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), education at the college level and in career and technical education at the high school level to improve education in cybersecurity. He noted that "a modern economy requires modern investment," and "the single most important investment is the investment in public education."

Ramer Re-Elected CPB Board Chair

The board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has re-elected Bruce Ramer to serve as chairman and elected Patricia Cahill to serve as vice-chairman.

On education technology, we’re asking the wrong question

[Commentary] Does the use of textbooks lead to better student achievement? Somebody should do the research.

Schools nationwide are spending billions of dollars each year on textbooks, with no clear evidence they improve test scores—and stakeholders deserve some answers. I'm being facetious, of course. Textbooks are simply tools that educators use in their instruction, and few people would suggest that textbooks—by themselves—hold some larger power over whether students learn. But if we wouldn't expect this of textbooks, then why should we expect it of educational technology?

Cable wins broadband subs as telcos take TV

In the fight for new subscribers, cable companies are winning on broadband and telecommunications providers are winning over TV viewers according to data from Telegeography. The research firm posted data that shows while telcos are winning subscribers with IPTV, they are losing the war on digital voice and broadband, so their pay TV victory may be a Pyrrhic one.

If consumers make a big shift to over-the-top programming or cord cutting, then telcos might find themselves at a loss, since all one needs for TV is the Internet. Cable companies seem to know this. So while the number of IPTV subscribers hit 50 million in the second quarter of this year, with most of those ascribed to telcos (most cable providers aren't using IPTV), they are losing out on broadband subscribers. Cable providers now have a total of 100 million broadband subscribers and more than 65 million voice subscribers on their networks.

Benton

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