Thursday, November 5th, 2009
By Christina Kirchner, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
October 6, 2009 - The Federal Communication Commission hosted a “field hearing” in Charleston, S.C., on October 6, 2009, as part of as part of its series of workshops and testimony in preparing a national broadband plan. One panel at the hearing focused on expanding digital literacy to the elderly, and to those whose professions rely heavily on the Internet.
Finding ways to help mend the health care system was also on the agenda. Having seamless medical care would be ideal for older populations, said Otha Meadows, CEO of Trident Area Agency on Aging. It would be beneficial to have a patient’s medical records travel from one state to facilitated specialized health care.
Doing so would also provide better statistics and vital signs taken from the patient through broadband from the comfort of their own home, and not at the doctor’s office.
However, telemedicine is not the only aspect of society that has affected by the advances of broadband.
Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Copps highlighted the fact that, as he said, “75 percent of Fortune 500 Companies hire their employees off the web.” Such a development might be beneficial from the perspective of reducing printing costs, but Copps said...
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Monday, October 5th, 2009
The Federal Communications Commission is going to South Carolina on Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6. Today, Today, the FCC hosts a consumer forum on broadband at Ravenel Community Hall in Ravenal, S.C., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The forum, according to the FCC, the event “is designed to provide an open dialogue between consumers and government officials in order to develop a more comprehensive and inclusive National Broadband Plan.”
On Wednesday morning, the FCC will hold a field hearing on broadband adoption, headlined by FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn, who hails from South Carolina, and Michael Copps, who worked for former Sen. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings, S.C.
And on Wednesday afternoon, how broadband has enabled the Medical University of South Carolina to serve rural areas through telemedicine will be among the points of discussion in an event at the university with Clyburn and Copps. The officials are scheduled to describe the research institution’s support for advanced stroke treatment services, prenatal care and other health care services for women that have been made possible via broadband networks. MUSC is part of the Palmetto State Providers Network, which connects four rural and underserved regions to a fiber optic backbone being developed in the...
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Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
By Mercy Gakii, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, September 23, 2009 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Tuesday highlighted the importance of a robust broadband network for issues pertaining to security, safety and the provision of healthcare.
“But we cannot have the provision of these services without access to broadband to all people. To have electronic medical records, for instance, will require the health facility to be connected to internet,” said Genachowski during a luncheon address.
He was speaking at an event of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Genachowski and FCC Commissioner Michael Copps also addressed the role that broadband could play in reaching out to minority communities.
The time couldn’t be more opportune for change towards a more internet and broadband connected America, said Copps. He also highlighted the role of good data in driving towards the national broadband plan. He also said the agency is happy, so far, with the contributions to the agency’s workshops on broadband.
“All the new breakthroughs that we see today have involved people working together,” said Copps. “At the FCC, we are continually welcoming recommendations that will help provide access to internet to minority communities all over America.”
“The challenge of providing broadband is to our...
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
By Mercy Gakii, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, September 22, 2009 – Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said Monday that a large percentage of African Americans still have not made the use of the Internet a priority in their lives, especially at home.
Speaking Monday at the Media and Policy Institute policy forum that discussed a national broadband plan, Clyburn pointed out that the use of mobile telephone services has been well received by the African-American community, although the reception for internet services is less than impressive.
Only 46 per cent of African-Americans use broadband in their homes, while only 63 per cent of Americans have subscribed to broadband, she said.
“The world is fast becoming dependent on the use of internet for almost all their services, and community access to broadband is a great equalizer.”
She cited the use of broadband to make services, such as telemedicine, available to the users in South Carolina. It was one example of a reason to adopt the use of broadband to improve their lifestyles.
The biggest block to access of broadband in homes is the challenge of relevance. Even though costs of running the service are high, many African-American homes still have no access to the Internet and broadband in...
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009
By Tina Nguyen, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2009 - Mignon Clyburn was sworn in Monday as a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. The ceremony took place in her home state of South Carolina, with the oath administered by U.S. Senior District Judge Matthew Perry Jr.
"I am deeply honored that President Obama and the United States Senate have entrusted me with the privilege of serving as a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission,” she said in a statement.
“This is an exciting and challenging time in our nation's history. I am eager to hear from and work with all stakeholders to carry out, along with my colleagues, communications policies that protect consumers and encourage robust competition and innovation," she said.
The Senate unanimously confirmed Clyburn, along with fellow nominee Meredith Baker, to the position last month. With these confirmations, the FCC’s board of commissioners is full once again: Julius Genachowski recently replaced outgoing Kevin Martin as agency chairman, joining Robert McDowell and Michael Copps in the agency’s highest positions.
Clyburn, whose father is House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), previously served on the Public Services Commission...Read More »
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
By Douglas Streeks, Reporter-Researcher, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2009 - Widespread broadband deployment and adoption is essential to economic recovery as well as social justice, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C. said Tuesday morning at the July BroadbandCensus.com Breakfast Club.
The recovery package planning process has been "one of the most rewarding experiences" Clyburn has had since joining the Congress, he said.
But while Clyburn compared the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to the New Deal programs of the 1930s, he soberly noted that many of the programs instituted by President Roosevelt left out minority communities like those he represents. “If you go back, you will notice most of the communities that I represent were left out," he said.
Broadband access in particular could help rural America in areas like health information technology, Clyburn said. If broadband deployment isn't done correctly, any national health care strategy will fail, he said.
Clyburn’s daughter Mignon Clyburn, formerly of the South Carolina Public Service Commission, has been nominated by President Obama for one of five slots on the Federal Communications Commission.
Mignon Clyburn’s Senate Confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Following introductory remarks was a panel discussion on “How the FCC's National Broadband Plan Will Affect Spending.” The event was...
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Monday, June 29th, 2009
From BroadbandCensus.com Weekly Report
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2009 – This week is likely to be chock-full of broadband-related developments, with rules from the NTIA expected on Tuesday, a Vice Presidential announcement in Pennsylvania scheduled for Wednesday, and a Federal Communications Commission meeting on broadband slated for Thursday.
Meanwhile, states and cities are continuing their extensive engagement in the question of broadband data and mapping. In fact, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute announced on Friday afternoon that it would issue its request for proposals on broadband developments on Monday – positioning their state to beat the federal government to punch. The RFP will be available today, and responses are due on July 8, 2009. Other states are holding strategy sessions about how to best tap into the funds this week.
Similarly, New York City earlier this month unveiled two requests for information about broadband service and delivery.
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Thursday, June 25th, 2009
By Andrew Feinberg, Deputy Editor, BroadbandCensus.com
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2009 - The Senate on Thursday voted to give its consent for Julius Genachowski (D) and Robert McDowell (R) to serve five-year terms on the Federal Communications Commission, with Genachowski holding the gavel as chairman. Also receiving an affirmative vote was Lawrence Strickling, who will head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Genachowski and McDowell appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee last week and were voted to the full Senate two days later. Strickling's nomination had been approved and awaiting a confirmation vote for several weeks.
Genachowski and McDowell were warmly welcomed in statements by their FCC colleagues. Acting Chairman Michael Copps (D) said the new chairman, who could take the gavel as soon as the commission's July 2 open meeting, will bring "just the right blend of talent, experience and dedication to lead the FCC toward the more active role it must play if all our citizens are to enjoy the blessings and bounties of Twenty-first century communications."
And McDowell's "many talents were evidenced during his first term," Copps said. "I look forward to working with him during his second."
Strickling's confirmation was warmly welcomed by public interest advocates, many of whom are eagerly awaiting...
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