Reaching for the American Dream by Connecting our Nation

Plans for National Broadband Access May Be in Danger

Benton Foundation — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:19 -0800

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is gearing up to release its plan for national broadband access on March 17. Open government advocates have hailed the plan's prerogative to increase civic participation in government policymaking.

EU pushes for healthcare records share with US

Benton Foundation — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:10:11 -0800

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Healthcare records held in the UK could be shared with the US, as a result of an initiative being promoted by the EU presidency.

Increased access to broadband vital to growth

Benton Foundation — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:08:56 -0800

The United States does not have a monopoly on innovation. As we fall behind in broadband, we're falling behind in our global competitiveness and our ability to grow our economy. It does not have to be this way.

Cracks in school innovation fund might present problems

Benton Foundation — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:02:52 -0800

Just days before the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released applications for the $650 million Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund on March 8, education technology researchers and developers expressed some concerns about the i3 program's procedures and requirements.

Is better learning a click away?

Benton Foundation — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:01:43 -0800

Student response systems, or clickers -- not unlike gadgets used on television game shows -- first appeared in college classrooms over a decade ago and have since spread to just about every college and university in the country, thanks to cheaper and better technology.

Nation's ed tech chief reacts to budget concerns

Benton Foundation — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:10 -0800

Karen Cator, director of education technology for the U.S. Department of Education (ED), has heard the concerns from ed-tech groups about President Obama's 2011 budget proposal, which would fold the largest single source of federal funding for school technology equipment, software, training, and support into a larger grant program that aims to promote effective teaching and learning.

Broadband Can Close the Education Loop

Benton Foundation — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:58:37 -0800

There is some hope that comprehensive broadband build-out in rural areas could provide rural places with the infrastructure they need to provide the jobs that would give those young people a way to stay. But broadband build-out alone will not solve the employment woes of rural areas.

Colloquium on Public Safety aspects of the National Broadband Plan

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:58:23 -0800

Mar 26 2010 - 9:00am - 11:00am

Colloquium on Public Safety aspects of the National Broadband Plan
Federal Communications Commission
Friday, March 26, 2010
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:39:40 -0800

The Progressive States Network, Communications Workers of America, Sierra Club and the Blue Green Alliance released a report that how smart buildings, smart grids, telehealth, teleconferencing, digital education -- all of which are part of a highly-networked economy -- will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, conserve energy resources, and promote and retain good, green jobs.

Consumers weigh in on top 10 meaningful use arguments

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:27:13 -0800

The Consumer Partnership for eHealth (CPeH), a coalition led by the National Partnership for Women and Families, has collected consumer and employer perspectives on the top 10 arguments concerning meaningful use.

Family Physicians urge changes to meaningful use rule

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:25:43 -0800

Although the American Academy of Family Physicians agrees with many of the stated goals of the proposed meaningful-use criteria for receiving federal subsidies for health IT investments, the CMS needs to "significantly modify the proposed rule," said Ted Epperly, board chairman of the group, in a seven-page letter to acting CMS Administrator Charlene Frizzera.

IT adds 25,000-plus jobs so far in 2010

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:24:08 -0800

IT employment grew by 0.37 percent, or 14,000 jobs, in February, one of the strongest month-to-month gains since 2008.

Justice Department Requires Key Divestiture in Election Systems & Software/Premier Election Solutions Merger

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:21:03 -0800

The Department of Justice announced March 8 that it will require Election Systems & Software (ES&S) to divest voting equipment systems assets it purchased in September 2009 from Premier Election Solutions Inc. in order to restore competition.

Victoria expands Linux e-voting roll-out

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:10:56 -0800

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Victoria's Electoral Commission in Australia has flagged plans to expand its use of electronic voting kiosks based on Linux software in the next state election in November this year.

Hospital networks key to e-health plan: Rudd's health reform

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:08:39 -0800

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E-health barely rated a mention last week, but Mr. Powick told The Australian "no government is going to invest in e-health or IT systems without a reform context, and we clearly have that now".

National Education Technology Plan

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:28:20 -0800

The plan calls for revolutionary transformation rather than evolutionary tinkering.

White House tweeting spreads president's message

Benton Foundation — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:23:32 -0800

Blending behind-the-scenes nuggets with a defense of President Barack Obama's record, White House and administration officials increasingly are communicating through Twitter.

SBA: Small Telecom Providers Await Definition of Competition in Broadband Plan

Benton Foundation — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:13:41 -0800

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has weighed in on the National Broadband Plan, advising the Federal Communications Commission to start the process of redefining size standards with the SBA.

Google Should Take Its Broadband to Failing Cities, Not Happy Ones

Benton Foundation — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:50:51 -0800

Wouldn't it be great if Google installed its gigabit broadband network in cities that could really use the help?

Vivek Kundra Outlines Ambitious Government Plans for IT.

Benton Foundation — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:37:56 -0800

On Thursday at the University of Washington, Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra set out his vision for getting the government up to speed in matters IT.