1. Monthly archive
  2. January 2010

January 2010

Industry, Labor and Consumer Groups Unite to Raise Concerns about Cable Giant Comcast's Proposed Takeover of NBC

An ad hoc group of industry, labor and public interest organizations from both the Left and the Right expressed grave concern about the proposed Comcast takeover of NBC in an open letter to President Obama and Congress.

Free Press Policy Counsel Corie Wright said the groups share common concerns that Comcast control of NBC would mean less competition and higher costs for consumers. "Groups that seldom work on the same side of an issue agree that the merger of media giants would only hurt the media landscape and further diminish independent content and voices," Wright said. "Both conservative and liberal groups fear that this media mega-merger would result in even less diverse programming than we have now." Wright noted that the letter also includes industry associations like the American Cable Association and the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, which agree it will be harder on smaller competitors if the government allows the cable giant to get even bigger. Wright added, "Several consumer groups, including Free Press, oppose the proposed merger because it will mean prices will likely go up for consumers."

How Much Are Twitter's Tweets Really Worth?

Google and Microsoft are paying Twitter $25 million to crawl the short posts, or tweets, that users send out on the micro-blogging service. It sounds like big money. Enough for Twitter to turn a small profit in 2009, say two people familiar with the company's finances. But do the math and the payments look less impressive. Last year, Twitter's 50 million users posted 8 billion tweets, according to research firm Synopsos, which means Google and Microsoft are paying roughly 3¢ for every 1,000 tweets. That's a pittance in the world of online advertising. Top media sites often get $10 or $20 per thousand page views; even remnant inventory, leftover Web pages that get sold through ad networks, goes for 50¢ to $1 per thousand. The deals put "almost no value" on Twitter's data, says Donnovan Andrews, vice-president of strategic development for the digital marketing agency Tribal Fusion. Truth is, no one has figured out how to make real money off of tweets yet.

Google, Yahoo! May Face New Online Advertising Tax in France

France should start taxing Internet advertising revenue at Google, Facebook and other online services, a report commissioned by the country's culture ministry said. Funds raised from the levy could help finance projects to increase online cultural content and to pay artists, the report said. The tax could raise up to 20 million euros ($29 million) a year, it said, listing five U.S.-based companies as being the main payers: Google, Facebook, Microsoft, AOL and Yahoo The effort would be aimed at putting an end to "the endless enrichment without payback," Jacques Toubon, one of the authors of the report, was cited as saying by the newspaper Liberation.

Seven Days to Preserve the Internet

[Commentary] January 14, 2010, may not sound like an important date, but between now and then, the public has a chance to take a stand for "Network Neutrality," the Internet principle that protects consumer choice and equal opportunity online. A Net Neutrality rulemaking process is currently under way at the Federal Communications Commission, the agency that regulates our media system. Public comments received by January 14 will be considered by the agency as it drafts new rules to protect the open Internet, and women's voices and opinions need to be heard.

FCC To Defend Reprimand Of Comcast For Internet Practices

The Federal Communications Commission will go before a federal appeals court Friday to defend its 2008 citation against Comcast for throttling Internet traffic from high-bandwidth file-sharing services, a case that could throw into question the FCC's authority to impose open Internet rules.

Comcast plans to argue that the FCC went too far in issuing the citation because it didn't rely on specific parts of communications law, according to a summary of court briefs. If the court approves the FCC's "expansive" theory, Comcast argues, the balance of power between Congress and the Administration could be severely hampered. "If Comcast's most extreme argument were adopted by the DC Circuit, then we would have to either change fundamentally our regulatory approach, or look to the Supreme Court or Congress to restore that power," said FCC General Counsel Austin Schlick.

The appeals court isn't likely to go that far, in part because it has ruled in the past that the FCC is entitled to regulate other emerging communications services, such as cable. A ruling upholding the FCC's reasoning could have the opposite effect, however. The court could give an "indirect green-light to Chairman Genachowski's campaign for a bolder open Internet policy that's a cornerstone of the Obama administration's tech agenda," said Jeffrey Silva, senior media and technology director at Medley Global Advisors.

The judges also could decide that the legal provisions the FCC relies on aren't sufficient to justify its action against Comcast, which could make it more difficult for the agency to finalize the open Internet rules. Alternatively, the court could ignore the question of whether the FCC has the authority to punish Internet companies for violating openness principles and focus instead on Comcast's argument that the FCC didn't give enough notice before it slapped the cable giant.

If the court agrees that the FCC violated basic rules of fair notice, it would be a win for Comcast, but that decision alone wouldn't necessarily upset the FCC's current open Internet rulemaking.

Two year contract trend could reverse by 2011

Operators will need to offer extra services to lock in savvy customers, say analysts. Aggressively priced smartphones and up front payments on hardware could see the trend towards two year contracts reversed by 2011. Analyst Gartner says it expects 12 month contracts to return to the norm in two years' time, as consumers move away from Sim-only in improved economic conditions. And there will be more pressure on operators to provide reasonable prices on those 12 month contracts, even on heavily subsidized smartphones. 2009 has been the year of the 24 month contract, with recent figures from GfK showing that the number of customers tied into two year contracts has surged tenfold in one year. Two year contracts represented a 58.5% share in October 2009 - up from 6.8% in October 2008. The trend for longer contracts can largely be attributed to the rise of more expensive smartphones, such as Apple's iPhone. Currently, devices that require a high subsidy mean networks seek to lock in customers for two years to claw back cash. But the price of smartphones such as the iPhone may come down, if the recent trend is to continue.

Jan 7, 2009 (FCC requests extra time for Broadband Plan)

BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2009

An increasingly-busy month of events kicks off today with HIT and the Consumer Electronics Show. http://bit.ly/8FUI7L


NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN
   FCC Seeks Extension Of Broadband Plan
   Broadband plan must be daring, comprehensive
   Genachowski: Broadband Plan Will Be Bold, Pro-Active, Addressing Spectrum Shortages and Adoption Problems
   See also: Why aren't ISPs crying about the National broadband Plan?

THE STIMULUS
   Four U.S. agencies deficient in controlling stimulus reporting errors, auditors say
   New York Telecom Wins Broadband Stimulus Grant
   Broadband Stimulus Lacks Bandwidth

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
   Justice Department to Study Comcast Takeover of NBC
   Roberts: Comcast Won't Turn NBC Into Cable Channel

EDUCATION
   President Obama Expands Educate to Innovate
   Teachers Increasingly Value and Use Digital Media

SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
   Call for Applications for the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee
   Consumer Groups Urge Verizon Wireless to Come Clean on Unfair Penalty Fees
   How Google (or Apple) Can Win the Great Super Phone War of 2010
   Cheap Mobile Calls, Even Overseas
   Tracking your kids, stuff is the future, according to AT&T
   Streamlining cell phone network maintenance
   Intel Vulnerable as Consumers Shift to Phones to Surf

HEALTH IT
   Strategic Learning for Health Care in 2010
   Doctors say their EMRs are ready to show meaningful use

MORE ON BROADBAND
   Despite Risks, Internet Creeps Onto Car Dashboards
   Nielsen: Broadband use up, users more social
   Rogue Marketers Can Mine Your Info on Facebook
   Frugal shoppers turning to Internet in droves, retailers investing in technology

MORE ONLINE
   In a Clash Over Cable, Consumers Lose
   Obama 'Frustrated' By 'Slow' Confirmation For Nominees, Expected To Re-Nominate
   Department of Energy set to form new group to protect electric grid from cyberattacks
   PTC Blasts Sunday's 'American Dad'
   Google's 10 toughest rivals
   Qwest shops its long distance network again (with local attached)
   News Publishers Start Seeking Money From Twitter Feeds
   ABC Seeks Half Of Affiliates' Retrans Take

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NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN

FCC SEEKS EXTENSION OF BROADBAND PLAN
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Joelle Tessler]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski is asking for a one-month extension on the national broadband plan the agency is required to submit to Congress. The agency is asking for an extra month to finish digging through the massive volume of public comments that it has received over the past 11 months as it has gathered input on how to make universal broadband a reality. The team preparing the plan also wants more time to brief the FCC's five commissioners and members of Congress. "The FCC has been given an enormous responsibility by Congress to create a broadband plan that reflects our highest aspirations as a country," said Colin Crowell, senior counselor to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. The request for an extension needs to be approved by the Senate and House Commerce Committees, which have jurisdiction over the FCC.
benton.org/node/31041 | Associated Press | B&C
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BROADBAND PLAN MUST BE DARING, COMPREHENSIVE
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Sen Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX)]
[Commentary] A national strategy for bringing broadband technology to every community in America must be daring and comprehensive. The Federal Communications Commission must establish goals for the deployment of broadband infrastructure and performance measures to track and assess progress, especially in light of the billions allocated for broadband in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The FCC's report must include 1) a broad look at all spectrum use by commercial entities and the federal government before reaching conclusions about particular spectrum that should be reallocated, 2) bold new ideas to generate private investment by communications providers of all sizes using all available technologies, and 3) a significant role for state and local governments, who are uniquely positioned to identify challenges presented by particular unserved and underserved areas. The FCC's forthcoming report to Congress can be a catalyst for decisive action to bring the benefits of broadband technology to all Americans and to close the gap between the United States and other developed countries in the communications capabilities available to individuals and businesses. For that to happen, the report must itself be bold and comprehensive. For Congress, federal and state agencies, and private technology companies to find consensus on the steps necessary to make broadband available to all Americans, this report must be more than a "plan for a plan."
benton.org/node/31007 | Hill, The
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NBP WILL BE BOLD, PRO-ACTIVE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski says the FCC's upcoming broadband plan will propose bold, proactive steps to close the so-called digital divide. The Chairman voiced those sentiments in a letter to Henry Rivera, chairman of the FCC's diversity committee. Although it was dated Jan. 5, the letter appeared to respond to concerns expressed by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in an op-ed (see http://www.benton.org/node/31007). In his letter to Rivera, Genachowski cited pending spectrum shortages and adoption problems, among others, that he pledge would be addressed. "I reiterate that these gaps must be addressed boldly" he said. "In the National Broadband Plan, the agency will identify the proactive steps the commission will take..." He added that they were initial steps. Among the highlights of the letter: the chairman said he thought it best to have the director of the FCC's Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO) Thomas Reed, at present, "play the lead role." The diversity committee had recommended that the commission designate one commissioner to oversee implementation of its recommendations on spurring access to capital and funding for minorities and women.
benton.org/node/31009 | Broadcasting&Cable
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THE STIMULUS

AG DEFICIENT CONTROLLING STIMULUS REPORTING EFFORTS
[SOURCE: FederalComputerWeek, AUTHOR: Alice Lipowicz]
Inspectors general found shortcomings in the procedures to monitor data quality for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act reporting at the Agriculture, Defense and Homeland Security departments and the Small Business Administration, according to a new report. The Recovery Act contains provisions to ensure transparency of and accountability for stimulus spending; agencies have received guidance about how to track their spending, as well as recipients' spending, of stimulus money. Of the 21 IG reports governmentwide, only four — USDA, Defense, DHS and SBA — identified deficiencies in data quality reviews. Management officials at those agencies generally agreed with the findings and recommendations for improvements, the summary report said. USDA, DOD, DHS and SBA had taken some steps to ensure that recipients of funding from their agencies comply with reporting requirements. But their efforts left gaps, according to the summary report. The Agriculture IG's office reported that the department had not established an internal control structure with clear responsibilities for determining the completeness and validity of recipient reporting. Recipients of stimulus law grants are required to file detailed reports on their spending.
benton.org/node/31015 | FederalComputerWeek | HHS IG
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NEW YORK TELECOM WINS BROADBAND STIMULUS GRANT
[SOURCE: Government Technology, AUTHOR: Andy Opsahl]
A broadband stimulus award of $39.7 million went to New York telecom ION HoldCo to build 10 extensions from its existing fiber backhaul in the state. The new fiber will reach parts of Pennsylvania and Vermont as well. The project will serve as a "middle-mile" infrastructure for Internet service providers to extend equipment to more than 70 rural communities. That equipment, which would facilitate Internet service subscriptions, is referred to as "last mile." The funds came from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, one of two federal agencies tasked with distributing $7.2 billion set aside in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for broadband projects. ION will deploy the fiber as a public-private partnership with the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC), a New York state public benefit corporation. Extending fiber to the areas in question would not have been profitable for ION without the grant money, said Joe Calzone, vice president of ION. Even though the grant went to a private company, several New York agencies had the chance to help plan the network extension. For example, the New York Department of Corrections and the New York Office of Mental Health gave input that persuaded ION to route the fiber near prisons. This will enable a video stream for psychologists to treat prisoners remotely.
benton.org/node/31040 | Government Technology
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BROADBAND STIMULUS LACKS BANDWIDTH
[SOURCE: Forbes.com, AUTHOR: Daniel Hays]
The federal government's announcement of the first broadband stimulus awards is a terrific first step in extending the reach of broadband communications across the United States. However, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) need to pick up the pace in awarding broadband stimulus funds, and take additional steps to ensure program dollars are deployed with maximum efficiency and impact. My firm, PRTM, has worked with public and private organizations to plan for and implement successful broadband networks since the early days of broadband technologies and businesses. Based on hundreds of such projects worldwide, we see three critical gaps in the government's current approach 1) Lack of a Clear and Cohesive Broadband Strategy, 2) No Clear Criteria for Prioritizing and Funding Projects, and 3) High-Risk Approach to Ensuring Efficient and Effective Deployment.
benton.org/node/31019 | Forbes.com
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MEDIA OWNERSHIP

JUSTICE DEPT WILL REVIEW COMCAST-NBC
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Justin Blum]
The Justice Department will conduct an antitrust review of Comcast's planned takeover of NBC Universal, a department spokeswoman said. The examination will be handled by the department and not the Federal Trade Commission, said department spokeswoman Gina Talamona. The deal will be vetted to determine whether it may thwart competition. Critics such as the consumer advocacy group Free Press said they will seek to block the move, which would give Comcast control of broadcast TV networks, online and cable channels and a movie studio.
benton.org/node/31033 | Bloomberg | WashPost | WSJ
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COMCAST WON'T MAKE NBC A CABLE CHANNEL
[SOURCE: MediaPost, AUTHOR: David Goetzl]
Comcast won't turn the NBC network into a cable channel, despite the opportunity to generate hefty affiliate fees and produce a dual revenue stream, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said Wednesday. "One of the commitments we made from day one is that we believe in the broadcast model," Roberts said. Roberts said Comcast is committed to maintaining the decades-old affiliate model in perpetuity, even though the "economics in the broadcast industry are in flux." Speaking at a Citi investor conference, Roberts also reiterated the driver behind the NBCU deal: The principal fulcrum is gaining "scale in cable programming." Comcast has modestly rated networks and is "a small-to medium-size player" in the space, he said, but the addition of the NBCU fleet will transform that. Another growth engine could come in offering NBCU's boatload of programming via video-on-demand. Roberts said Comcast offers 17,000 shows on-demand today and wants to go to 100,000 and beyond.
benton.org/node/31032 | MediaPost
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EDUCATION

OBAMA EXPANDS EDUCATE TO INNOVATE
[SOURCE: The White House]
On Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced five public-private partnerships aimed at better preparing teachers in these subjects. The five partnerships the president outlined are expected to invest $250 million in preparing more than 10,000 new math and science teachers over the next five years and assist in providing professional development to more than 100,000 current science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers. PBS announced today a multi-year initiative to recognize innovative preK-12 educators and instructional practices that inspire and engage students in STEM. Among those investing in the administration's "Educate to Innovate" initiative, launched in November, is Intel, which has pledged $200 million in cash and in-kind support over the next decade. This includes an expansion of Intel's science and math teacher initiative to provide training to more than 100,000 U.S. math and science teachers in all 50 states over the next three years. One of the other partnerships cited by Obama includes an expansion of the National Math and Science Initiative's UTeach program, which, with the help of the Dell Foundation and others, will aim to prepare more than 4,500 undergraduates in STEM subjects to be new math and science teachers by 2015, and 7,000 by 2018. Tech groups praised the STEM initiative.
benton.org/node/31031 | White House, The | WH backgrounder | TechDailyDose | PBS | Rep Bart Gordon
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TEACHERS INCREASINGLY VALUE AND USE DIGITAL MEDIA
[SOURCE: Public Broadcasting Service, AUTHOR: Press release]
According to a new national research report, "Digitally Inclined," compiled by Grunwald Associates LLC for PBS, teachers are making significant progress in adoption of digital media and Internet use. The findings clearly signal widespread changes in both early childhood and K-12 education, including more effective individualized instruction. [more at the URL below]
benton.org/node/31030 | Public Broadcasting Service | eSchool News
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SPECTRUM/WIRELESS

COMMERCE SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration seeks applications from persons interested in serving on the Department of Commerce's Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) for new two-year terms. This Notice reopens the application period announced in the Federal Register on May 6, 2009 in order to identify additional candidates who may provide balance in terms of points of view, as well as diversity, to the committee. Any applicant who provided NTIA with the requested materials in response to the May Notice will be considered for appointment and need not resubmit materials, although they are permitted to supplement their applications with new or additional information. Applications must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before February 1, 2010.
benton.org/node/31018 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration
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CONSUMER GROUPS URGE VERIZON TO COME CLEAN ON FEES
[SOURCE: Free Press, AUTHOR: ]
In a letter sent Tuesday to the Federal Communications Commission, Free Press and other consumer groups asked the agency to press Verizon Wireless after the company failed to adequately respond to the agency's questions regarding unfair cell phone penalty fees. Last month, the FCC sent a letter to Verizon Wireless investigating the company's exorbitant early termination fees for mobile phones after they doubled from $175 to $350, as well as the company's alleged practice of billing customers $1.99 for inadvertent data transfers. In many cases, consumers do not realize they will incur these fees because they are not clearly disclosed. In their letter to the FCC, Free Press, Consumers Union, and Media Access Project point out that Verizon Wireless failed to adequately answer the Commission's questions, did not provide the data requested, and provided misleading information on wireless services.
benton.org/node/31036 | Free Press
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THE SUPER PHONE WAR
[SOURCE: Fast Company, AUTHOR: Robert Fabricant]
Assuming that Google's Nexus One is a worthy competitor for Apple's iPhone, who will win the battle of the AppPhone or Super-Smart Phone? These SUPER communication devices represent intense, emotional and personal commitments. We don't just buy them, we adopt them. They are more a part of our identity than any previous digital technology. We are merging our own identities with Apple, Google, or whomever. That's right, this is a brand war as much as a technology one. Google will have to figure out how to compete with Apple on that level if they are to succeed with their mobile strategy. Apple changed the game, not just with their technology, but with the way they marketed the benefits of the iPhone software experience. Not only did Apple fundamentally shift the economics of the mobile phone business they fundamentally shifted the software marketing game as well, forcing everyone to compete with their app store juggernaut. Try to come up with a unique value proposition for your smartphone and it is likely that Apple offers dozens of apps that deliver that same benefit. Game over, right?
benton.org/node/31021 | Fast Company
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CHEAP MOBILE CALLS, EVEN OVERSEAS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Joanna Stern]
Racking up exorbitant mobile charges is easy to do if you are not careful about using your cellphone internationally. AT&T charges 99 cents a minute to use your phone in Italy (rates vary by country), and that is if you pay for the carrier's international calling plan. If you do not, the charge goes up to $1.29 a minute. What some do not realize is that they can nearly eliminated those charges if they set up their smartphones to take advantage of mobile Internet calling services: That $1.29-a-minute charge would have gone down to a much more reasonable 2.4 cents a minute (or nothing at all if they were on a Wi-Fi network). The Internet has been used to make calls for some time. One of the largest providers of the service, Skype, was founded in 2003 and has more than half a billion user accounts. And while many people gather around the PC to talk to far-flung friends and family, new apps and services can replicate that experience (and that savings) on cellphones.
benton.org/node/31037 | New York Times
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TRACKING YOUR STUFF IS THE FUTURE, ACCORDING TO AT&T
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Jacqui Cheng]
More of your everyday stuff may be able to communicate with cell networks throughout 2010, at least if AT&T has anything to say about it. The company says that it plans to add services to a plethora of consumer products as part of an expansion of its mobile offerings, and that the first of these products may be available in the second half of this year. AT&T head of emerging devices Glenn Lurie told Reuters about the company's plans during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, noting that AT&T is already in the process of inking deals to get into 20 consumer devices. These would include, among other things, entertainment systems in your car, your e-reader, your digital photo frame, or even your child (we assume something you strap onto your child, not put in your child). AT&T believes the venture might net the company as much as $1 billion more in annual revenue. In theory, this would mean that users will be able to keep track of their items and locate them in case of loss or theft.
benton.org/node/31029 | Ars Technica | Reuters
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STREAMLINING CELL NETWORK MAINTENANCE
[SOURCE: Fierce, AUTHOR: Peggy Albright]
For the past several years, cell phone service providers have been pressed to significantly reduce their costs of doing business. The pressure comes from their general need to improve their overall financial performance due to competitive and economic forces, and their desire to accomplish these financial improvements while investing in the next-generation technologies necessary to meet customers' demands for bandwidth and advanced services and applications. Reducing the costs associated with network maintenance, which represents a sizeable portion of operating expenditures, is one way to help meet these goals. And as operators have become more willing to bring in third-party companies to manage various aspects of their services, the practice of outsourcing maintenance activities has found traction. Maintenance services are distinct from managed services, however. Maintenance typically includes complex technical support services and repairing equipment problems as they occur, while managed services tends to cover the proactive 24/7 management of the network, according to Roosmarijn Cornelissen, research analyst in the European telecommunications and networking group at IDC. And while the line between the two types of services is beginning to blur, "maintenance is usually offered and delivered as a separate service from managed services," she said. Because most networks are built and maintained by numerous vendors, service providers--led by operators in Europe and India--have found ways to establish multi-vendor maintenance strategies.
benton.org/node/31014 | Fierce
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INTEL VULNERABLE AS CONSUMERS SHIFT
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Ian King]
Intel's position as the gateway to the Internet will come under attack in 2010 as more consumers start going online via phones, tablets, e-readers and scaled- down laptops. Qualcomm Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and Freescale Semiconductor Inc. are among the chipmakers demonstrating new kinds of Internet devices at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Their goal: persuade consumers to ditch their Intel-powered personal computers as the primary way of going online. Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, makes more than 80 percent of PC processors -- the brains of computers. It aims to use its Atom product, which runs small laptops known as netbooks, to break into chips for wireless devices, a market IDC estimates will increase 14 percent to more than $46 billion in 2010. Its rivals are heading in the other direction: using phone chips to woo users of PCs and consumer electronics. While the PC will remain the main way for people to go online, portable devices are chipping away at that dominance -- with mobile phones leading the charge. Qualcomm, Freescale, Marvell and Texas Instruments Inc. are using chip technology developed by ARM.
benton.org/node/31013 | Bloomberg
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HEALTH IT

STRATEGIC LEARNING FOR HEALTH CARE
[SOURCE: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, AUTHOR: Susannah Fox]
Connected patients spread new ideas, new treatments, and new ways of approaching a condition. Patient networks can help you anticipate change and innovate in the right direction. Social media can be a window into their world. Pew Internet surveys show that 8 in 10 Americans have access to the Internet. Social media use is trending up. Health is holding steady as one of the most popular activities online. E-patients are listening to each other, consulting hospital reviews and doctor reviews, and posting which treatments work for them. People living with chronic disease, your best customers, are less likely to go online. But their loved ones may fill in the gap. One-third of American adults care for a loved one and eight in ten of those caregivers go online. One-third of adults experienced a medical emergency in the past year, either their own or someone else's. They are online too. A medical crisis flips a switch in people. It makes them want to become superheroes and save a life if they can. The Internet is very often their weapon of choice.
benton.org/node/31027 | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
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FCC Seeks Extension Of Broadband Plan

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski is asking for a one-month extension on the national broadband plan the agency is required to submit to Congress. The agency is asking for an extra month to finish digging through the massive volume of public comments that it has received over the past 11 months as it has gathered input on how to make universal broadband a reality. The team preparing the plan also wants more time to brief the FCC's five commissioners and members of Congress. "The FCC has been given an enormous responsibility by Congress to create a broadband plan that reflects our highest aspirations as a country," said Colin Crowell, senior counselor to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. The request for an extension needs to be approved by the Senate and House Commerce Committees, which have jurisdiction over the FCC.

New York Telecom Wins Broadband Stimulus Grant

A broadband stimulus award of $39.7 million went to New York telecom ION HoldCo to build 10 extensions from its existing fiber backhaul in the state. The new fiber will reach parts of Pennsylvania and Vermont as well. The project will serve as a "middle-mile" infrastructure for Internet service providers to extend equipment to more than 70 rural communities. That equipment, which would facilitate Internet service subscriptions, is referred to as "last mile." The funds came from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, one of two federal agencies tasked with distributing $7.2 billion set aside in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for broadband projects. ION will deploy the fiber as a public-private partnership with the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC), a New York state public benefit corporation. Extending fiber to the areas in question would not have been profitable for ION without the grant money, said Joe Calzone, vice president of ION. Even though the grant went to a private company, several New York agencies had the chance to help plan the network extension. For example, the New York Department of Corrections and the New York Office of Mental Health gave input that persuaded ION to route the fiber near prisons. This will enable a video stream for psychologists to treat prisoners remotely.

Despite Risks, Internet Creeps Onto Car Dashboards

To the dismay of safety advocates already worried about driver distraction, automakers and high-tech companies have found a new place to put sophisticated Internet-connected computers: the front seat. Technology giants like Intel and Google are turning their attention from the desktop to the dashboard, hoping to bring the power of the PC to the car. They see vast opportunity for profit in working with automakers to create the next generation of irresistible devices. This week at the Consumer Electronics Show, the neon-drenched annual trade show here, these companies are demonstrating the breadth of their ambitions, like 10-inch screens above the gearshift showing high-definition videos, 3-D maps and Web pages. The first wave of these "infotainment systems," as the tech and car industries call them, will hit the market this year. While built-in navigation features were once costly options, the new systems are likely to be standard equipment in a wide range of cars before long. They prevent drivers from watching video and using some other functions while the car is moving, but they can still pull up content as varied as restaurant reviews and the covers of music albums with the tap of a finger. Safety advocates say the companies behind these technologies are tone-deaf to mounting research showing the risks of distracted driving — and to a growing national debate about the use of mobile devices in cars and how to avoid the thousands of wrecks and injuries this distraction causes each year.

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