January 2010

Smart grid: Definition, road map and breadth of this grand challenge

[Commentary] A smarter electric power grid promises greater efficiency, reliability and security leading to greater use of renewable energy sources that positively impact our environment. We can all agree that such attributes, if they can be achieved affordably and sustainably, are worthy of our efforts as a global community. That said, it is instructive to provide a definition for the term "smart grid" to clearly explain why this energy transformation is a grand challenge of our time. The term "smart grid" refers to hardware and software added to the power system to achieve: a.) a more autonomous responsiveness to events that impact the electrical power grid, and b.) optimal day-to-day operational efficiency of electrical power delivery. Among the events that impact the grid are outages (scheduled and unscheduled), load-balancing and peak-shaving — or sending power back to the grid when demand is high. Smart grid hardware and software encompasses: a.) metering and monitoring of the power system, b.) communicating the conditions of the grid in real time, and c.) controlling the flow of power to maintain reliable service and stable operation. During the development of a smart grid infrastructure, it is reasonable to design the security protocols, renewable-based systems (wind, solar, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, biomass), time-of-use/demand-driven pricing and other aspects of the electrical power business into this next generation of the grid. With this definition in mind, the next question that arises is "Where are we in the drive to a smart grid?"

89% of US Households Do Not Rely on Broadcast TV

Leichtman tells the Federal Communications Commission: 1) 11% of households with a TV set do not subscribe to any form of multi-channel video service, 2) Including multi-channel video households, about 18% of all TV sets in consumers homes are broadcast-only, 3) Penetration of HD television devices in non-subscribers' households is 25% -- compared to 46% overall, 4) Combined penetration of Apple TV and Roku Internet video devices is about 1% of households.

FTC set to examine cloud computing

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating the privacy and security implications of cloud computing, according to a recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission. The FTC, which shares jurisdiction over broadband issues, says it recognizes the potential cost-savings cloud computing can provide. "However, the storage of data on remote computers may also raise privacy and security concerns for consumers," wrote David Vladeck, who helms the FTC's Consumer Protection Bureau. "For example, the ability of cloud computing services to collect and centrally store increasing amounts of consumer data, combined with the ease with which such centrally stored data may be shared with others, create a risk that larger amounts of data may be used by entities not originally intended or understood by consumers," the filing says. The FTC is also looking at identity management systems — i.e., how people authenticate their identities when logging into websites — and how they can better protect citizens' privacy.

Minneapolis Completes Wireless Network

The $20 million Minneapolis wireless Internet network has been completed after 2 1/2 difficult years of technical and political delays. The city's next step: getting the police and fire departments using it. The network -- built under city contract to provide wireless Internet access to residents and communications services to the city -- now has 16,500 private subscribers, said Joe Caldwell, marketing vice president of US Internet, which owns and operates the network. The company hopes to have 30,000 individual customers in three years, as well as to support growing city use of the network, he said.

Lexington rolls out new WiFi initiative

In hopes of spurring economic development and bridging the digital divide in some of the city's most underserved neighborhoods, Lexington (KY) Mayor Jim Newberry and the Bluegrass Community Foundation announced a new wireless Web access partnership utilizing public and private funds. With nearly $1.65 million provided by the Knight Foundation in combination with state and federal funds, a fee-based wireless Internet system that once covered downtown will be reactivated in conjunction with new coverage areas in the East End, Cardinal Valley and the so-called "College Town" area between UK and downtown, providing free access to any wireless-capable device. "An engaged and informed citizenry is an important indicator of a vibrant, healthy community," said Lisa Adkins, CEO of the Blue Grass Community Foundation, which received the grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and will serve as nonprofit partner for the project and help the city engage the community.

Stimulus funding gives boost to broadband

Minnesota is getting $1.7 million in federal stimulus funding for mapping high-speed Internet access and showing where gaps in coverage exist — which is often in rural areas. Local economic development officials and others say broadband access is a significant player in economic development and innovation. They argue that the state will need access to faster Internet connections as more businesses, schools and health clinics rely on online services. Still, local government agencies aren't poised to shell out funding for more access. But they plan to encourage providers to offer service in places where residents and businesses say they need it. The Legislature is expected to take up this issue in February as it considers recent recommendations made by a state task force advocating for high-speed Internet connections. Rick King, chairman of the Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force, said about 94 percent of the state has access to broadband. But that's given the current definition of broadband under the Federal Communications Commission. That definition is much slower than where the state should be if it wants to be economically competitive, King said.

Do Delays Really Hurt Stimulus Funding?

[Commentary] However much we all want to compare broadband networks to utilities or to commodities such as highways, there are numerous issues that make it harder to spend federal dollars quickly on high-speed Internet than on building new roads. One reason for haste was the hope that broadband stimulus funding would also be an economic boon, helping to create jobs and stimulate local economies, in addition to bringing broadband where it is badly needed. For many reasons, the Obama administration wanted that to happen sooner rather than later. Broadband access, unfortunately, comes politically loaded.

Just look at the brouhaha in Maine, where the University of Maine was part of a public/private partnership that won a $25.4 million federal grant to build an 1,100-mile fiber optic network through the northern, western, and eastern areas of the state. By providing this "middle mile" network, the Great Works Internet company and two private investors intend to enable more broadband access at the local level. Maine incumbent FairPoint Communications isn't happy that the university is involved, and neither, apparently, are some state residents, who think their tuition dollars are being misused. Despite assurances from the university that it is acting in a minor advisory role, opponents have gotten two separate pieces of legislation introduced to keep the university out of the broadband business.

So even when the federal government does get its act together, delays seem inevitable. The smart thing right now is for this process to continue to play out, and the focus to remain on getting the right projects in place, so that the stimulus funding has the lasting and sustainable impact on getting broadband to the places that need it. In many areas, there is little likelihood of major network construction until spring, anyway. If we can't do this quickly, let's at least get it right.

So Did Anything Actually Happen In Telecom In 2009? And What That Means for 2010

[Commentary] So 2010 turns out to be the year we will find out whether "data driven" actually goes anywhere, and how far. Because one consequence of delay has been that the incumbents who began 2009 in a state of quaking panic at the prospect of radical change have had time to regroup and rediscover their political courage. Also concerning is all this idea that "politics is the art of the possible" which appears to have become the guiding mantra of the Obama folks and Democrats generally. In contrast, Feld offers this: "Politics may be the art of the possible. But leadership is getting people to do what they previously thought was impossible — in unison." Not an easy task. But leadership, as opposed to simple management, is not easy. Bottom line, despite lots of hope for new beginnings and dramatic change, 2009 turned out to be the prologue rather than the pivot. It remains far too early to write off the Obama telecom initiatives at the FCC, NTIA, RUS, and elsewhere as fizzles or failures — as too many disappointed progressives have been eager to do since the beginning. At the same time, a lot of momentum progressives had coming into this year has dissipated in terms of pushing for more radical change. (12/31)

Five ed-tech stories to watch for 2010

Five stories that could have a huge effect on education technology in the new year: 5) Will Congress reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act this year, and if so, what will the new law look like? 4) How will the continuing evolution of mobile devices affect students' computing experience? 3) Will the digital textbook revolution succeed? And, how will new developments in the digital book market affect teaching and learning? 2) How will schools deal with a lingering financial crisis that isn't expected to end anytime soon? 1) What will the new National Education Technology Plan and National Broadband Plan look like? (The Department of Education is expected to unveil the first draft of the Obama administration's National Education Technology Plan later this month.)

Sen. Dorgan plans to leave Senate

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who has served 30 years in the U.S. Congress, announced on Tuesday he will not run for another six-year Senate term. One of the highest-ranking members of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen Dorgan has been a leader on Network Neutrality an opponent of increased media ownership consolidation. "Although I still have a passion for public service and enjoy my work in the Senate, I have other interests and I have other things I would like to pursue outside of public life. I have written two books and have an invitation from a publisher to write two more books. I would like to do some teaching and would also like to work on energy policy in the private sector. So, over this holiday season, I have come to the conclusion, with the support of my family, that I will not be seeking another term in the U.S. Senate in 2010. It is a hard decision to make after thirty years in the Congress, but I believe it is the right time for me to pursue these other interests. Let me be clear that this decision does not relate to any dissatisfaction that I have about serving in the Senate. Yes, I wish there was less rancor and more bipartisanship in the U.S. Senate these days. But still, it is a great privilege to serve and I have the utmost respect for all of the men and women with whom I serve."

Benton

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