Philadelphia Inquirer

New census data confirms what many in the city have long suspected: Big swaths of Philadelphia (PA) are nearly off the grid, with minimal access to fast internet services in their homes. Across the US in 2017, the national broadband penetration rate by household was 83.5 percent in 2017. In Philadelphia, the rate was 71.6 percent, the second-lowest among the 25 largest cities.

Pennsylvania State University researchers rounding the bend on a year-long study of broadband access in rural Pennsylvania are finding that speeds are even slower than previously thought. Bradford County, on the NY border in Northeastern PA, has slow connectivity speeds, but according to the most recent map available from the Penn State study, it's not among the worst.

While Hillary Clinton was short on details July 28 about her gung-ho, “first 100 days “ jobs building plan, the expansion of broadband accessibility, next generation wireless technology and and computer education will loom large. So pledged Sara Solow, domestic policy adviser for Hillary for America, at events earlier that day and throughout DNC Week in Philly.

She underscored the campaign’s concern with “the homework gap” and committed to upgrading the National Broadband Plan written in 2010. The Clinton Campaign is opposed to “arbitrary caps” suggested by some Capitol Hill Republicans on the Lifeline service enabling low income families to get Internet service. And Clinton wants a re-write of the Broadband Plan “focused on our broadband deployment throughout the country,” said Solow. “By 2020 every household in America should be hooked up to high-speed internet sufficient to meet family’s needs.” To get there, “we should look at wireless solutions, we should look at microwave wireless solutions, we should look at satellite solutions too.” Cities and towns should be leaders in the cause – “fiber ready” and “more open to third and fourth broadband providers” which could include reforming exclusionary policies about burying and hanging lines.

Comcast is proud of its philanthropy. But as the company funds worthy causes, it also gives to groups with high-powered supporters who can help, or hurt, its ambitious business plans.

Over the last two years, Comcast has given $1.64 million to charities affiliated with lawmakers or executive-branch officials, according to its lobbying disclosures. Comcast donated $16.8 million from its charitable foundation in 2013, along with $415 million in corporate cash and other aid, such as public service announcements, Comcast spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice said.

A warning to people who post comments online: Anonymous is not forever. A Philadelphia judge has ordered the owners of Philly.com -- who also own The Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News -- to disclose the identity of a person who posted a comment online.

On Feb 26, Common Pleas Court Judge Jacqueline Allen ordered the news company to disclose the poster's identity, along with any comments he or she posted from Aug 10, 2012, through January 2014. Philip Blackman, a lawyer for the person who posted the comment, could not be reached. In court filings, he argued that his client's comments were protected by the First Amendment. Blackman said the description of Dougherty was not "defamatory per se." Dougherty's lawyer, Joseph Podraza Jr, called Judge Allen's ruling "absolutely appropriate."

"I think it does bring accountability back to people who post things online, and I hope it disposes of the notion that just because you're anonymous, you can say defamatory things about other people and not be held accountable for it," he said.

[March 9]