The Internet Innovation Alliance is a broad-based coalition of business and non-profit organizations that aim to ensure every American, regardless of race, income or geography, has access to the critical tool that is broadband Internet. The IIA seeks to promote public policies that support equal opportunity for universal broadband availability and adoption so that everyone, everywhere can seize the benefits of the Internet - from education to health care, employment to community building, civic engagement and beyond.
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Blog posts tagged with 'Broadband Access'
Monday, February 08
In the U.S., The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) projects that high-speed connections to the home would increase the number of telecommuters to 19 million by 2012. That would save 1.5 billion hours of commute time - and reduce gasoline consumption by 5 percent.
John T. Chambers, “Broadband Speeds Our Economy,” GigaOm, March 3, 2009.
Wednesday, January 20
A new study from the Phoenix Center finds that broadband users are 50% less likely to give up searching for a job. The Hill examines why this is important:
Discouragement has been cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as a reason for an expected increase in the jobless rate this year. As of December, a large number of workers have quit looking for work because they think no jobs are available.
“Our study also shows the enormous potential benefit of community broadband centers for those who are not connected at home,” said Lawrence Spiwak, president of the Phoenix Center. “While broadband use at home delivers significant benefits, shared facilities can be a valuable solution to connectivity gaps in unserved and underserved communities.”
Monday, December 14
Both Broadband Breakfast and Richard Prince of the Black College Wire have rundowns of last week’s Broadband Symposium on access for all Americans.
So far, efforts to put together a national broadband plan have mainly focused on bringing access to every home in America. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation worries that this risks leaving institutions in dire need of access behind. From Ars Technica:
The foundation tied to the Microsoft fortune has told the Federal Communications Commission that the government should spend more money on high-speed Internet upgrades for public libraries and schools. The FCC should make it easier to apply, too.
“A growing number of schools and public libraries cannot afford connectivity upgrades because of the inability to pay for one-time only installation, equipment and transport costs,” the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation warned the Commission on Wednesday. No big surprise that Gates is active in this area. Microsoft’s general focus when it comes to broadband stimulus questions is that resources should go to “anchor institutions”—libraries, schools, and hospitals.
Friday, December 11
Yesterday, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps delivered some strong words about broadband access for Native Americans. Reports Broadband Breakfast:
Telephone service penetration lags around 70 percent of Native American households, Copps said, calling the number “shockingly low.” But Copps was more concerned about the state of broadband data in Indian Country – or lack thereof. “[W]e don’t even begin to have reliable data on the status of Internet subscribership on tribal lands, because no one has bothered to collect it,” he said.
Wednesday, December 09
We’re excited to announce two new additions to our team: the Honorable Fabian Núñez and David Steward who, as honorary Chairmen of the IIA Broadband Ambassador Program, will lead a national call to action for broadband access and adoption for all Americans.
Núñez, a first-generation American born to Mexican immigrants, is the Speaker Emeritus of the California State Assembly. Steward is chairman and founder of World Wide Technologies, Inc., the only billion-dollar plus African American owned technology business in America.
As Honorary Chairmen of IIA’s Broadband Ambassador Program, Núñez and Steward will rely on their considerable legislative and business experience to elevate the debate about broadband access. Both embody the American dream and are passionate about ensuring broadband access for all, so that businesses and families at every economic level can thrive. We’re honored to have them aboard.
You can learn more about Núñez and Steward on our Broadband Ambassador Program page.
Tuesday, December 01
Although 96 percent of California’s residents live in an area with broadband access, most of the people who actually are connected make more than $80,000 a year, while only 58 percent of residents that make less than $40,000 can afford a $60.00 a month broadband package.
Sean Buckley, “California House member proposes discounted broadband service bill,” FierceTelecom. September 25, 2009.
Monday, November 23
30 to 40 million households that have access to broadband connectivity have not taken advantage of it.
— BB4US.net, “Report of the US Broadband Coalition on a National Broadband Strategy,” US Broadband Coalition. September 24, 2009.
Tuesday, September 01
A surprising new study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds that those who have embraced email and social networking in order to be involved in local and federal government have pretty much the same profile as those who have traditionally done so. From the study (pdf):
Contrary to the hopes of some advocates, the internet is not changing the socio-economic character of civic engagement in America. Just as in offline civic life, the well-to-do and well-educated are more likely than those less well off to participate in online political activities such as emailing a government official, signing an online petition or making a political contribution.
The Internet offers much potential for citizens to become engaged with local and federal government. But while expanding broadband access to every corner of the country can certainly help spur interest, until people outside of the traditional demographic find a reason to become engaged—which is something candidates and government entities should definitely be exploring—the web’s full civic engagement potential will remain untapped.
Wednesday, August 05
A new study from the European Commission finds that while half of Europeans connect to the Internet every day, a full third haven’t been online at all.
Monday, August 03
Broadband Census interviewed IIA Co-Chairman Bruce Mehlman about the state of broadband in America and the push for a national broadband plan. From the story:
Internet Innovation Alliance Co-chairman Bruce Mehlman, who was assistant secretary of Commerce for technology policy during the most recent Bush administration, told BroadbandCensus.com that although many parties with an interest in the debate are displeased with the National Telecommunication and Information Administration’s broadband initiative, the state of the nation’s broadband is not dire.
“Speeds have gone up, prices have gone down, percentages of populations served have expanded,” he said.
But he noted that “the tenor of many of the comments [to the broadband plan] is that the sky is falling and America is the broadband Banana Republic.”
Mehlman also talks about Jonathan Orszag’s recent study, “The Substantial Consumer Benefits of Broadband Connectivity for U.S. Households,” and how it shows broadband is an “experience good” for people—meaning, the more people experience the benefits of broadband, the more they want it.
In other IIA media news, the Philadelphia Inquirer recently asked Co-Chairman Larry Irving his thoughts on new FCC head Julius Genachowski. The full article is worth checking out.
Tuesday, July 28
Jonathan Orszag presents the findings of a report “The Substantial Consumer Benefits of Broadband Connectivity for U.S. Households.”
Friday, July 24
Leroy Jones, Jr. of the site Technical Jones interviewed Jonathan Orszag for his “Talking Technology” podcast. The topic: the findings in Orszag’s study “The Substantial Consumer Benefits of Broadband Connectivity for U.S. Households.”
Geoff Daily of App-Rising noticed something on a recent trip to Lafayette, Louisiana: the city is arguably becoming the most wired city in America.
Tuesday, July 21
A new report from Parks Associates finds that worldwide broadband adoption could potentially reach 650 million households within the next four years, and that the Asia-Pacific market will lead the charge with close to 50% of the global market share.
The report also cautions that service providers will have to continue investing heavily in their networks in order to keep up with the growing flood of online video and social networking applications.
Tuesday, July 14
A new study from Jonathan Orszag, Robert Willig, and Mark Dutz, finds that America consumers receive more than $30 billion in benefits each year from using broadband at home.
The study, entitled “The Substantial Consumer Benefits of Broadband Connectivity for U.S. Households,” shows that broadband Internet access is now considered a necessity by many American households, with strong benefits to U.S. consumers in the areas of education, health care, work, news, entertainment and civic affairs.
Among the other findings:
• 66.6 million households used broadband in 2008, an increase of six times the 10.4 million households that used broadband in 2001.
• The number of dial-up users has decreased substantially, from 44.2 million households in 2001 to 10.5 million in 2008.
• Households with no home Internet fell from 53.6 million in 2001 to 39.7 million in 2009.
The full Orszag-Willig-Dutz study is available here. And we’ll have guests posts by the authors throughout the week.
Monday, July 13
Among households with an annual income of $50,000 or less—about half of the country—only 35% have broadband service.
Households with annual incomes above $50,000 are more than twice as likely to have broadband service.“Bringing Broadband to the Urban Poor,” BusinessWeek, December 31, 2008
Thursday, July 02
As America works towards bringing high-speed Internet access to every doorstep, a new report from TeleGeography (via Ars Technica) finds the digital divide is far deeper around the world. Looking at Internet penetration in 127 countries, the study finds only 10 countries have broadband penetration over 80%, while 64 countries are well under 20%.
Then there’s this sobering fact:
“Broadband represents the most extreme example in the gulf between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’,” said TeleGeography Executive Director John Dinsdale. “Less than 2 percent of African households have broadband compared with 68 percent of North American homes.”
Monday, June 29
Between 2000 and 2008, residential broadband subscribers grew to 80 million from 5 million. Adding to this expansion of connected households was a substantial increase in the quality, robustness, and speed of the broadband connections themselves.
Swanson, Bret. “Bandwidth Boom: Measuring U.S. Communications Capacity from 2000 to 2008.” Entropy Economics, June 24, 2009.
Tuesday, June 09
In a move to cut spending, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is phasing out school textbooks and embracing online education. Reports the BBC:
From the beginning of the next school year in August, maths and science students in California’s high schools will have access to online texts that have passed an academic standards review.
The governor says digital textbooks can be updated easily - so learning keeps pace with progress.
You can learn more about online education in the IIA Broadband Fact Book.
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