Bipartisanship is not a word you hear much anymore, and you see it in action even less.  But it was alive and well at the Michigan House of Representatives when it passed a resolution asking the FCC not to reclassify broadband as a Title II service.   Republicans and Democrats alike are justifiably concerned that the FCC’s proposals to regulate the Internet “will slow investment in Michigan’s Internet broadband infrastructure and jeopardize future job growth.” Citizens [...]

Trying something new today. Instead of writing decided to do an audio podcast. Let me know what you think

I don’t think anyone is surprised by the two broadband-related studies released in the last several days.  An FCC survey concluded “affordability” is one of the main reasons why nearly one-third of Americans do not have broadband at home.  And the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found “lower income groups continue to lag in their internet use.”   Don’t get me wrong.  Research is helpful, but we need to move on to the solutions. [...]

At the MMTC Broadband and Social Justice Summit, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, made a passing reference to net neutrality when she discussed how tiered pricing would be a market entry barrier to some online entrepreneurs.  I don’t disagree.  Anything that increases costs for starting and sustaining any business, online or otherwise, is a barrier for new entrepreneurs. However, before we can get people to the point where they start a business online, we have to get [...]

I’ve been working on keeping track of how the Net Neutrality issue is playing out, and the more I do, the more I realized someone has to speak up. A month ago, Free Press claimed it was “troubled by some of the heated rhetoric that has gone back and forth over whether civil rights organizations should be for or against Network Neutrality. In general, this debate has too often descended into outrageous allegations of all [...]

UPDATE: The FCC has changed the date of its field hearing in Memphis. It will now take place on Monday, December 14, 2009. Location and time have yet to be confirmed. I was excited to learn that the FCC is holding a field hearing on broadband access at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.   It will be on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  You can send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov [...]

Between health care reform, climate bills and war-related news, some important ideas in Congress are not getting as much attention as they deserve.    I just wanted to bring a little more notice to bi-partisan draft language submitted by Reps. Rick Boucher of Virginia and Lee Terry of Nebraska “to curb waste in the Universal Service Fund (USF) and shift money from phone to Internet service in areas on the wrong side of the digital divide.” [...]

“Attend the workshop online!” I wonder exactly when that phrase entered our lives.   It is powerful.   There was a time when attending a conference meant a big investment, plane tickets, hotels, time out of the office, time away from family.   For young visionaries, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and leaders of cash-strapped communities, it was often a burden.  Broadband has changed that. I encourage everyone to attend or watch the workshop the FCC is conducting Dec. 9th [...]

Public Knowledge, an organization representing what I would call “digital elites,” has joined with other elite activist groups to push the FCC to adopt so-called Net Neutrality rules.  To do this, Public Knowledge uses carefully chosen words like “neutrally,” “openness” and “discrimination.” I find myself wondering whether they have any idea what these words mean.  As they insist that net neutrality will benefit minorities, I have serious doubts. First, Public Knowledge suggests that our civil [...]