EDUCAUSE | National Broadband Policy

Measuring Broadband Access: Congress Passes Legislation Requiring Broadband Surveys

agould — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:21:25 -0500

Before you can fix the problem, you must diagnose it.

On Tuesday, September 30, Congress passed the final version of S. 1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act. It is expected that President Bush will sign the bill into law. The legislation requires the government to keep track of who has quick access to the Internet in the United States. Specifically, it requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to collect consumer surveys on broadband access in rural, urban, and suburban locations. Furthermore, the surveys would also cover small and large business markets.

The FCC will use the surveys to draw up a list of those locations that lack broadband service. They will include population and income level statistics with that information as well.

The lead sponsor of S. 1492, Sen. Daniel Inouye, is a supporter of greater access to broadband. He says you must measure the problem before you can manage it. Ostensibly, this bill takes the first step in completing the senator's mission.

EDUCAUSE Signs Letter Urging Congress to Support Pro-Broadband Legislation

cluckett — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:07:41 -0500

In a letter delivered this week, EDUCAUSE and several other groups have asked that Congress pass the Broadband Data Improvement Act and the Broadband Census of America Act before the 110th Congress ends. The groups say this legislation "would improve information-gathering about current broadband deployment and assist in targeting resources to areas in need of such services." Learn more, and access a related press release regarding EDUCAUSE’s proposed new approach to making high-speed Internet services available across the country.

EDUCAUSE Signs Letter Urging Congress to Support Pro-Broadband Legislation

agould — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:27:43 -0500

In a letter that was delivered yesterday, EDUCAUSE and several other groups have asked that Congress pass S. 1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act, and H.R. 3919, the Broadband Census of America Act, before the 110th Congress ends. The groups say this legislation "would improve information-gathering about current broadband deployment and assist in targeting resources to areas in need of such services." The letter was sent to leadership offices in the House and Senate, as well as members of both the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Commerce Committees. The letter specifically says that a national broadband policy could have "dramatic and far-reaching economic impacts."

Currently, S. 1492 and H.R. 3919 are awaiting consideration in the Senate. H.R. 3919 previously passed the House on November 13, 2007.

Groups supporting the letter include: the United States Telecom Assocation, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Communications Workers of America, Connected Nation, The National Grange, American Library Association, U.S. Cattlemen's Association, Alliance for Public Technology, Internet Innovation Alliance, AT&T, Qwest, and Verizon.

EDUCAUSE President Diana G. Oblinger Discusses Need for National Broadband Policy

cluckett — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:47:37 -0500

EDUCAUSE President Diana G. Oblinger recently spoke in Washington, D.C., at the New America Foundation–hosted event, Broadband Revolution, about the pressing need for a national broadband policy. Read more about the event and Oblinger’s speech, and access a related press release regarding EDUCAUSE’s proposed new approach to making high-speed Internet services available across the country.

EDUCAUSE Joins Coalition Supporting Access to an Open Internet

agould — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:40:15 -0500

In efforts to support a "fast, affordable and open" Internet, EDUCAUSE recently joined forces in creating and promoting InternetforEveryone.org. This coalition, which consists of public interest organizations, industry groups, and concerned citizens, is devoted to the notion that citizens should have access to an open Internet. The official launch date for the campaign was June 24.

With statistics showing that the United States has fallen to 15th in terms of broadband penetration (down from its 4th place ranking in 2001), members say there is a pressing need for a national broadband policy. Specifically, the coalition at InternetforEveryone.org says "every American must be connected to a fast, affordable and open Internet to serve as an active citzen in a 21st century democracy and to prosper in today's economy. High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury; it's a lifeline for all Americans. Our broad alliance is working together to see that our nation's leaders adopt a national plan to bring open, high-speed Internet connections into every home, at a price all of us can afford."

The group stands for four basic principles: ACCESS (for every home and business), CHOICE (competitive choice with lower prices and faster speeds), OPENNESS (Right to freedom of speech and commerce online in an open market without gatekeepers or discrimination), and INNOVATION (Internet must continue to create jobs and foster economic growth). By coming together as one, the group is hopeful that it will be even more effective in promoting broadband policies when it brings the initiative to federal, state, and local representatives.

The diverse coalition includes Google, YouTube, Internet2, eBay, the ACLU, BitTorrent, Public Knowledge, and the Writers Guild of America (East and West branches), among others. Additionally, individual members include Larry Lessig and Barbara van Schewick at Stanford Law School, Yochai Benker at Harvard Law School, Jack Balkin at Yale Law School, and Jonathan Zittrain at the Harvard Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Adopts Resolution Calling for National Broadband Policy

agould — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:12:25 -0500

The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which is holding its 76th annual meeting in Miami, voted yesterday in favor of a resolution calling for a national broadband policy. The resolution is as follows:

Resolution #104: "Calling for Federal Action on a National Broadband Policy calls on the Administration, Congress and the FCC to develop a comprehensive national broadband policy that includes high speed broadband deployment to cities as an imperative; that preserves the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services within their communities, that the speed of Internet access available to American consumers, enterprises and institutions is comparable to that available in the most advanced industrialized nations, that high'speed Internet services are ubiquitous in availability to all American households in all neighborhoods, and that affordable high-speed Internet access is attainable for all American consumers and families; urges the FCC to begin immediately collecting detailed information on broadband coverage and use and share said data with local governments and urges the Administration, Congress; and calls on the FCC to work with local governments to facilitate an expansion of resources to speed the development of affordable globally-competitive infrastructure in American citiesand urges the Administration, Congress; and calls on the FCC to work with local governments to facilitate an expansion of resources to speed the development of affordable globally-competitive infrastructure in American cities."

Oblinger Discusses Need for National Broadband Policy

agould — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:31:32 -0500

Today EDUCAUSE President Diana Oblinger spoke about the pressing need for a national broadband policy at an event hosted by the New America Foundation (NAF). Held in the Senate Hart Building in Washington, DC, the event also featured FCC commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, e-NC Authority Executive Director Jane Smith Patterson, Jim Baller of the Baller Herbst Law Group, and Michael Calabrese, the Vice President of the Wireless Future Program at the NAF. This event, which was titled Broadband Revolution, was the first in a series on national broadband policy being sponsored by NAF.

"In the same way that railroads, highways, electricity and telephones grew our economy and benefited our society, broadband is the infrastructure that will take us into the next century," said Oblinger. "We can either sit on the sidelines or we can get it done, and I think it is about time."

She told the audience that a public-private partnership is needed, since relying on the private sector alone will not be sufficient. Furthermore, Oblinger focused on the strong link between education attainment and economic opportunity, saying the two go hand in hand. With only seven percent of a child's time being spent in formal education, she said it is vital that students have access to decent broadband for learning experiences outside of the classroom. Oblinger also said broadband (or lack thereof) will have an impact on where people move, thus effecting local economies and tax bases.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said there should be a sense of urgency when it comes to developing a national broadband policy. He said "the time has come to fix this problem, which is holding the country back."

"Revolutions have winners and they have losers. We need to be the winners," Copps said in his talk.

The commissioner said broadband policy changes demand leadership and commitment "at the top," especially because developing broadband could cost tens of billions of dollars. In the meantime, Copps told the audience that he believes the FCC should guarantee the openness of the Internet and learn about individual states' innovation efforts.

All speakers agreed that it is unacceptable for the United States to increasingly lag behind in broadband capacity, since it threatens the country's global competitiveness and economic prosperity. As NAF Vice President Michael Calabrese said, broadband is no longer a luxury.

A Blueprint for Big Broadband: Moving from Why to How

drupal — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:55:17 -0500

The United States has fallen behind its international competitors in broadband deployment, price, and openness in part because it has no national broadband policy. In contrast, most other countries adopted proactive programs to address the broadband needs of their citizens at the beginning of the decade that are now proving successful. Several U.S. states are now developing their own broadband plans because of the void at the national level. This session will propose an action plan for the nation based on the lessons learned from Europe, Asia, and some U.S. states and discuss what it will take to get such a plan through Congress.

Podcast: A Blueprint for Big Broadband: Moving from Why to How

gbayne — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:19:27 -0500

This podcast features a speech by John Windhausen Jr., President of Telepoly. The speech, "A Blueprint for Big Broadband: Moving from Why to How," was recorded at the EDUCAUSE 2008 Policy Conference in Arlington, Virginia. You can also read John Windhausen Jr.'s EDUCAUSE white paper, A Blueprint for Big Broadband.

The United States has fallen behind its international competitors in broadband deployment, price, and openness in part because it has no national broadband policy. In contrast, most other countries adopted proactive programs to address the broadband needs of their citizens at the beginning of the decade that are now proving successful. Several U.S. states are now developing their own broadband plans because of the void at the national level. This session proposes an action plan for the nation based on the lessons learned from Europe, Asia, and some U.S. states and discusses what it will take to get such a plan through Congress.

EDUCAUSE Now - Show #3 - Current Issues Survey, Big Broadband Policy

gbayne — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:27:45 -0500

EDUCAUSE Now is a monthly podcast focusing on the intelligent use of information technology in higher education. Each episode features a variety of stories, interviews, and views that relate to IT in higher education.

This episode of EDUCAUSE Now features:

The EDUCAUSE 2008 Current Issues Survey
We hear from Current Issues Committee Chair Debra Allison and EDUCAUSE staff liasion Peter DeBlois. The Current Issues Survey resource page is now available.
A Commentary from EDUCAUSE President Diana Oblinger
EDUCAUSE President Diana Oblinger talks about current issues facing higher education and how IT can be a solution, even for non-technical challenges.
A Look at Big Broadband Policy in America
John Windhausen Jr. speaks to EDUCAUSE Now about his white paper, "A Blueprint for Big Broadband".
Music for EDUCAUSE Now:
- "Groove IT" by Denis Kitchen
- "Symmetry and the Pocket of Angels" by Josh Woodward
- "Anapop" by Sebastian6

May/June 2008 EDUCAUSE Review Now Available Online

cluckett — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:42:38 -0500

The May/June 2008 EDUCAUSE Review is now available online. It features Brad Wheeler on the need for providing answers that are good enough and quick enough in the Era of Certitude; John Windhausen Jr. on the demand for "big broadband" connectivity in the United States; a summary of the 2008 EDUCAUSE Current Issues Survey findings; and Chris Dede on Web 2.0 and the seismic shift in epistemology.

Preserving Internet Freedom: Guiding Principles for the Industry

elilly — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:35:26 -0500

This is a speech given by Michael K. Powell, when he was Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, at the Silicon Flatirons Symposium on "The Digital Broadband Migration: Toward a Regulatory Regime for the Internet Age." University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado, February 8, 2004.

Big Broadband Connectivity in the United States

elilly — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:45:14 -0500

The economic and social future of the United States depends on answering the growing demand for very high-speed broadband connectivity, a capability termed “big broadband.” Failure to take on the challenge could lead to a decline in global competitiveness and an inability to educate students.

EDUCAUSE Now - Show #1 - Premiere Episode

gbayne — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:46:49 -0500

Welcome to the premiere episode of EDUCAUSE Now!

EDUCAUSE Now is a monthly podcast, focusing on the intelligent use of information technology in higher education. Each episode features a variety of stories, interviews, and views that relate to IT in higher education. EDUCAUSE Now will also inform you about upcoming events, report on past events, and feature the movers and shakers in policy, teaching and learning, security, and a whole host of other important topics for our members. Let us know what you would like to hear at podcast@educause.edu.

This episode of EDUCAUSE Now features:

The EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR) Study entitled, "Service on the Front Line: The IT Help Desk in Higher Education"
We talk about some of the surprising findings with ECAR Fellow and author of the study, Mark Sheehan.
ELI in Conversation: Future Learning
A conversation between George Siemens, director of the Learning Technologies Centre at the University of Manitoba, and Michael Wesch, assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University. This conversation was recorded at the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative 2008 Annual Meeting. George Siemens is the author of "Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age", and - Michael Wesch has produced two important videos on Web 2.0, "Information R/evolution" and "The Machine is Us/ing Us." You can listen to the full length podcast of this conversation.
A Commentary from EDUCAUSE President Diana Oblinger.
Diana introduces herself as the new president of EDUCAUSE and provides some background information on her career path. She also speaks about her vision for the future of EDUCAUSE.
The EDUCAUSE Policy Office: Update
We check in with EDUCAUSE Vice President Mark Luker regarding current hot topics -- federal broadband policy, net neutrality, and peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. You can read the EDUCAUSE report, "A Blueprint for Big Broadband", and visit the talking points for P2P filesharing issues.
Music for EDUCAUSE Now:
- "Groove IT" by Denis Kitchen
- "Lorge" by El Ten Eleven
- "Guitar Suite I, Movement I" by Dan Tharp

U.S. Internet Access Policy

djacobs — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:42:57 -0600

A worldwide tussle over Internet access policy is playing out right now, and many countries are closely watching what the United States does. This talk will provide a brief overview of the U.S. regulatory structure for high-speed Internet access.

Tune in March 7 for a Free Web Seminar on U.S. Internet Access Policy

pkurkowski — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:38:30 -0600

A worldwide tussle over Internet access policy is playing out right now, and many countries are closely watching what the United States does. In this free March 7 EDUCAUSE Live! web seminar, U.S. Internet Access Policy, presenter Susan Crawford, Visiting Professor, Yale Law School, will provide a brief overview of the U.S. regulatory structure for high-speed Internet access.

Those unable to attend may wish to visit the archives after the event or browse related EDUCAUSE resources on Access to Advanced Networks, Broadband Access and Pricing, National Broadband Policy, Net Neutrality, and Telecommunications Policy.

Washington Update: We’re from the Government, and We’re Here to Help You!

drupal — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:06:43 -0600

Federal policies have a very real impact on our institutions. Hear how EDUCAUSE is working with our members to influence federal policies in cases where our government is doing too little (broadband networking) and too much (peer-to-peer file sharing). Learn how you can help to form our message and raise the voice of higher education. Mark Luker, the director of the EDUCAUSE policy office in D.C., will give us the inside story.

EDUCAUSE Podcast: Washington Update with EDUCAUSE Vice President Mark Luker

gbayne — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:39:31 -0600

In this 50 minute podcast we feature a keynote speech by Mark Luker, Vice President of EDUCAUSE. The speech was delivered at the EDUCAUSE 2008 Southwest Regional Conference in Houston, Texas, and is entitled, "Washington Update: We're from the Government, and We're Here to Help You!"

Mark A. Luker is vice president of EDUCAUSE, where he heads Net@EDU, a 'thought-leadership' coalition of university CIOs and state network directors who work to advance national networking for both research and education through joint projects and federal policy. Net@EDU was the spawning ground of Internet2, and is now expanding its focus to include advanced connections between campuses and their customers in surrounding communities and regions. He also leads the EDUCAUSE office of government relations and policy analysis in Washington, D.C., which works with partner associations to help shape the emerging policy and legal framework of the Internet, intellectual property, and other issues of importance to higher education.

Luker served two years as program director for advanced networking at the National Science Foundation and the federal Next Generation Internet project. Prior to that he was CIO at the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, where he was active in national projects including the National Learning Infrastructure Initiative and the Coalition for Networked Information.

Luker received his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, and served as a faculty member and then a dean at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, before moving into information technology management.

A Blueprint for Big Broadband: Lessons Learned on Broadband Deployment

drupal — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:38:28 -0600

The United States has fallen behind its international competitors in broadband deployment, price, and openness in part because it has no national broadband policy. In contrast, most other countries adopted proactive programs to address the broadband needs of their citizens at the beginning of the decade that are now proving successful. Several states are now developing their own broadband plans because of the void at the national level. This session will propose an action plan for the nation based on the lessons learned from Europe, Asia, and some U.S. states. The broadband blueprint is intended to stimulate investment in big broadband networks while advancing the kind of competition and openness that has been shown to serve the needs of consumers and Internet entrepreneurs.

EDUCAUSE Proposes New Approach to Broadband Development

cluckett — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:58:39 -0600

EDUCAUSE today proposed bringing the federal government, state governments, and the private sector together as part of a new approach to making high-speed Internet services available across the country. The group, whose membership includes information technology officials from more than 2,200 colleges, universities, and other educational organizations, said that a new "universal broadband fund" would be necessary so that "Big Broadband" — services of 100 mbps — could be made widely available. For more information, read the press release.

A Blueprint for Big Broadband

ckeller — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:11:37 -0600

This report proposes bringing the federal government, state governments, and the private sector together as part of a new approach to making high-speed Internet services available across the country. The report also contains a detailed analysis of broadband deployment in the United States and in key countries around the world.

Net@EDU Tenth Annual Meeting: Registration Now Open

pkurkowski — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:55:08 -0600

Guru Parulkar, Consulting Professor and Executive Director, Clean Slate Internet Design Program, Stanford University, and Douglas Maughan, Program Manager, Cyber Security R&D, Science and Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will present keynote sessions at the tenth Net@EDU Annual Meeting: “The Next 10 Years,” February 10–12, 2008, in Tempe, Arizona, with Working Groups through February 14.

The conference program will cover the latest developments in network and system security, regional and state networking, identity management, federal IT policy, converged communications services, and policies for national broadband connections. Register now for low early-bird rates.

Group Puts Broadband Providers on Net Neutrality Watch

ckeller — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:31:09 -0600

The Net Neutrality Squad will keep an eye out for ISPs that interfere with the free flow of Internet traffic.

E07 Podcast: An interview with Robert Mendenhall

mpasiewicz — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:50:58 -0500

In this 16 minute recording, we'll hear from the President and CEO of Western Governors University, Robert Mendenhall. Listen in as he shares some thoughts on his particpation in a panel discussion about accesss, affordability and accountability in the information age and about online learning more broadly.

Comcast Blocks Some Internet Traffic

ckeller — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:26:24 -0500

Comcast has been blocking the sharing of certain files on their users network as a means of managing its network to keep file-sharing traffic from swallowing too much bandwidth and affecting the Internet speeds of other subscribers.

Spectrum Reallocation for Public Safety and Broadband: The 700 MHz Auction

ckeller — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:24:46 -0500

The authors discuss why the FCC auction of a large block of spectrum is important to colleges and universities.

Community Broadband Act of 2007 Sign on Letters

ckeller — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:40:04 -0500

EDUCAUSE has once again joined a broad coalition of association, corporations and public interest groups encouraging Congress to pass legislation permitting local governments to build and deploy municipal broadband networks under the Community Broadband Act of 2007 (S.1853/HR3281).

Reply Comments to the FCC on Broadband Industry Practices (Docket 07-52) July 16, 2007

ckeller — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:52:54 -0500

This document is a reply to a comment filed by NBC Universal requesting that the FCC require that broadband providers “use readily available means to prevent the use of their broadband networks to transfer pirated content.” EDUCAUSE signed the document along with 10 other public interest organizations to express their concern for this inappropriate and misguided use of available bandwidth management tools.

Broadband America – Realizing the Vision

ckeller — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:43:01 -0500

In this brochure, EDUCAUSE and the Network Policy Council sets forth broadband policy goals that can form a basis for a comprehensive government, education and industry effort that moves America forward aggressively toward realizing the vision of a Broadband America and restoring our national and international leadership. Also included is a map of existing and planned higher education regional optical networks.

FTC Nixes Net Neutrality

ckeller — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:54:02 -0500

Consumers Should Trust the Marketplace, Regulators Purr.

Podcast: Alternative Solutions to Achieving Ubiquitous Broadband

gbayne — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:46:07 -0500

This 48 minute podcast was recorded at the EDUCAUSE 2007 Policy Conference. It features a general session entitled, "Alternative Solutions to Achieving Ubiquitous Broadband". It is a panel discussion featuring:

Michael Cook, Senior VP for Sales and Marketing, North American Division, Hughes Network Systems
John Muleta, Co-Founder and CEO, M2Z Networks
Sam Spencer, Editor, BPL Today
Session moderator: Richard Greenfield, IT Policy Manager, Office of Information Technologies, University of Alaska

Most Americans rely on DSL and cable modem for their broadband connection, but are these the only options? Other technologies once derided as impractical are beginning to show promise. Can alternative broadband technologies help facilitate the oft-repeated vision of federal policymakers to provide “affordable, ubiquitous broadband for all Americans, regardless of where they live”? Industry experts and entrepreneurs seeking to shake up the current broadband marketplace will discuss the practical progress of these alternatives to date and whether adjustments in federal IT policy regulations are needed to enable their chances for success.

This podcast was edited by Carie Windham.

2007 Policy Conference: Year In Review

gbayne — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 11:59:10 -0500

The 2007 Policy Conference kicked off with a top-ten style list of Policy Issues currently facing higher education. This entertaining and insightful list was compiled and delivered by Tracy Mitrano, Director of IT Policy and Computer Policy and Law Program at Cornell University. What's past is prologue. As we look ahead to the policy questions facing the Internet today and tomorrow, it's useful to recall what we've seen over the past 12 months. This speech, entitled the Year In Review, runs approximately 33 minutes.

EDUCAUSE2006 Podcast: Policing the Internet

Carie417 — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:14:43 -0500

In this 48-minute recording from the 2006 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference, we'll hear from Rodney Petersen and Wendy Wigen in a session entitled Policing the Internet: Higher Education Law and Policy. They discuss recent government initiatives and emerging legal and policy issues in higher education, such as the USA PATRIOT Act, CALEA, and the European Union Data Directive.

CALEA Update: Higher Ed Reporting Due Dates Announced

lgesner — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 17:55:55 -0600

Due dates for the two reports that must be filed by higher education institutions that must comply with CALEA (the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act) have now been announced. One report is due on February 12, and the other on March 12. EDUCAUSE has updated its CALEA resource page to describe the reports and provide additional information for those who must file, using attorney Matthew A. Brill, who has consulted on this issue for higher education, for expert advice.

It is important to note that not all institutions must file these reports. In fact, according to the earlier recommendations of ACE and EDUCAUSE most institutions do NOT have to comply with CALEA, and do NOT need to file the reports. EDUCAUSE suggests that member institutions’ primary representatives notify their presidents of this situation, since it is not recommended that an institution file the reports unless it in fact must comply with CALEA. For further information on the CALEA resource page.

New Zealand finally gets local loop unbundling

StuartYeates — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 03:40:54 -0600

After far too long, it looks like Telecom New Zealand, the incumbent monopoly telecommunications provider in New Zealand, is being forced into local loop unbundling.

Part of the reason it's taken so long is that Telecom is New Zealand's biggest public company and holds a great deal of implicit leverage. Personally I think that splitting the company into three means they'll do far better in the medium term, simply by growing the market, something which local loop unbundling has shown to be very effective at elsewhere.

The dynamic is pretty simple: when companies compete to offer broadband and similar services to consumers, those services become cheaper, easier and better supported, leading to greater take-up. As the numbers of broadband-connected homes and businesses rises, more of those businesses start connecting with more of those homes, and before you know it, e-commerce is really taking off. Most of those businesses don't know one end of an internet from the other, so third parties spring up to help them and before you know there's an entire industry. Entry into that industry is entirely predicated on what Telecom has to sell: high quality Internet connections.

CALEA Update: Archived Recording of EDUCAUSE Web Seminar Now Available

cluckett — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:09:14 -0500

An archived recording of the August 1 EDUCAUSE Web seminar addressing CALEA compliance for higher education is now available. Hear from key speakers, including:

Matt Brill—Lead attorney for ACE and EDUCAUSE in our challenge to the FCC CALEA order
Terry Hartle—Senior Vice President of ACE for Government Relations
Steve Rosen—University Counsel for the University of California
Steve Worona—Moderator, EDUCAUSE Director of Policy and Networking Programs

For background information, access a robust collection of CALEA resources.

Court Denies CALEA Appeal

ecoghlan — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:26:51 -0500

A U.S. Court of Appeals has decided against an ACE appeal of the FCC's extension of CALEA to the Internet. The impact on higher education will be mixed; look for guidance on the issue from EDUCAUSE in the near future.

The End of the Net as We Know It?

drupal — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:22:06 -0500

The higher education community weighs in on the side of neutrality during recent congressional hearings on network neutrality.

The Net Neutrality Debate: The Basics

drupal — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:04:19 -0500

Learn the basics of today's net neutrality debate that is likely to be an ongoing issue for society.

The Broadband War of 2006

drupal — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 09:40:51 -0600

Mega-mergers and explosive growth in user-generated content are raising the stakes. A field guide.

Net Losses

drupal — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:55:30 -0600

The author discusses Network Neutrality and the issue that several large telecommunications companies are trying to turn access to the internet into tiered access.

E2005 Podcast: Broadband America: An Unrealized Vision

podcaster — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 18:28:52 -0600

This 49 minute recording provides coverage of the 2005 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference Session entitled Broadband America: An Unrealized Vision.

Senators Can't Agree on Municipal Broadband Rules

drupal — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 10:39:04 -0600

When cities create wireless networks, should the federal government restrict their efforts, promote them, or let individual states decide the ground rules?

E2005 Podcast: Policies Shaping Broadband Provision

podcaster — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 17:52:35 -0600

This 41 minute presentation by Stephen McDowell provides coverage of the 2005 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference Session entitled Policies Shaping Broadband Provision: Higher Ed Implications and Responses.

Playing Favorites on the Net?

drupal — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 16:44:54 -0600

"Broadband providers and e-commerce companies, historic allies on many political fronts, are finding themselves butting heads over federal legislation that could change the way either side does business."

Broadband Bill Hews to Laissez-faire Line

drupal — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 09:40:30 -0600

"As part of a planned update of a 1996 telecommunications law, Congress will consider a new proposal that starts with a simple premise: The government should be minimally intrusive when enacting regulations."

Policies Shaping Broadband Provision: Higher Ed Implications and Responses

drupal — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 12:34:26 -0600

During 2004-2005, several states passed legislation to restrict municipalities from offering retail broadband data networks to the public. In June 2004, the Supreme Court upheld exemptions for cable providers, letting them restrict access by competing ISPs to their networks. This presentation reviews the implications for colleges and universities of recent legislative and regulatory developments shaping broadband services and explores strategies for institutions of higher education.

Community Wireless Networks, Participatory Media and Citizen-Empowerment

drupal — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 10:33:23 -0600

There is a growing trend for college and university campuses to participate in community or municipal networks; however, these projects are raising serious policy questions at the local, state, and national levels. This session will feature two panel discussions. The first panel will compare and contrast viewpoints from the higher education perspective; the second will present industry, public utility, and government perspectives.

Impact from Washington: How Will National Policy Changes Affect You?

drupal — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 11:05:46 -0600

With the move to IP-enabled services, the surge of mobile devices on campus, and the increased demand for distance learning, how will changes in national policy impact your campus telecommunications strategy? Will they hurt or help your budget? Will they promote increased outsourcing of services? This session will explore the discussions taking place in Washington on topics such as VoIP, spectrum management, community networks, and affordable access to broadband.

FCC Comments 04-163 "Wireless Broadband Policies"

drupal — Thu, 01 Jul 2004 16:22:47 -0500

The Federal Communications Commission appointed a new Wireless Broadband Access Task Force to study what the federal government could do to facilitate WISP growth. On May 5, 2004 they issued a Public Notice to request public comment on various aspects of deployed WLANs, including those on academic campuses. The FCC also wanted opinions on what barriers to future deployment the FCC could help eliminate. The Net@EDU Wireless Working Group surveyed 10 campuses, ranging from Little Priest Tribal College (200 students) to New York University (50,000 students). These are the compiled results that were used to answer the FCC questions.