Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commissioned the California Broadband Task Force (CBTF) to “remove barriers to broadband access, identify opportunities for increased broadband adoption, and enable the creation and deployment of new advanced communication technologies.â€Â The Taskforce just published it’s report, saying that better, faster and more available broadband capabilities would propel economic growth for the most populous U.S. state, where 96 percent of households already have access to basic high-speed communications. They suggest the state consider issuing bonds to pay for the broadband build out. Continue reading
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TIME WARNER TO TEST INTERNET BILLING BASED ON USAGE
Time Warner Cable said on Wednesday it is planning a trial to bill high-speed Internet subscribers based on their amount of usage rather than a flat fee, the standard industry practice. Continue reading
FIRMS TEAM UP TO OFFER INTERNET VIA SATELLITE IN TRANS-ATLANTIC PUSH
French satellite operator Eutelsat SA and U.S. equipment provider ViaSat Inc. have formed a partnership intended to make Internet access via satellite more competitive. The goal is to deliver faster, more flexible and less expensive broadband connections than those typically provided by existing satellite or ground-based rivals on both sides of the Atlantic. Continue reading
Minneapolis – a muni Wi-Fi success story
While other big cities’ municipal Wi-Fi plans are foundering, that of Minneapolis appears to be succeeding. With 30% of the city covered already, the provider US Internet expects to complete it’s network by February, and be breaking even shortly after based on the current 5% subscriber take-up rate. Continue reading
Albany: Spitzer Names Broadband Panel
Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced the formation yesterday of a state panel to develop strategies to allow all New Yorkers to get access to high-speed Internet service. The panel, the New York State Council for Universal Broadband, will recommend ways to extend high-speed access beyond traditional methods and to extend broadband connections to underserved rural and urban areas, the governor said.
In his speech, Spitzer set targets: affordable universal access @ 20Mbps statewide, with 100Mbps in metro areas, by 2015.
One of the Council’s first actions will be to distribute $5 million in grants. Continue reading
US lags in broadband – chart
According to the Q3 2007 report by Point Topic on broadband download speeds, most of the rest of the world is seeing increases in their download speeds. The United States, continuing in its stagnant trajectory, has broken off from much of the rest of the most industrialized nations and is now lumped in with the Middle East and Africa. Continue reading
Verizon dumps WiMax for Long Term Evolution (LTE)
Verizon announced last week that it plans to develop and deploy its fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband network using Long Term Evolution (LTE) – a technology developed within the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards organization.
LTE promises to deliver a significant performance boost even when compared to Verizon’s current (3-G) EV-DO network. Verizon claims customers will see as much as 100 and 50 megabits per second in download and upload speeds, respectively. Continue reading
AT&T RAISES DIAL-UP PRICING ABOVE DSL
In an interesting dial-up to broadband conversion strategy move, AT&T is raising the cost of its dial-up Internet service above its broadband DSL service. Continue reading
FEDERAL BOARD RECOMMENDS BROADBAND FUND
In a proposal designed to increase broadband in rural and high-cost areas, the $7 billion Universal Service Fund would be split into three new pools with $300 million annually dedicated to high-speed networks. The other two pools would be used for wireless services and traditional telephone service. Continue reading
Trenton, NJ gets citywide Wi-Fi network
Trenton, New Jersey has selected E-Path Communications to deploy a citywide wireless broadband network for the city’s own use and for public Internet access.
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NYBAC announces Manhattan public hearing
The New York City Broadband Advisory Committee has announced the third of their series of public hearings on broadband connectivity.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 12th, 2007, 1pm – 4pm
WHERE: Manhattan School of Music, Greenfield Hall,
120 Claremont Avenue at 122 Street, New York, NY 10027 (map) Continue reading