A study authored by the Future of Music Coalition and the National Alliance for Media Arts suggests that universal high-speed Internet access is critical to the success of the arts and creative industry over the next decade. The report notes that technological advancements will offer both unique challenges and opportunities for the arts. Read More »
A report released last week by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies shows that while minorities are the fastest growing group of broadband adopters, significant barriers to adoption - age, income, and education - remain. The study was designed to highlight minority adoption trends and provide insight into factors affecting minority Internet use. Read More »
On Tuesday the FCC released its National Broadband Plan Consumer Survey which found that affordability and lack of computer literacy are the main reasons why 93 million Americans are not connected to high-speed Internet in their homes. The survey results bolstered existing statistics that 80 million adults currently lack high-speed Internet. Most cited affordability, digital literacy, and relevance as the main barriers to adoption. Read More »
The FCC recently released working recommendations for key priorities that will be part of next month's unveiling of the National Broadband Plan. The recommendations are meant to bring greater high-speed Internet availability to the health care, education, and energy sectors, and move the federal government into a new era of engagement and transparency. Read More »
The FCC is scheduled to present its National Broadband Plan next month to Congress - and the stakes could not be higher. The Chairman of the Alliance for Digital Equality - a Speed Matters partner - Julius Hollis wrote last week about the need for a measured approach to ensure all Americans have access to fast and readily accessible broadband Internet. Read More »
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke recently announced the latest round of economic stimulus awards totaling $357 million for expanded high-speed Internet access. Nine states received record funding for broadband expansion. Nine states - California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin - received funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Read More »
The Federal Government announced nearly $1 billion in Recovery Act awards to train over 10,000 new health IT workers and promote meaningful adoption of emerging technology in the health care industry. Read More »
The Communications Workers of America used the FCC's last request for public comment before the release of the national broadband plan to issue a public notice laying out what they consider to be top priorities for the plan. CWA's proposals include bringing U.S. networks to world-class standards by setting ambitious, but achievable goals, with an immediate goal of 10 megabits per second downstream and 1 megabit per second up; and 50 megabits down and 20 up to 80 percent of the population by 2015. Read More »
With the price tag of college tuition rising and unemployment growing, distance learning is allowing community colleges to increase enrollment without overburdening finite resources. Thanks to broadband, offering courses virtually has never been easier - and that's good news to the nation's community colleges, which are being swamped by job seekers going back to school. Read More »
The Communications Workers of America commends Representative Rick Boucher (D-Va.) for his work to ensure that all Americans have access to high quality broadband. Congressman Boucher has called on the Federal Communications Commission to include universal availability of true high speed broadband as part of its National Broadband Plan. Read More »
