US Gov’t Presents a Grand Scheme for the Internet

“The Federal Communications Commission is proposing an ambitious 10-year plan that will reimagine the nation’s media and technology priorities by establishing high-speed Internet as the country’s dominant communication network.”

So states the lead-in of a March 12, NY Times article that describes the government’s plans to advance the Internet and digital communication in our country. It appears that government officials are becoming interested in addressing some of the disparities that have arisen regarding how citizens access, use and experience the Internet.

For several years the US has trailed numerous countries in the quality and availability of Internet service. The question of how this might affect our country, both competitively and economically, is becoming a concern, especially as more of life, including access to medical records, coordinating emergency services, education, and everyday business activity, becomes increasingly reliant on the ‘Net. And then there is mega-business — the telecoms, ISPs, entertainment and publishing industries and electronics manufacturers, to name a few — that all have a huge interest in the growth and direction of Internet access.

“The blueprint reflects the government’s view that broadband Internet is becoming the common medium of the United States, gradually displacing the telephone and broadcast television industries.”

Perhaps even more important is the so-called Digital Divide. “About a third of Americans have no access to high-speed Internet service, cannot afford it or choose not to have it,” states the article. On the one hand we have people who can’t afford access and/or devices, along with people who lack the skills or education to participate. On the other are people who “choose not to” participate. Will life in the US, especially economic life, require a connection? Will savvy users be favored? The possibility of people being left out is a genuine concern.

Among several provisions, the plan calls for, “a subsidy for Internet providers to wire rural parts of the country, an auction of some broadcast spectrum to free up space for wireless devices, and a new universal set-top box that connects to the Internet and cable service.”

This all sounds good, but if our society is going to be completely “wired,” and therefore dependent upon the free flow of information over a government-sponsored Internet, a host of concerns comes with it, including reliability, security and privacy. Sure, it will be great to get our favorite TV shows and movies instantly, but can people afford the devices (and the steady stream of new devices) required to “keep up?” Will everyone possess the technical skills required to maintain their devices and connections, which will be increasingly necessary as more of our vital information exists online? What happens when critical systems go down? And perhaps most important, how does a government-wired world affect our freedom? Maybe China’s current Internet policies give us some clues? Hopefully, not.

Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/business/media/13fcc.html?hp

Cablevision-ABC Standoff Result of Shifting Audiences

The recent blackout of ABC’s programming in the New York area can be chalked up to a shifting of audiences from broadcast to Internet, a trend that’s been underway for several years. “As the broadcast networks are less able to get advertising revenue, they’re turning to the cable guys to make up for that shortfall,” states Todd Mitchell, an analyst with Kaufman Brothers Lp, as quoted in a recent Newsday article. Ad dollars are in short supply because TV audiences have found other options for their time, especially growing Internet use.

It’s the same trend that has hurt the print industry, record sales, DVD sales and other businesses that offer physical products that can also be delivered digitally. Consumers have shown they prefer their entertainment, information and connections to be digital. Even telecoms will have to face the fact that Internet telephony is a preferred option for many consumers. TV programmers must eventually follow suit as well.

But in the meantime, according to the Newsday article, we can expect more of these inconveniences as yet another business, built on an outdated model, tries to defy reality and force its market to stand still. Do these companies really believe they can continue holding customers hostage? Consumers, who vote with their dollars, will have the final say — something that the  iTunes store has already proven when it comes to digital goods.

Read full article: http://bit.ly/dgb94E [subscription required]

25 Decade-Shaping Technologies

This presentation from eWeek documents 25 key technologies that quickly became mainstream during the last ten years, reshaping our lives in the process. As you view the list you’ll likely recall how you first heard about, and then started using many of them. What’s interesting is that each of these technologies either gave us new and more powerful ways to use the Internet, or brought the ‘Net closer to us in our daily lives. The result is that we’ve quickly become dependent upon many of these technologies as our lives have become more and more interactive.

The internet itself helped speed these technologies along. Technology tends to beget technology, and a technology that people find useful takes on a life of its own. We may look at something today and call it a novelty, but before we know it we’re placing the order or creating the account, and catching up to the early adopters. This list provides a pleasant bit of nostalgia, but it also teaches us to be nimble. The next 25 game-changing technologies likely will take far less than ten years to proliferate.

View presentation: http://bit.ly/bOxg0x