Recent news….
Events point out the sharp differences in this Asia century—this week David Gunn was fired from Amtrak. Now, I know nothing about David Gunn, to be honest, but I do know about commuting to downtown Tokyo. Hey, even the children on the Amtrak we were on knew that Japanese trains were cooler. We were talking about this while the train we were on was a half hour late getting into NYC. Everyone on our train knew that the trains in [1]. Even commuting to Paris—when the Parisians are not on strike, of course, is faster. But most exciting—or frightening, depending on your bent of mind—is commuting to down town Shanghai on their train at 260 miles per hour. Now that is a commuter train!
Boston, Stanford, NYC, Philly, Washington—I think we all know how much money resides in that stretch of land. Yet the only true way to get around is on a JET. One of the oldest rail lines in the world cannot take care of the needs of the working—and traveling—community.
More news….
The city of San Francisco wants ideas for making the entire 49-square mile city a free—or at least cheap—Wi-Fi zone.
“Taking a step toward bridging the so-called digital divide between the tech-savvy and people who can’t afford computers, the city government on Tuesday issued guidelines for a plan to “ensure universal, affordable wireless broadband access for all San Franciscans.”
The invitation, extended to nonprofit groups and businesses that could eventually bid on the project, puts San Francisco among a handful of major U.S. cities tackling the technological and political challenges of offering Internet service to its residents on such a wide scale.
And not so recent but relevant news…
Wireless Philadelphia is especially important for education in the City of Philadelphia. First graders and graduate students alike will be able to log on to learn!
More important, it will allow those all across the City to take advantage of online education or online learning, which, according to a new study released by Pierce College, is a key to maintaining America’s Global Competitiveness. [2] The study entitled “Online Learning: A Policy Perspective” was published by Dr. Arthur J. Lendo, president and CEO of Peirce College, in July at the Oxford Round Table at Oxford University in England.
It argues, “Today, asynchronous, online instruction presents a different model where learning may take place any time, anywhere, and any place utilizing the Internet platform supported by boundless, direct access to information and viewpoints. This extraordinary technological advancement, coupled with student demographical changes and new Information Age workforce needs, is now causing more educators and policymakers to revisit undergraduate policies, procedures, and practices.”
China Gets it Right
Our good friend, Haibo Lii, editor in Chief of Beijing Review who spoke at ChainLink Research’s Parallax Views conference in 2005, makes a significant point, that technology had democratized China. If you think of all the money that was spent on the cold war—it turns out that the real weapon for international relations and national democratization is the little cell phone. Ubiquitous in China—and in many other developing nations—the cell phone has united the world! Insuring that the wireless infrastructure is faultless is critical for business and society. And yet the US is a poor cousin to Japan, for instance, where 100mg per second can come streaming into your cell phone, providing the world of business intelligence and entertainment. [3]
Investments in the future are a Public trust. No doubt, business needs to be the driver, since government creates lasting institutions that breed lives of their own, so that they live beyond the market, creating a drag on the society. But government can enable our future. This is NOT creating a government institution on growth.
Commercialization is the key—but government can make it happen by enabling!
At ChainLink’s recent conference, we had guests from all over the world, talking about stimulation and growth of innovation, manufacturing, etc.—and the future of business and technology.
We need to reach forward in innovation—and now. With GM and Ford, and many more institutions in crisis—can it be that chapter 11 and GM be voiced in the same sentence? Growing the economy through designing and making things is the way to sustainable growth—not spiraling housing costs and increasing fuel costs.
We are so worried about IP—yes we should be. And this is an issue that Asia—both India and China—must address. But innovation is a dynamic thing. The market will ultimately address the products that get into the market—not just the innovation—but they have to be sold on a mass scale.
Once India and China are selling unique IP in the world markets, the discussion will hit a new high note!
That is why the work of EPC Global, by the way, is so important. We are encouraged by their efforts to create centers that certify technology so that firms large and small can get their products into the market, and these new fledgling firms can get a toe hold. The IEEE recently endorsed this vendor neutral approach toward standards and certification. And they should know. Look at 802.11’s ubiquitous deployment throughout the world!
These are an example of private sector market creation. A call to action by business and associations. So, you see, we don’t necessarily need government action.
Years back, there was investment tax credit for innovation. We do need to look at that model again. Quickly!
The reality is, though, that China is making it easy to invest. And they are investing in infrastructure to enable the establishments of trade—aka—logistics—bridges, highways, ports and railroads.
I was amazed at our conference when Cisco told us that they and other mega U.S. firms were part of the Pearl River consortia/investment strategy program. Where is our Mississippi River investment?
The End
References:
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said that the city is soliciting ideas for an ambitious system that would put Wi-Fi in the hands of people, whether they are working in a high-rise office tower, riding on a cable car or living in a low-income housing project.
Dell and other computer makers already have pledged thousands of computers that will be given to residents of poorer neighborhoods, he said.
“We are going to be able to wire the city in a dynamic way so that the entire city is a hot zone, but we are also going to be able to provide equipment in an unprecedented way,” Newsom said.
The mayor said that creating a network that is “not just cost-competitive with existing service providers, but substantially cheaper or free” tops his priority list for the project.
Philadelphia, the first big city to work on extending wireless Internet service throughout the city, is poised to choose a vendor to design, deploy and maintain a system that will cover the city’s 135 square miles. Portland, Ore., Minneapolis, Charleston, S.C., and Orlando, Fla., also are at various stages in the same process.
A number of small U.S. cities — including Lompoc, Hermosa Beach and Cupertino in California — have created citywide wireless networks that are accessible to the public either for free or for a lower fee than is available commercially.
According to an annual ranking compiled by chip maker Intel Corp., San Francisco already ranks just behind Seattle as the nation’s most “unwired city” in America, thanks to a ubiquity of cafes and restaurants that offer Wi-Fi.
Last year, the city erected antennas to make one of its most popular tourist destinations, Union Square, a free hot spot, and three others are set to go up later this year. Responses to the city’s request for information are due in six weeks, and Newsom said he hopes to have the citywide Wi-Fi plan at least partly “manifested” within six months.
“Cities are starting to realize this is not a ‘nice to have’ anymore,” said Paul Butcher, Intel’s state and local government marketing manager. “To operate efficiently as a government, to enable business to compete and provide adequate resources to cities, you pretty much have to do this.”
Wireless Philadelphia to Provide Free Internet, Access to Education
In June, Mayor John Street and chief information officer Dianah Neff, unveiled a wireless Love Park, where park goers can sit down, have lunch, and log onto websites via their wireless-enabled laptops. Through a new initiative, the Mayor and commerce director Stephanie Naidoff are expanding the borders with the goal of making the entire City of Philadelphia wireless.
With communications, business, and funding plans due in November, Wireless Philadelphia would provide open-air Internet access to students, business people, and citizens around the city.
“Wireless Philadelphia is a great tool in promoting the City of Philadelphia as a hub of technology,” said Rich Bendis, President and CEO of Innovation Philadelphia and Wireless Philadelphia Executive Committee member. “Think of all the business transactions that could take place on something as simple as a park bench. Philadelphia has the resources and the know how.
http://www.phila.gov/wireless/
Barcelona IPV6 and wimax…
Issues:
The main issues in the broadband discussion are:
Preventing a new ‘digital divide’;
The role of government versus private sector in making the necessary investments;
Standardization, e.g. of cable modems;
Deregulation, unbundling of the local loop;
Licensing issues in wireless broadband access;
Legacy infrastructure;
Market conditions.
Positions:
The European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) called on the Member States to implement divestiture, penalties and more effective regulation to deliver a competitive broadband Europe.
A statement by the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) argues: ‘let the market do its broadband work’. It states that positive market developments are due to competition, and not Internet-specific regulation. New innovative packages should be encouraged—not restrained—by regulation, particularly in the field of bundled offers. ETNO says it is essential to abstain from any intervention regarding retail prices that may either distort competition or block the development of price packages that support the take-up of the Internet. Any extension of regulatory obligations, such as mandatory price-regulated wholesale flat rates, may adversely affect incentives to the development of high-speed access services.
[1] Mr. Gunn says he was under funded. But the reality was that the key darling of the rail—the Acela- was off line for months with maintenance problems.
[2] Editor’s bold and underline added
[3] Soledad O’Brian panned cell phone use on CNN on 11-9 am. She has joined the ranks of Marie Antoinette, so out of touch with the needs of people to stay in touch….and for a news anchor!