Technology and politics are inseparable. However, even though broadband access influences every area of our society, from the economy to culture to education at the national and international level, broadband issues have been the exclusive domain of cable and telecommunications companies and their lobbyists in Washington .It is time for citizens to engage the public in this debate. That's why IPDI formed our Broadband Politics Project, designed to increase awareness of and discussion about how broadband access -- and broadband policy -- affect how American citizens communicate, learn, and engage with local and national government.

Past Events

In 2007 and 2008, IPDI will host aseries of live, interactive events that allow online and offline audiences to interact with the issues and people involved in broadband policy and distribution. Upcoming events include :

Thestate of broadband in the U. S. today – Deployment, Applications and Speeds: A Conversation WithVerizon

PART OF THE AUTUMN 2007 IPDI IDEASSERIES

The Institute for Politics, Democracy, and Internet will host adiscussion – the second in its autumn 2007 IPDI Ideas series – with Link Hoewing , Vice President for Internet and Technology Policy for Verizon ,one of the nation’s leading telecommunications companies, on the present state of the broadband access of the United States, Verizon’s perspective on theupcoming 700HMz spectrum auction and Google’s participation in it, and the future of broadband technologies like FiOS.

WHEN : Friday. October 26 ^th , 2007, 4:00pm. to 5:30pm.

WHERE: George Washington University ’s Marvin Center , 800 21st Street, N.W. , Washington , DC , Room 301

Where do you stand in the discussion? Email specific questions thatyou want our discussants to address to ipdi@ipdi.org. Let us know what your organization is doing – and blogging – about the issue, and we'll include your work in the roundtable discussion.

Discussants include :

Link Hoewing , Vice President, Internet and Technology Issues, Verizon

Julie Germany , Deputy Director, Institute for Politics, Democracy,and the Internet

REGISTER NOW! – RSVP to ipdi@ipdi.org

For more information, email cwimbush@ipdi.org .

A Conversation with Google: The Future of Broadband in America and Why the 700MHz Auction Matters

On February 18, 2009, the 700MHz frequency band of wireless communications spectrum will be vacated by television broadcasters who will be switching to all digital signal transmission. As a result, the Federal Communications Commission has mandated that the newly vacant spectrum be used for broadband wireless access and that it will be auctioned in February of 2009. This has created quite a stir in Washington as Google and the nation’s leading telecommunications companies have battled over the rules that will govern the auction.

• Is there really a lack competition in the Broadband markets?
• Is a third broadband pipeline necessary?
• Will the FCC’s "Open Applications" and "Open devices" requirements have any major impact on broadband access?
• On what basis did the FCC accept only two of Google’s four proposed spectrum requirements?
• Is there better A better way beyond what Google is suggesting to ensure greater Broadband access?

Provocateur - Henry Farrell, Assistant Professor of Political Scienceand International Affairs, the Elliott School of International Affairs, the George Washington University

Discussant - Rick Whitt , Washington Telecom and Media Counsel, Google Inc.

Blogs To Watch

IPDI’s Blog- http://www.ipdi.org/Blog/

Google’s Public Policy Blog- http://googlepublicpolicy .blogspot.com/

Verizon’s Policy Blog- http://policyblog.verizon.com /PolicyBlog/blogs/policyblog /default.aspx

SaveTheInternet.com’s Blog- http://www.savetheinternet.com /blog/

Tech Policy Summit Blog- http://techpolicysummit.blogs .com/tech_policy_summit/

IP Democracy- http://www.ipdemocracy.com/

Congresspedia National Broadband Project Wiki Page - http://www.sourcewatch.org /index.php?title=Sen._Dick _Durbin's_national_broadband _project

RESOURCES

• In this speech, United States Senator Edward Kennedy highlights the economic importance of widespread basic broadband access in the United States . http://www.tedkennedy.com /content/710/senator-kennedy -on-globalization

• Republican FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell addresses the 2007 Broadband Summit in Crystal City Virginia . During the speech, McDowell challenges the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's broadband statistics which conclude that America is falling behind on broadband penetration. McDowell also advocates for a "hands off" approach to expanding broadband access. Broadband Policy Summit III. 7 June 2007. http://www.broadbandpolicysummi t.com/mcdowellkeynote.pdf

• I n this The Hill editorial, United States Senator and former Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry calls on the FCC to push for open access requirements for the 700 MHz spectrum auction, greater broadband service into rural areas, and a national emergency communications network. 13 June 2007. http://thehill.com/leading-the -news/broadband-should-be-in -every-home-2007-06-13.html

• This report from the Department of Commerce outlines the functions of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the U.S. government's agency for telecommunications and internet issues. http://www.ntia.doc.gov /ntiahome/annualrpt/AnnualRepor t2006.pdf

• Remarks by President Bush announcing his intention to ensure every American has access to broadband by 2007 at American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention on April 26 2004. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news /releases/2004/04/print /20040426-6.html

What’s going on in the rest of the world?

• This article reviews the European Union's grappling with the issue of whether to create a pan-European regulatory agency for communications matters. "Will Europe Form Its Own FCC?" Satellite May 2007. http://proxygw.wrlc.org/login ?url=http://proquest.umi.com /pqdweb?did=1255836441&sid=2 &Fmt=3&clientId=31812&RQT=309 &VName=PQD

• In this speech, the European Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding recommends the creation a Europe-wide telecommunications marketplace to spur innovation and competition. 15 Feb. 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/commission _barroso/reding/docs/speeches /erg20070215.pdf

• This European Commission policy brief outlines the EU information society strategy, which focuses on three points, creating open and competitive markets for information and media services within the EU, increased research on information and communications technologies, and e-government and e-inclusion initiatives. The European Union. Commission of the European Communities. I2010- a European Information Society for Growth and Employment http://ec.europa.eu/information _society/eeurope/i2010/docs /annual_report/2007/comm_final _version_sg/com_2007_0146_en .pdf