The following statement can be attributed to U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ranking Democrat, House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, regarding release of legislation by Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX):
“After several months of negotiations, I am disappointed that Energy and Commerce Commitee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) and Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) decided to walk away from agreements reached with Ranking Member John Dingell (D-MI) and myself on critical telecommunications policy issues in order to pursue their own separate legislation.
“The legislation they have proposed represents an extraordinary rejection of the competitive and universal service principles that have guided successful telecommunications policy for decades. The proposed bill permits a national franchise for cable service, yet has no service area requirement for providing such service. By failing to include a build-out provision to ensure service area parity between a Bell company entering a franchise area and the incumbent cable operator, it allows a national franchisee to use public rights-of-way in a community but serve only select neighborhoods within the community.
“Moreover, the bill compounds the consumer risk when the omission of a service area requirement is considered in the context of an incumbent cable operator qualifying for a national franchise. Under the proposal, an incumbent cable operator may similarly seek a national franchise after the phone company arrives in a franchise area, even if the phone company is serving just one household in the franchise area. The lack of a service area requirement at the national level then means that the incumbent cable operator no longer has to serve the entire franchise either. In other words, the operator is free to skimp on service upgrades or withdraw service from any part of their historic service area within the affected community. The incumbent may also raise rates in areas of the community the phone company is not serving in order to cross-subsidize its offering in the part of town the phone company has chosen to serve. This represents a grave consumer protection flaw in the bill.
“The ‘network neutrality’ section of the bill represents a body blow to the Internet community. It removes FCC authority to establish any future rules needed to ensure that consumers and competitors can avail themselves of the Internet experience they enjoy today. U.S. global leadership in high technology stems directly from policies that ensured that telecommunications networks are open to all lawful uses and users. The Internet was enhanced by such policies and its open network architecture has provided low barriers to entry for web-based content, applications, and services. These policies have driven innovation, economic growth, and job creation. The bill’s stunning reversal of these policies jeopardizes the successful policy of open networks and imperils the continuation of the Internet as an economic engine for the country and an unprecedented vehicle for our First Amendment freedoms.
“This bill ought to embrace open networks, competition in all markets, and a broadband vision which benefits everyone in the country. Instead, it does the opposite. In short, it favors the communications collosi at the expense of the public interest. For those fighting for a broadband vision for America which is inclusive, innovative, and openly competitive, this bill represents a giant step backwards.”
Danielle blogs about her trip to Mexico City for the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network conference:
“So when I heard that this year’s annual Intel Computer Clubhouse Network conference was in Mexico City, I offered my training services in hopes to hitch a ride to a country I’d never visited before (and of course, to plug the CTC VISTA Project as many times as humanly possible). Lucky for me, they were up to it and interested in my new digital storytelling prowess. So I got a chance to not only give a brief two hour presentation on how Computer Clubhouse staff could use digital storytelling as a tool in their clubhouses with youth, but I also got the chance to do a day long workshop with five great coordinators and a few ICCN staff.” - “Cuente una historia digital!“
As I noted in an earlier post (on the ACMEBoston Blog) I joined a panel of speakers on Thursday night in Roxbury for a program on BNN, called The P.A.T. Show, to discuss why Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) Access matters and how bills in Congress threaten the future of community focused media.
When Jason, Access Coordinator at CCTV, and I arrived at the studio, we found out that the show was going to be taped, not live. Jason also had to leave early and unfortunately he was not able to appear on the program. But, the show must go on!
Before we went on the set, Jason, Matt (Digital Media Coordinator at BNN), and I met with the host of the P.A.T. show, Ada Robinson (and member of the Boston Neighborhood Producers Group) and Sharyn Hinton, Ujima Scholars Counselor at The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute at Northeastern University and former BNN City Place Studio Manager. We talked briefly about the format for the show and what each of us could speak about related to the issues.
When we walked on the set, we got in our seats, put on our lavalier microphones, and worked with the producer, Hiram Scott (BNPG) to make sure the sound, lights, and cameras were ready to go. It was my first appearance on public access. I admit that I was a little nervous! But, once the tape started to role and each of us introduced ourselves, I felt more at ease.
Sharyn, Matt, and I spoke with Ada about why public access and community media plays such an important role for people in our communities, against the backdrop of an increasingly consolidated corporate media system that continues to marginalize voices and communities in our local media. I quickly realized how important the program was, being able to practice my freedom of speech on TV and having the opportunity to share what I’ve learned about PEG access with others at such a critical time in the history of community media.
Sharyn was amazing and Matt did an excellent job! Ada was a great host and my overall impression was that the show went really well. I guess we’ll see this week, when the program is to aired on BNN. Hiram is working to edit the video and said that it should be ready to air this Wednesday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Boston’s cable access channel BNN-23.
We also hope to air the tape on CCTV, SCAT, and on other public access channels in other communities, as well. I also hope we can share the video through the ACMEBoston website, as well. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to participate in such an important program at such an important time, and I thank Matt for asking me to be involved.
An open convening at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society[2] at Harvard Law School.
May 12-13 2006
Summary
We will explore the thesis that traditional public media - public broadcasting, cable access television, etc - face a unique opportunity to embrace new participatory web-based media models - podcasting, video blogs, social software, etc - and create a stronger and more vital public service.
Background
This convening builds on related conversations taking place over this past year in the public broadcasting, technology, policy, and foundation communities. In particular, the Ford Foundation has recently launched a 5-year $50M initiative titled “Strengthening Public Media: Global Perspectives in a Digital Age”. The Center for Social Media at American University [3]has started a “Future of Public Media” program. The Center for Digital Democracy has held a series of public media ‘caucuses’[4] around the country. Strategic discussions have been held between public broadcasting executives and technologists, entrepreneurs, and citizen media makers. The first Open Source Media Developers Summit[5] took place in November 2005 at New York University. The Integrated Media Association tackled these topics in Seattle at the annaul gathering for public broadcasters. [6]. The Berkman Center has fostered related several projects and discussions, including Global Voices[7], the Public Radio Exchange[8], Radio Open Source[9], the Digital Media Project, and the forthcoming Citizen Media Center from Dan Gillmor.
Goal
The goal of this convening is threefold:
to create an opportunity for interaction between active participants in traditional public media and participatory web-based efforts;
to showcase and discuss the latest projects and models emerging faster than anyone can keep track of;
to cultivate a shared understanding of the potential and meaning of a renewed public media role.
Day two of the convening will be the second Open Media Developers Summit, focusing on technology through open discussions and demos.
Discussion Topics
What’s happening: what are some successful or provocative examples of broadcasters incorporating participatory efforts into their work right now? How are the emerging web-only media organizatios approaching this?
How to reinvent the space: How do we take advantage of the strengths of the existing services – that is the trust of public broadcasting brand, the participatory aspect of citizen media – in creating public media space? How do we moderate or curate? What is the ‘community’ dimension in new media models?
Sustainability: – what’s the business model, how are spaces that are now creating original material maintained? What potential is there for revenue models?
Law and Policy: What are the most pressing and relevant legal issues in the intersection of the changing role of traditional public broadcasting, and the creation and growth of public participation media?
Bill Densmore, director/editor of the 
Danielle posted a great video by melissa a. k. from 