Workshop: Low Adoption and Utilization - Importance of Broadband and Applications

Aug
19
2009

Workshop: Low Adoption and Utilization - Importance of Broadband and Applications

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Washington, DC
The goal of this workshop is to elicit information on the ways in which broadband services can benefit consumers, particularly those in groups that historically have been less likely to adopt or utilize broadband. Workshop participants will focus on the benefits to consumers of increased broadband use, and on how additional use of broadband by these consumers benefits the public interest. Participants will also identify applications that can increase broadband utilization among certain segments of the population. Information and data obtained in this workshop will enhance the Commission’s understanding of ways to encourage consumers that have not yet fully embraced the technological advances available in today’s broadband world to do so, and will be considered as the Commission develops the National Broadband Plan.

Webcast

Topics

The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. If you would like to discuss any other topics, please send us your suggestions.
  • How could broadband be beneficial to consumers in groups that have been least likely to adopt and use broadband technology? How is the lack of adoption or utilization being felt?
  • Senior citizens.
  • Low-income consumers
  • Consumers living in rural areas
  • Members of minority races or ethnicities
  • Members of tribal communities
  • Consumers with less formal education
  • Children specifically, among many of the above categories
  • What industries or sectors (small and medium businesses primarily) tend to under-utilize broadband?
  • What is the impact of this under-utilization?
  • Are there ways (policy, law, private sector initiatives, etc.) to address this that the Commission should consider incorporating in the National Broadband Plan?
  • What applications currently exist or could exist in the future to encourage broadband usage by these groups?

Agenda

1:00 pm Workshop Introduction, Moderator, Brian David, Adoption and Usage Director, Omnibus Broadband Initiative 
 
1:05 pm Panelist Opening Remarks 
  • Charles M. Davidson, Director, Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute at New York Law School 
  • Valerie Fast Horse, Director of Information Technology, Coeur d’Alene Tribe 
  • Douglas A. Levin, Deputy Executive Director, National Association of State Boards of Education 
  • Staci Pies, Director Government and Regulatory Affairs, Skype 
  • Jay H. Sanders, M.D., President and CEO, Global Telemedicine Group 
  • Craig Settles, Founder and President, Successful.com 
  • Dr. Sharon Strover, Philip G. Warner Regents Professor in Communication and Chair of the Radio-TV-Film Department, University of Texas at Austin 
  • Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Vice President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and Director, Media and Technology Institute 
1:45 pm Open Q & A/Discussion 
 
2:50 pm Closing Statements, Moderator
 
3:00 pm Adjournment 

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