Interesting People mailing list archives
Local forums to implement high-speed networks (broadband); proposal open for votes
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 10:20:18 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: Andy Oram <andyo () oreilly com> Date: May 24, 2009 9:05:24 AM EDT To: dave () farber netSubject: Local forums to implement high-speed networks (broadband); proposal open for votes
The Obama Administration asks: "How can we strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness by making government more transparent, participatory, and collaborative?" http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/05/21/Opening/ And they've recently opened a site for ideas: http://opengov.ideascale.com/ My "Local forums to implement high-speed networks (broadband)" proposal can be voted on here: http://ideascale.com/r/2932-4049 Because it's poorly formatted, though, you should read it on my blog: http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/05/local-forums-to-implement-high.html I'm hoping people will spread the news of the proposal, regardless of whether they vote for it. Both the government site and the blog site accept comments, too. Here are a few highlights: High-speed digital networking (also known as "broadband") should concern open government advocates in two ways. First, one of the Administration's major goals is to bring high-speed networking to every resident of the country. Second, this goal is fundamental to the other goals in the Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government. Members of the public need continuous access to the Internet and the ability to handle video and sophisticated graphical displays in order to make full use of the resources provided in open government efforts. All networking is (on one level) local. Given the limited resources available for any network deployment, and the trade-offs that must be made during plans, decision-makers need to take into account local demographics, geography, topology, social and economic priorities, and existing facilities. Local collaboration to promote network penetration can also build bonds that support local communities in other ways. The global reach of the Internet has long been stressed, but the role of digital networks in connecting people within geographical communities and improving their way of life may be even more important and is beginning to be recognized. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Andy Oram O'Reilly Media email: andyo () oreilly com Editor 10 Fawcett Street, Fourth Floor voice: 617-499-7479 Cambridge, MA 02138-1175, USA fax: 617-661-1116 identi.ca/twitter:praxagora http://www.praxagora.com/andyo/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
Current thread:
- Local forums to implement high-speed networks (broadband); proposal open for votes David Farber (May 24)