Campaign in the News

MEDIA COVERAGE 

The Free State Foundation
December 16, 2008
"Perhaps you didn't take note of the most recent winner of the Alliance for Public Technology's "Broadband Changed My Life" contest. The winner's name is Nancy Reid, and she lives in Southampton County, Virginia, which she describes as a rural farming community. In her winning essay, Ms. Reid recites some of the difficulties she faces in rural Virginia. Then she explains:

'I was so close to achieving my academic goals but had a huge and very frustrating problem, now I would have to drive if I wanted to continue. That is when a close friend told us about his satellite broadband access. I was skeptical but after some creative financing had it installed. To say it has made an impact on my life is so true in many ways. I am now able to download and send pictures to my mom in California in seconds, online banking is a breeze, and school, well, my first 2 reports were given A's! How is that for a morale boost!!' (The extra exclamation point is Ms. Reid's, and I say good for her and for APT for telling her story.)"

Speed Matters Blog
December 15, 2008
"Almost two thousands contestants submitted their stories from all over the United States. The contests urged entrants to "tell the next president" how broadband has made a difference in their lives. The best answers were compiled into a memo for President-Elect Barack Obama and presented at a briefing on Capitol Hill..."

Free Press
December 15, 2008
Winners of Second 'Broadband Changed My Life!' Contest Announced

Tech Policy Central
December 10, 2008
Winners of Second 'Broadband Changed My Life!' Contest Announced

Digital Divide Blog
October 28, 2008
"I recently stumbled across a Digital Divide Network site that directed me to a “How Broadband Changed My Life” contest entries page. The stories vary but several come from rural America and explain how the internet opened up their worlds and minds. What I find poignant about these anecdotes is that they express so purely and clearly the issue of the digital divide in a way I haven’t spent much time thinking about it myself."

Medill Reports
August 7, 2008
"While the U.S. government has a number of programs to foster Internet access among rural and low-income communities, Kenneth R. Peres, president of the Alliance for Public Technology, said that the country lacks a strategic approach to improving broadband access and stimulating private investment.

“There are a few fragmented programs here and there but there is no strategy that combines these programs in a comprehensive approach to broadband,” said Peres.

A bill to track broadband deployment around the country is “stuck in the Senate,” he added."

BroadbandCensus.com
July 31, 2008
"[Alec] Ross [of One Economy] said that more Americans need to be told of the benefits broadband will provide to them, particularly in education and the environment."

"Although Ross said that the U.S. had done a “pretty good job” in making broadband available to more than 90 percent of the country, he blasted the Bush administration as “completely [missing in action]” on broadband."

"Kenneth Peres, president of the Alliance for Public Technology and research economist for the Communications Workers of America, declared that it was “incredible” that the U.S. was alone among the largest 15 countries in not having a national broadband policy….Just as the United States involved the federal, state, and local governments in building canals, railroads, electricity, and highways, the federal government must assist state and local governments and the private sector in deploying broadband and developing its infrastructure, he said…."

"[Joy] Howell [ APT’s Broadband Changed My Life! ™ Campaign Director] said more than 1.2 million jobs should be created by the expansion of broadband, one of the fastest growing industries in America."

Communications Daily
July 31, 2008
"Last year was an "incredibly bad year" for adoption in households with incomes under $25,000, he [Alec Ross of One Economy] said, citing Pew Research data showing low-income homes with broadband down to 25 percent from 28. That's the first time the figure has declined, he said. About 40 percent of people who don't get broadband say they're "not interested" or "think it's a waste of time," he said. Culture and comfort level are the big reasons people stay away, he said. For example, some don't want broadband for fear of identity theft and desire for privacy, he said. The U.S. risks becoming a country of broadband haves and have-nots, agreed Alliance President Kenneth Peres. It needs a national broadband policy to expand availability, he said."

TR Daily
July 30, 2008
"Speaking this afternoon at a Capitol Hill briefing co-sponsored by the Alliance for Public Technology, Mr. Ross said, “If you have a dollar for build-out and a dollar for adoption, you’re more likely to get more people online if you spend it on adoption,” in part because broadband service has already been deployed to more than 90% of the population."

Medill Reports
June 27, 2008

Communications Daily
May 30, 2008

Communications Daily
August 27, 2007

Telecommunications Daily
July 24, 2007

Communications Daily
June 25, 2007

Washington Internet Daily
June 25, 2007

Telecommunications Daily
June 21, 2007

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