Recently in the Broadband Category

In February 2011, the Business and Professional Women's Foundation (BPFW) initiated a survey to research the use of high speed Internet (broadband) technology among four diverse groups of women: those employed by other, those self employed, those retired, and women seeking employment. The purpose was to explore women's use of technology in both their business and personal lives as a measure of advancement and overall impact on quality of life and personal/professional success.

Today, high speed Internet plays a central role in our lives. The result of an online Internet survey conducted by BPWF on the use of high speed technology by women confirms this and also shows that there are differences in high speed Internet access, use, and needs based on age, employment, military status, and geographic location. Not surprisingly, women business owners and self employed women use high speed technology to build their businesses through marketing, but readily admit that they are not always aware of what they should be learning/doing to improve efficiency, advance and maximize their results.

Key findings related to women-owned businesses:

1. Women want to use high speed technology to build their small and home based businesses (particularly through marketing) but readily admit they are unaware of what they should be learning/doing. Women were asked, "What would you like to do using high speed Internet that you cannot do now?" A common aspiration (20% of respondents) centered on building a better business, often via leveraging social media to market their businesses.

2. Women are not accessing government contacts for business growth. The question of government procurement interest is important in examining how women business owners approach resource development for growth. Government procurement avenues can afford any company growth and stability opportunities. WIPP and American Express Open partnered to launch Give Me 5 an education program providing a robust curriculum of webinars and events to open this window of opportunity for women business owners as well as assist newer contractors to increase their contracting business development.  


For more information, visit www.bpwfoundation.org

Recently, the FCC released a common sense proposal regarding the Internet that would restore certainty to the broadband market and allow the Commission to move on to other important communications objectives.

For this reason, WIPP is launching an ACTION ALERT, urging the small business community to contact Commissioners Copps and Clyburn to reiterate the proposed solution is the right one and that it will free up resources that will enable the FCC to pursue the National Broadband Plan's objective of universal broadband access and adoption.

Background:

- The FCC proposed a common sense solution to resolve the net neutrality debate
- WIPP has been an active participant in the net neutrality debate and supports the resolution of this issue
- The proposed solution would restore certainty to the broadband market - promoting small business growth and job creation, while maintaining certain levels of investment

Click here to take action NOW!

A little over a week ago, we touched on the Federal Communications Commission's pursuit of net neutrality regulation and questioned the need of regulation for "regulation's sake." At the time of our blog, we did not have concrete statements from the Commission - just speculation from credible media sources, however, much of our concerns and questions were and still are about how potential regulations could impact wireless technology and innovation. 

Yesterday, we got some clarification regarding some of the substance of the proposed net neutrality regulation order. In a press conference, Chairman Genachowski outlined what his vision is for net neutrality regulatory policy. 

In his speech, he detailed a proposal that would preserve the original net neutrality framework's four principles as applied to wired broadband.  The rules for wireless broadband, an area of previous concern, are different because as the Commissioner acknowledged in his speech - there are differences between fixed and mobile broadband and mobile is at an earlier development stage.  Additionally, the draft order would include a transparency requirement so that consumers and innovators have the information they need for decision-making - a requirement that we have been in support of as long as it is applied equally to all actors in the Internet ecosystem.

Overall, there was a lot to be cautiously optimistic about based on Chairman Genachowski's statements.  We believe this proposal, based on our understanding of the content thus far, provides a workable policy framework that is very similar to Representative Waxman's proposed legislation.  Moreover, because we still feel that Congress should take action and be involved in the discussion, we appreciate Chairman Genachowski's statement affirming that this policy does not preclude congressional action and he would "welcome the opportunity for the Commission to serve as a resource to Congress [on an update to the Communications Act]."

There is expected to be a lot more information about the net neutrality proposal as more details leak out over the next few weeks and as the Commission works to prepare a final draft order for its December 21st meeting.  We will remain committed to the process and hope that final draft is an accurate reflection of what we heard yesterday so that in the coming year, our nation's policymakers can return their attention to broadband deployment and adoption efforts and economic growth and job creation policies.

Recent media reports indicate that the Commission is planning to continue to vigorously pursue net neutrality and wireless regulation - two pursuits that would have the effect of stifling business growth and job creation when it is needed most. One of the messages the voters gave in the recent election was that they want less government intervention and more common sense policies. It seems to me that more regulation by the FCC with respect to wireless devices and management of networks is fixing a problem that does not exist. 

Regulation for "regulation's sake" often results in unintended consequences and ends up stifling innovation rather than fostering it. This is the area where small businesses play - they are innovators. But they are also users. A recent study by the SBA Office of Advocacy, "The Impact of Broadband Speed and Price on Small Business" shows that 90% of all small businesses depend on internet technology to run their business.

Just this past week we sponsored an event in Dallas, TX, and devoted considerable time to emerging wireless technologies in the health care sector with the conference attendees. Frankly, health care is just one of the sectors touched by innovation in the wireless industry. Whether its health care, energy, the environment, or countless other sectors - wireless technology will play a key role in growth and therefore in job creation. Now is not the time to slow or inhibit progress with needless regulation.

Given the enormous economic consequences of changing regulations affecting the telecommunications sector, it seems prudent to involve the Congress in this debate. Earlier this year, Chair Waxman began to build a consensus around the areas that the FCC is proposing to take action which we welcome. One thing is abundantly clear--we must see all proposed changes in the light of its effect on our economy, the business community and ultimately, jobs. 

The FCC and Congress should do all that it can to promote job creation by pursuing policies that enable wired and wireless internet to grow, thrive, and innovate.

For more information, visit www.wipp.org.     

Today, WIPP and several of its partner organizations addressed its concerns directly to President Obama relative to the implementation of the National Broadband Plan. The Plan is critical for small business growth and America's overall growth and competitiveness. We are tremendously excited about its vision and scope, but have some reservations.
 
The first concerns the FCC's approach to now consider classifying broadband as a Telecommunications Service under Title II of the 1934 Telecommunications Act. At this point in time, we need to move forward with full deployment of broadband and encourage innovation and private sector investment. A heavy regulatory environment will not be conducive to moving the initiative forward, and certainly the legal and political battles will cause undue and unnecessary delays and frustrations. 
 
A second area of concern is the need for the small business voice in the process at the FCC. We believe the FCC would benefit by including small businesses, especially women-owned small businesses, into its stakeholder discussions, since women-owned firms are the fastest growing sector of the US economy.

We sincerely hope that the President will recognize our concerns. It is so important to move this initiative forward.