Recently in the Technology Category

On October 25, 2011 in Portland, Maine at an event sponsored by AT&T, more than 70 leading women business owners and organizations gathered to discuss changes in technology and how they could identify trends and opportunities to grow their businesses. At the meeting, attendees greeted and celebrated the recipient of this year's prestigious WIPP AT&T Innovator of the Year-Maine.  Susan Corbett, CEO of Axiom Technologies, based in Machias, Maine was the recipient of this regional award because of her ability to utilize innovation in technology while developing solutions for rural broadband deployment since 2005. Axiom has brought high-speed Internet service to Washington County with over 90 Access Points, creating an umbrella over 2,500 square miles.

"Itis an honor to receive the WIPP AT&T Technology Innovator of the Year for the State of Maine. It is inspirational to be part of the team in Maine working diligently to ensure that every home and business have access to broadband connectivity. Although 91% of Maine's homes have access to broadband,49,000 homes throughout the State are unserved. The ConnectME Authority, Maine Fiber Company's Three Ring Binder BTOP Project and the multiple Internet Service Providers in Maine will continue to build "last-mile" broadband networks. We will not stop until this is accomplished," said Susan Corbett.

"Susan's leadership, and her company's focus, dedication and desire to improve broadband accessibility prove to be an inspiration for all," said WIPP President Barbara Kasoff.

The WIPP AT&T Innovator of the Year Award was part of WIPP's nation-wide tour focusing on policy and business growth.  The conference agenda in Maine included important briefings on how to use broadband technology to help people find jobs, build careers and expand their businesses, using social media to build your leadership and visibility, trends and opportunities in the technology sector and a discussion on where privacy and social media intersect.

Visit WIPP's Facebook page to stay updated on awards.

Tomorrow, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on H.R. 1002, the Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2011.  H.R. 1002 would put a five-year moratorium on the taxes and fees charged to wireless consumers.

According to the findings, of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), the average wireless consumer is charged more than 16% in taxes and fees while other taxable goods and services are only 7.4%.  Additionally, 47 states along with the District of Columbia are charging wireless consumers more than other taxable goods and services. Five states, including Nebraska, Washington, New York, Florida and Illinois, charge more than 20%.

As a result, more than 140 Senators and Representatives have co-sponsored the Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2011.  This bipartisan legislation would put a five-year freeze on these taxes and fees.  The freeze would allow wireless consumers some much needed relief during these challenging conditions and give time for an examination into the discrepancy of wireless tax rates as compared to other goods and services.  Moreover, the freeze would not take away any existing revenue from state and local governments, but would give them time to reform their wireless tax policies.

If you are in favor of this legislation, please make your voice heard by contacting your Representatives and Senators.  With the House voting tomorrow, be sure to voice your support for this bill to Representative of your Congressional district.  Write your elected officials here.

WIPP just completed a meeting in Portland, Maine yesterday:  Where Technology and Opportunity Meet.

Deborah Frett, CEO of Business and Professional Women's Foundation writes on the event. This blog post can also be found at: Young Women Misbehavin'

Women Are Always "On" - The Internet That Is

Deborah L. Frett

CEO, Business and Professional Women's Foundation

Excerpted from a panel presentation at the
WIPP Conference on Using Social Media and Technology to Build Business Opportunities - "Using Broadband Technology to Help People Find Jobs, Build Careers and Expand Their Businesses"
Monday, October 24, 2011
Portland, ME

As the first foundation committed to researching and supporting working women, Business and Professional Women's Foundation since its inception has supported workforce development programs and workplace policies that recognize the diverse needs of working women, communities and businesses.  Since 1956, we have looked at the challenges and opportunities for women what ever they might be. 

We all know that in today's workplace technology and the Internet are vital to success.  With that in mind, we wanted to learn how women use high-speed Internet or broadband technology. BPW Foundation conducted an online research survey this spring to explore the opportunities in business and personal advancement that technology has opened up and overall, how it has impacted women's lives.  The survey results, based on answers from 1,400 online participants, found that women continue to use high-speed technology as a critical component of building their businesses and advancing their careers.  

The survey demonstrates that while Internet use varies across age, employment, military status, and geographic location, one component remains consistent for all users: most respondents confess that they do not have the necessary tools or knowledge to most efficiently utilize the Internet.

This survey brings attention to the tremendous advancements that broadband access has brought to women, women-owned businesses, and women's everyday lives. But the results also demonstrate that there is a critical need for continued efforts to educate women on how to better and more efficiently utilize high-speed technology to empower them to remain competitive in the workplace, in their own businesses, and in their personal lives in this growing digitally-based economy.

Our survey indicates that broadband can play a large role in making needed and available resources accessible to women veterans and therefore providing greater support to women veterans as they transition from the military and look for employment, business and education opportunities.

As the research reflects, the Internet is essential for social interaction, education, training and economic purposes.  With a wide range and an ever-increasing number of devices that can connect to broadband, the Internet has become an increasingly critical resource.

On the personal front, broadband access and handheld devices provide ready information and an ability to make educated decisions and respond instantly.  On the professional front, high-speed technology empowers women via their various connections to edit and add to their resume, search for a job, write reports with a sleeping infant in their lap, download financial reports at their kitchen table at 3am or join a conference call on their way home from caring for an elderly relative.

The results demonstrate the need for continued focus on a competitive broadband market to allow for deployment, access and adoption that assures all women in business use of high-speed Internet for professional and educational development.

Visit the BPW Foundation website to read the full report.

The meeting was hosted by WIPP, AEO, Small Business Majority, Women Construction Owners & Executives, SCORE, Echelon Circles, the Women's Business Center and Business & Professional Women's Foundation.  The meeting was sponsored by AT&T.

Women Impacting Public Policy along with President and CEO, Barbara Kasoff, recently held three regional events in California titled, "Working Smarter Online."  The educational seminar traveled to San Rafael, Fresno, and Los Angeles.  The dynamic presentation featured a cross-section of topics including One-Economy's SnapFresh & BeeLocal, a wireless application that helps people find healthy places that accept food stamps and WirelessEd, a multi-lingual program designed to educate consumers on how to best navigate the evolving world of wireless devices with carrier-neutral tools. The program California Lifeline was also featured which provides discounts on basic telephone service to eligible low-income households.  One attendee in San Rafael said "This was great and extremely useful!  I will be sharing this info with city governments in Marin and the public as well as other organizations." A student at the PUENTE Learning Center of Los Angeles had this to say, "Thank you for taking time to come to our school to give us all the very useful information." The Fresno Bee wrote an article covering WIPP's event.    
 
Consumers heard from Elaine Starling of Starling Media.  Elaine is a WIPP National Partner and industry expert when it comes to business development through utilizing social media outlets. She gave a presentation on Leadership through Technology and how as a Leader businesses and individuals are able to stay engaged and connect with their audiences.  "I learned a lot about creating a social profile and the importance of involving the "customer" which I think will help build my relationship between the clinics and patients. Thank you!" -Jennifer Durst of Marin Community Clinics.  The "Working Smarter Online" series was an overall success for sharing resources and information and encouraging leadership within communities. 
 

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