Telecommunications

Washington, DC - 11/16/2009 - One in four (26%) of American teens of driving age say they have texted while driving, and half (48%) of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel.

These findings form the centerpiece of a new report from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project that looks at teens, mobile phones and distracted driving. The report is based on a telephone survey of 800 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian as well as 9 focus groups with middle and high school students.

Boys and girls are equally likely to report texting behind the wheel as well as riding with texting drivers. As teens get older, they are more likely to report riding with drivers who text.    » read more »

NEA study finds digital divide narrowing in U.S. public schools; Parents overwhelmingly view Internet as help, use email as main communication tool with teacher

WASHINGTON - November 16, 2009 - Poll results released today show the digital gap is increasingly becoming a thing of the past in America’s public schools. The National Education Association and Harris Interactive have released the results of an Omnibus poll showing parents have embraced the benefits of Internet at school and even use the technology to communicate with their children’s teachers.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 22 projects in 10 states to receive $13.4 million in broadband community connect grant funds.

"The Obama Administration recognizes that modern technology is critical to the expansion of business, education, and health care services in rural areas and the competitiveness of the nation's small towns and rural communities," Vilsack said. "The President and USDA are committed to bringing broadband services to communities, including isolated ones, so rural residents have access to quality economic, social and educational opportunities."    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- OLYMPIA, WA – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that Washington state will receive a grant of approximately $2.2 million to fund broadband mapping and planning activities under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program.

The program enables collection of data to show which areas of each state are in the most need of increased broadband infrastructure and adoption. The data collected will be used to create an interactive and searchable map for use by the public with information such as where broadband service is available and at what speeds, and the type of technology used.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- A South Korean businessman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to five years in prison for his role in a bribery conspiracy involving a $206 million telecommunications contract and employees of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade also ordered Gi-Hwan Jeong to pay a $50,000 fine. Jeong pleaded guilty on June 11, 2009, to a five-count indictment, charging him with one count of conspiracy, two counts of honest services wire fraud and two counts of bribery.    » read more »

Agencies Plan to Consolidate Final Two Funding Rounds, Seek Comment on Program Enhancements

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2009 - The USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced they are streamlining the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's broadband grant and loan programs by awarding the remaining funding in just one more round, instead of two rounds, to increase efficiency and better accommodate applicants.    » read more »

"Anti-Competitive and Anti-Consumer"; Criticizes Verizon Wireless plan to double Early Termination Fees for new smart phone customers

November 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who introduced the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act in the 110th Congress, sent a letter to the Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell C. McAdam, criticizing the company’s decision to increase its Early Termination Fees (ETFs) for new smart phone customers. Klobuchar also sent a letter to Federal Communications Chairman (FCC) Julius Genachowski, urging a review of the Verizon Wireless decision to raise these fees.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- Washington DC – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced Wednesday that they are launching a joint effort to evaluate technologies that may help curb the dangerous epidemic of distracted driving.

The DOT-FCC partnership will also include outreach efforts to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving, talking on cell phones while driving, and other distracting behavior that can lead to deadly accidents.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- Nov 5, 2009 – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Al Franken, and Byron Dorgan today sponsored legislation to prohibit the use of personal wireless communication devices by the flight crew while operating commercial aircraft.

Klobuchar, an Aviation Subcommittee member, and Franken joined Commerce Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Byron Dorgan to introduce the legislation in response to the recent Northwest Airlines incident in which pilots claimed they were distracted by working on their computers and did not respond to radio calls for 91 minutes. The plane flew 150 miles past its destination of Minneapolis-St. Paul.    » read more »

National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center Opens

October 30, 2009 -- (Arlington, VA) - Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) joined Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other Members of Congress to launch a new cybersecurity center today in Arlington, Virginia.

The National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) will create a 24-hour watch and warning center to address threats and other incidents involving our nation’s critical infrastructure. The center will be staffed by officials with the Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies along with workers from the private sector.    » read more »

Senator Sends Letter to FCC Chairman Urging Quick Action

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-NM, today sent a letter to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing “grave concern” about the organization’s failure to extend telephone service to Indian Country, where more than 30 percent of households do not have basic service.    » read more »

October 26, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01), Vic Snyder (AR-02), and Mike Ross (AR-04) today announced that Arkansas will receive $2,081,238 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration to increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. The funds are allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Broadband Data Improvement Act.    » read more »

Boundary Protection and Virtual Private Networking Capability to Be Provided Under $5 Million Deal

ASHBURN, Va. – October 19, 2009 – Verizon Business will help the NATO Command, Control and Communications Agency (NC3A) strengthen NATO's network security with a package of networking and security services.

Under a new deal valued at about $5 million covering two years and an optional one-year extension, Verizon Business through Verizon Cybertrust Security in Belgium will implement a highly resilient virtual private network for approximately 30 locations on the agency's existing network. The company will provide secure gateways to and from the Internet as well as the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) encryption for users on the network.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Pelosi applauded today’s announcement that California is among the first four states to receive state broadband mapping grants made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was designed to be both stimulative and transformational to our economy. Central to our efforts to ensure prosperity for all Americans is deploying broadband coast to coast.    » read more »

Millions in Federal Funds Used to Enhance Coverage to Macoupin County

SPRINGFIELD – October 7, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today commended U.S. Cellular for bringing improved cellular phone service to the people of Macoupin County. Governor Quinn’s visit comes after U.S. Cellular activated five additional service towers in the area by the end of 2009.

“Cell phone service is a fundamental necessity for personal and public safety as well as economic growth.” said Governor Quinn. “The people of Macoupin County have lacked adequate cellular service for years but, thankfully, they can now stay better connected to the people they care about most.”    » read more »