Social Media, Connectivity & Communications

Consider that the U.S. came in dead last in another recent study that compared how quickly 40 countries and regions have been progressing toward a knowledge-based economy over the past 10 years. "We are at risk in the global race for leadership in innovation," FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said recently. "Consumers in Japan and France are paying less for broadband and getting faster connections. We’ve got work to do."

Since even before the widespread advent of wireless Internet, people have envisioned long-range wireless networks that envelop whole cities or communities. That may soon become a reality.

It has everything to do with how physicians can better communicate with patients over the Web in the 21st century.

Only Hong Kong and a few other cities in the world offer such lightning-fast service, and analysts say Chattanooga will be the first in the United States to do so.

Ronan’s Montana West project will expand broadband and high-speed wireless services to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai and the Blackfeet Tribes, while improving access options in the underserved communities of Elmo, Big Arm, Evaro, St. Mary, Babb, Santa Rita, Heart Butte, and East Glacier Park, Montana.

A $20.4 million grant announced by the federal government will make available fast wireless broadband to more than 68,000 residents in rural Stevens, Spokane and Ferry counties – areas underserved by Internet service providers.

So far, the NTIA has announced 216 BTOP grants that benefit communities across the nation with projects that connect key anchor institutions, such as schools, libraries and hospitals

Entire towns linked to the Web as giant hot spots with seamless wireless connections. Internet-connected refrigerators that monitor when it’s time to get more milk and eggs.

Misallocated broadband stimulus funds, which threaten rural telecom networks’ return on investment, combined with the potentially harmful effects of the National Broadband Plan, raise substantial default risk not only for private lenders, but for government lenders, including one of the very agencies responsible for awarding grants and loans under the broadband stimulus program.

It may be hard to believe, but many people in our state do not have phone service in their homes.