| Eliot and Silda Wall Spitzer are announcing the formation of a new council to study ways to deliver high speed internet services to everyone in New York State. The announcement will happen at 9am and there is a webcast of it available here.
What, if anything, this means for the Brodsky Bill is unclear. From an emailed press release:
GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER AND FIRST LADY SILDA WALL SPITZER LAUNCH EFFORT TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET FOR EVERY NEW YORKER
State Forms Broadband Council to Support Key Component of "I Live NY" Initiative
Governor Eliot Spitzer and First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer today announced the formation of the New York State Council for Universal Broadband, which is charged with developing strategies to ensure every New Yorker has access to affordable, high-speed internet service. Additionally, a Request for Proposal will be released on Friday, December 7th, to begin the process of distributing funds that were allocated in this year's budget for competitive grants to research, design and implement accessible Internet for underserved areas of New York. Governor Spitzer made the announcement at the New York Farm Bureau's Annual Meeting, held this year at the Niagara Falls Convention Center.
Increased access to broadband service combined with digital literacy programs can dramatically improve social, cultural and educational opportunities that ultimately lead to increased job creation and economic development. This Universal Broadband initiative is a key component of the First Lady's I Live New York initiative aimed at attracting and retaining New York's next generation.
"As we build an Innovation Economy we must make New York the most connected and technologically advanced place to live and do business in the world," said Governor Spitzer. "Internet access is no longer a luxury. We must implement a strategy that leads to every New Yorker having access to affordable, high-speed Internet so that they may take advantage of the economic, social and cultural opportunities it provides."
Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson said: "This new investment in the expansion of high speed internet access for our neglected urban and rural communities both narrows the digital divide and also moves us towards closing a long standing economic one. I am pleased that minority and women-owned enterprises, which have not gotten their fair shake at doing business with the state, will be required to take part in this work to make high speed internet available to more New Yorkers. The Governor and the First Lady, working together, are taking a significant step forward for real economic justice."
First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer said: "Developing innovative strategies and collaborative partnerships is at the core of our I Live New York initiative. At our September 18th summit, young people identified access to digital services as a key determinant in their decisions of where to live and work. I'm so pleased Dr. Mayberry-Stewart and the Broadband Council have taken the lead to expand broadband service across our state. Universal and affordable access to the tools of the 21st Century is paramount to keeping our next generation in New York and for our state's competitiveness on the global stage."
John Lincoln, President of New York Farm Bureau, said: "Farm Bureau has long recognized the need for broadband access in rural areas, where most of our members do business. Broadband is an essential business tool that our farmers require to compete in a global economy. We are grateful that Governor Spitzer is taking this initiative as part of a bigger effort to revitalize the Upstate economy."
More, including the members of the new council, on the flip... |
The Council will recommend a comprehensive statewide strategy that charts a course towards affordable broadband access throughout the State. This approach will seek to leverage existing resources, consider new ways to extend high-speed Internet access beyond traditional means, and recommend approaches to increase digital literacy in underserved urban and rural communities.
The Council will be chaired by New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of the New York State Office for Technology, Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart.
Goals for the council:
Supporting the "I Live New York" initiative to attract and retain New York's next generation by ensuring every New Yorker has access to high-speed, affordable broadband;
Providing all New Yorkers with access to high-speed, affordable broadband Internet access for citizens and businesses from anywhere, at anytime, by anyone;
Fostering economic development and building stronger public/private partnerships;
Creating jobs through innovative community-based digital literacy and technology training programs, including household technology adoption and support ;
Closing the digital divide and Increasing digital literacy levels in unserved and underserved urban and rural communities; and,
Accelerating the use of state e-Government services offered through the Internet for citizens, businesses and visitors.
The council itself:
Patricia Acampora, Chairwoman, New York State Department of Public Service
Stephen Acquario, Executive Director, New York State Association of Counties
Peter Baynes, Executive Director, New York Conference of Mayors
Thomas Bodden, Manager of Research and Information, Association of Towns of the State of New York
Michael Borges, Executive Director, New York Library Association
Dr. Joseph Bowman, Member, New York State Board of Regents
Sharon Cates-Williams, Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Information Technology
Robert Checca, Commissioner, Nassau County Department of Information Technology
Paul Cosgrave, Commissioner, New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
Brian Fischer, Commissioner, New York State Department of Correctional Services
Patrick Foye, Co-Chair, Empire State Development Corporation
Paul Francis, Director, New York State Division of the Budget
Dan Gundersen, Co-Chair, Empire State Development Corporation
David Hansell, Commissioner, New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance
Edward Hemminger, President, New York State Local Government Information Technology Directors Association
Patrick Hooker, Commissioner, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
Dr. Donald Jacobs, Co-Chair, USNY Technology Policy and Practices Council
Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, University at Albany - College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering
John Kolb, Chief Information Officer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovation
Dr. Timothy Lance, President and Chairman, New York State Education and Research Network
Howard Lowe, Director of the Technical Assistance Center, SUNY Plattsburgh
Steve Manning, Manager of Computer Services, Greater Southern Tier BOCES Regional Information Center
Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, Chief Information Officer, New York State (Council Chair)
Bernie McGarry, Program Director, New York State Senate
Richard Mills, Commissioner, New York State Education Department
Shireen Mitchell, President & Executive Director, Community Technology Centers' Network
Edward Reinfurt, Executive Director, New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation
Patricia Smith, Commissioner, New York State Department of Labor
(Awaiting Confirmation), New York State Assembly
I'm tuning i the webcast now and I'm sure I'll have more about this later today. |
