Civil Defense Blog
Why is mobile Internet access key to digital expansion?
Broadband Internet service is available for nearly every house in New York City, yet less than half have adopted it. Barely a quarter of low income households pay for a high speed connection at home.
As PPH Policy Director Joshua Breitbart explains in this audio clip, Internet access on mobile phones brings connectivity to people where they are on devices that they have already decided to pay for. This is a better way to get people online than trying to convince them to buy a new machine and pay for a new service.
Categories: D.E.I.
How white space devices would impact the digital divide
At the City Council hearing on the white spaces resolution, Committee Chair Gale Brewer asked about the cost of white space devices. Dana Spiegel from NYCwireless explained that, like most new technology, the cost would start high then go down over time. PPH Policy Director Joshua Breitbart pointed out that the true cost would actually be a savings compared to what we spend now for Internet access and mobile phone calls. In this audio clip, he explains how delivering Internet connectivity to people's mobile phones is the most effective way to close the digital divide between those with high speed Internet access at home and those without.
Categories: D.E.I.
Testimony before City Council on white spaces
Good morning. My name is Joshua Breitbart. I am the Policy Director of People's Production House. People's Production House provides young people, immigrants, and low-wage workers with a comprehensive education for the information age, combining media production, media literacy and media policy. We work in public schools and with community organizations in all five boroughs.
Categories: D.E.I.
Join our campaign to open the airwaves
We ask all organizations and individuals in New York City to endorse the simple letter below by contacting us directly. Thank you.
Categories: D.E.I.
Model City Council white spaces resolution
Resolution urging the Federal Communications Commission to implement regulatory amendments that would allow portable devices to operate on the white space radio spectrum in order to close the digital divide and stimulate investment in new technology without negatively impacting television broadcasters, performing artists, professional sports leagues, and all incumbent wireless microphone users.
Categories: D.E.I.
PPH calls on City Council to endorse “white space devices”
New York – Community media and immigrant rights advocates are calling on City Council to endorse “white space devices,” a new technology that would boost the economy and drive down the cost of mobile phone calls and Internet access.
Categories: D.E.I.
Airwaves are Beautiful: An explanation of white spaces
Have you ever wondered how so many inventions – TV, radio, cell phones, wi-fi, microwave ovens and more – can share the airwaves? And why, with such an abundant resource, is so much of it controlled by the same few corporations? Here's a 3:30 explanation.
Categories: D.E.I.
Open the airwaves and the sky's the limit
The Indypendent newspaper asked me to write an article for their October 3 issue explaining the importance of white spaces. (Updated following the hearing.)
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Categories: D.E.I.
PPH analysis of City Council draft resolution on white spaces
On Wednesday, September 24, City Councilmember Gale Brewer and Speaker Christine Quinn introduced a resolution urging the Federal Communications Commission to refrain from certifying white space devices, which the resolution claims would be "devastating" to "the incomparable mystique and excitement of the City of New York’s theatre district" and would "[jeopardize] the health and safety of performers, technicians and stagehands."
Categories: D.E.I.
Why are white spaces important?
"White spaces" are the unlicensed or unused portion of the radio spectrum between television broadcast channels. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) originally put those spaces there to minimize interference between analog television broadcast channels. In February 2009, television transmissions will turn digital and diminish the need for white spaces as a buffer between channels because digital signals use less space when traveling through the airwaves.
Categories: D.E.I.
White space devices: A Better Way to Call
Abdulai Bah of the Community News Production Institute takes pre-paid calling cards to task and suggests that white space devices could save immigrants a load of cash.
Categories: D.E.I.
White space devices: A Better Way to Call
Abdulai Bah of the Community News Production Institute takes pre-paid calling cards to task and suggests that white space devices could save immigrants a load of cash.
Categories: C.N.P.I.
Tell City Council to open the airwaves!
The New York City Council has scheduled a hearing for September 29 on the unused TV channels known as "white spaces." If, like most low-income New Yorkers, you rely on your cellular phone more than a landline or a laptop or a desktop, than your whole communications future is at stake with this issue. If you hate your cell phone provider or you like the idea of sharing Internet connections, than this is for you.
Categories: D.E.I.
Reverend Joseph Armstrong DeLaine, 34 years after his death
CNPI reporter, Christine Lewis of DWU was recently in South Carolina for the commemoration of late Reverend Joseph Armstrong DeLaine, a Civil Rights Activist who led a crusade to desegregate public schools. Rev. DeLaine was one of the victorious plaintiffs in one of the cases that constituted the Brown decision, Briggs vs Elliot.
Christine files this story for Free Speech Radio News.
Categories: C.N.P.I.
Free Journalism Training for Community Workers
Are you sick of big newspapers misrepresenting your organization? Would you like to be the one to report on the issues and needs of your community? Then sign up for the free CNPI fall Journalism training.
Learn to research, write, interview, and produce your own press. For more information, email Abdulai.
Fall 2008 Training begins September 19 and runs for 12 weeks on Fridays and Saturdays. Space is limited. Please inquire since there may be additional trainings later in the year. For members of a community organizing group.
Categories: C.N.P.I.
Breaking News from Houma, Louisiana
As hurricane Gustav made its landfall on New Orleans and other cities of the Gulf region, much of the media attention has focused on the never-seen-before evacuation organized by local authorities. But less has been said about victims who were unable to evacuate more than three years ago when both Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast and three years later are still struggling to rebuild their lives.
Categories: C.N.P.I.
Sign the Petition to Free the Airwaves
Google, in coalition with public interest groups, is trying to draw support for the opening of the unused television airwaves with it's Free the Airwaves project. The unused airwaves, known as "white spaces," are open spaces between digital TV channels. If the FCC allows for open access to the airwaves, there is potential for the development of new technology that will make it possible to provide wireless broadband Internet access over the signal, potentially making it possible to allow for universal access to the Internet.
Categories: D.E.I.
CNPI Monthly Show: In Memory of Rev. Joseph Armstrong DeLaine
The Community News Production Institute in partnership with Global Movements Urban Struggles aired its monthly show on Tuesday August 26th at 10 am on WBAI 99.5 FM. This month's show features Lynn Lewis, director of Picture the Homeless, Edgar DeJesus of District Council 37, Katrina evacuee Lena Beard, and Brumit DeLaine, the son of late Rev. Joseph Armstrong of South Carolina.
Categories: C.N.P.I.
PPH and allies call on PSC to reconsider its approval of Verizon franchise
On August 14, People's Production House, Common Cause/New York, Consumers Union and NYPIRG called on the NYS Public Service Commission to reconsider its decision to grant Verizon a cable franchise with the City of New York.
See our official request for reconsideration (pdf). (Kudos to Chris Keeley at Common Cause for his work gathering the documents and drafting the letter.) To be reconsidered, we have to show that he decision was based on new or false information or that the decision was made in an arbitrary and capricious manner.
Categories: D.E.I.
Radio Rootz Takes over the Airwaves Yet Again!
Once again the youth of Radio Rootz got to take over the airwaves of WBAI's Global Movements Urban Struggles. 99.5Fm on Tuesday August 12, 2008. Hear the Radio Rootz crew discuss senioritis; the importance of college; a trip to Cambodia; and the summer media organizing program, also known as SMOP. So have your eyes closed and ears open as Radio Rootz comes through your speakers and into your heart!!!!
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Crystal Santana's very personal story is about a struggle that many people may share. Below she gives us some background and is also letting us publish an intimate letter. Please read on, and afterwards, and share some of your stories or just voice what you're thinking here.
Categories: Radio Rootz
