Creating open data standards is key to helping People's Production House fulfill our mission of public participation in journalism. As a reformed blogger myself, I can tell you that access to government documents in a timely manner and in a useful format makes it much easier to do solid local reporting. That is true whether you are an unpaid citizen journalist or a professional beat reporter for a local daily...

People’s Production House spurs broadband adoption by showing people how they can use the Internet to build community and improve their lives, especially through digital media production. This bill supports that strategy and we believe it would stimulate demand for broadband in our city.  Policymakers now widely understand that compelling content is key to increasing broadband adoption, but some still approach it as if they were adding more channels to the TV. The Internet is a two-way medium; the power comes not merely from the ability to find what you want, but from the ability to shape what you find.  Having open data standards makes that possible.  The bill paves the way for what the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) referred to as “value demonstration” in its recent request for information on broadband adoption programs.

Click through for complete testimony.

Read more: Testimony on Intro.991 Creating Open Data Standards

Group joins a growing chorus to put the “public” back into the Public Service Commission

New York City – Over two dozen constituents of State Senator Bill Perkins are urging him to use his authority as Chair of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions to hold public hearings on the Governor's nominations for the NY State Public Service Commission (PSC). The letters came from Harlem seniors who are concerned about their access to basic utility services in these trying economic times. People's Production House, a national media education and advocacy organization based in New York City, delivered the letters via fax and mail.

Read more: Harlem residents urge Senator Perkins to Hold Hearings on Public Service Commission Nominations

Written Testimony of Joshua Breitbart, Policy Director, People's Production House, before the New York City Council Committee on Technology in Government on the topic of "Requiring that all public meetings be webcast (Prop. Int. No. 533-A)”

October 29, 2008 – 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. We also support policies that increase opportunities for members of the public to participate in local journalism.

Read more: Testimony on webcasting