Ohio IT Skills Blog

Tech Firms Push to Use TV Airwaves for Internet - washingtonpost.com

Link: Tech Firms Push to Use TV Airwaves for Internet - washingtonpost.com.

With the switch to digital transmission of new television signals mandated by Congress and the FCC in just a couple of years, various forces are jockeying into position to recover the bandwidth left behind by traditional television broadcasters.

So here's the irony - since the technology was born - we have received television for free.  (Obviously, cable added options for which we pay.)  And - since the technology was born - we have paid for Internet access.

Now, television content - the creative programming and related televisions content products are moving to cable and to IPTV - Internet Protocol Television.  And since the advertising market is confused and not so supportive of changes with unknown consequences - viewers are increasingly going to be asked to pay for what has traditionally been free.

And, since technology has opened the digital pathway for delivery of traditional television content, the old broadcast channels are going to be open - and less crowded.  And major vendors are seeking ways to deliver the Internet over those open public airwaves - in a model that could easily be free.

What a switch - free television and paid Internet evolves to pay television and free Internet.  Like the old word puzzles - how many steps does it take to get from FREE to PAID back to FREE again?

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

Gates Voices Concerns About U.S. Education - New York Times

Link: Gates Voices Concerns About U.S. Education - New York Times.

When Bill Gates speaks, people listen.  Sometimes they disagree, sometimes they jump into action.  But one subject that seems to be falling on deaf ears is Gates' message about the need for a large influx of new talent in the IT arena.

Whether its the fear or the bravado of the post 9/11 era, somehow we have gotten the idea that America is indeed an island and we can go it alone in IT and other fields, thank you very much.  With typical cartoon strokes, the press and public personalities like Lou Dobbs have equated outsourcing, immigration and illegal workers - all in one lump that leads to American weakness somehow.  When in fact non-American students and graduates and professionals have helped lead the American IT infrastructure into a strong leadership position.  And that position is now severely threatened as we have made it politically, socially and legally difficult for foreigners to come to this country and work.

The other side of the threat is that all the talent that would have come to the US in previous years is now headed to India and China and other real competitors - and they are using their skills to strengthen their ability to work a) without US professionals and product and b) more cost-effectively and competitively than US companies can in those locations.

When Bill Gates speaks people listen - but unfortunately no one seems to be taking any of the action required to address the issues he is talking about.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)