[DDN] testing the list
Hi everyone, The list has been unusually quiet for more than a week. Hopefully it's due to people being on summer holidays, but I just wanted to post a message to be sure it wasn't a technical problem. There's no need to reply to this message, though feel free to start up a conversation. :-) andy Andy Carvin andycarvin at yahoo com www.andycarvin.com www.pbs.org/learningnow ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] INFRASTRUCTURE BARRIERS
I am interested to know that when supplies are found for African Countries and infrastructure such as roads are barriers, how have they resolved the problem. What is the solution to getting the materials to the people in rural Africa? How does this take place successfully? Who do they get the help from? Certainly not their own Governments. Please let me know since I need to get items into Burundi. Thank You. Asif http://www.trainerspod.com/CMS http://www.trainerspod.com/community http://www.trainerspod.com/info Please consider the environment before printing this message. DISCLAIMER: This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private and confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, please take no action based on it nor show a copy to anyone. In this case, please reply to this email to highlight the error. Opinions and information in this email that do not relate to the official business of the company of this e-mail account shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the company. We have taken steps to ensure that this email and any attachments are virus-free, but we do advise that the recipient should check that the email and its attachments are actually virus free. This is in keeping with good computing practice. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Teletruth to Massachusetts: Where's the 330, 000 fiber optic lines or the $5 billion?
Teletruth News Alert--- June 7th, 2007 Testimony in Front of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities And Energy. Where's the 330,000 Fiber Optic Lines or the $4-$5 Billion? To read the entire testimony: http://www.newnetworks.com/matestimony.htm To read our original MA fiber optic complaint. http://newnetworks.com/Masscomplaintsummary.html America is 15th in the world in broadband based on two reputable international organizations, the ITU and OCED. And the reason for Americas abysmal showing is that Verizon failed to deploy the fiber optic services it had promised the state and the FCC and state failed to hold then accountable. We request that the state immediately start an investigation into the failure of Verizon to build a fiber optic network in Massachusetts with the majority of the communities completed by 2010, even though company collected over $1 billion by 1999 about $4 -$5 billion by 2007. It cost the state more than $110 billion over the last decade in new business opportunity and economic growth and almost $2 billion in higher cable rates because competition failed to materialize. Without the audits we suggest, it is impossible to know how much money the states residential and business customers have paid for fiber optic services they never received. Cable Franchise? If our analysis is accurate, then the state should first get what was already paid for deployed with the same specifications or better, than what is being proposed with new deregulations. Verizons FiOS is a crippled network which is not open to competition and Verizon would like to deploy these networks without state obligations, as if they were no longer a utility but a free-market monopoly of the states PSTN Thats public switched telephone network. They want to pick and choose who gets served the new digital divide --- and supply less services than the current cable franchises in terms of public access stations. Worse, it is 2007 and America does not have the capability to compete with other industrialized nations where the phone companies actually delivered 100 mbps services in both directions for less than the cost of DSL. FiOS is also inferior to what was proposed by Verizon in 1992, when the standard speed for broadband was 45mbps in both directions. Background: In 1999, I testified in front of the DTE pertaining to Verizon (NYNEX/Bell Atlantic/New England Telephone) Massachusetts proposal to enter the long distance markets. After examining the issues of telecommunications and broadband in Massachusetts, it became clear that NYNEX/MA was out to deceive the public pertaining to broadband deployment. By 1999 it cost the state over $1 billion dollars in extra fees, higher phone rates and tax perks. We even filed a complaint, which went unanswered, which I submit as part of this testimony. Appendix One. It is also online at: http://newnetworks.com/Masscomplaintsummary.html To summarize using Verizon's own statements: It was clear that Verizon had made serious commitments to Massachusetts residents that it would deploy a fiber optic-based broadband service, capable of 45mbps in both directions as well as handle 400-800 channels. This was to be delivered to 330,000 homes and have the majority of the state completed by 2010. Verizon claimed it would start immediately in 1995, and to date, there is no sign of anything ever being created. These commitments were outlined in a) press statements, releases, annual and state reports, b) filings at the FCC, and c) state submissions for alternative regulations. Here's Verizon's own words: [FCC 95-50 Order and Authorization, released 3/6/95] On July 8, 1994, NYNEX filed two (Section 214) applications ... to provide video dialtone service in Massachusetts ... proposes a system that will pass approximately 334,000 homes and businesses. NYNEX proposes to deploy hybrid fiber optic and coaxial (HFC) broadband networks that will provide advanced voice, data, and video services, including interactive video entertainment, multimedia education and health care services. The allocation plan provides for the offering of 21 analog channels, all but one of which will be used for over-the-air broadcast programming services, and, depending on compression rates, between 400 an 800 digital channels. NYNEX plans to deploy this type of network to the majority of its customers by the year 2010. An outline of this plan was part of Verizons 1994 state pitch for alternative regulations, where the company would no longer be regulated by the original rate-of-return, which examined profits but deregulated through alternative regulations where the company could earn a great deal more, as well as speed up depreciation and a host of other financial perks. Heres the Verizon submission: http://www.newnetworks.com/massfiberfailurepage2.htm There was even a plan of who would be wired. The Patriot Ledger quoted NYNEX spokesman
[DDN] I make no profit, therefore I suck
Greetings, list folk, At the NetSquared conference recently, there was a comment made by a venture capitalist that Some nonprofits just suck. This was partially attached to a discussion of nonprofit sustainability models, with a very large portion of participants taking it for granted that sustainability meant charging for services. There is an entrenched view that foundation grant funding and other donations can never be sustainable, and that there must be a return on services offered that eventually sustains the organization financially. I responded to much of this. There's a synopsis on the Nonprofiteer: http://nonprofiteer.typepad.com/the_nonprofiteer/2007/06/ dear_nonprofite.html#comment-72142198 (thanks, Nonprofiteer, for the kind words). The continuing debate lives here: http://www.tacticalphilanthropy.com/ 2007/05/some_nonprofits.html#comment-71226258 and here: http://www.tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/06/ philanthropic_c.html#comment-72140764 ...and other comment threads on the Tactical Philanthropy site and elsewhere. Coming under fire for offering services for free, by nonprofit funders who do not seem to understand the difference between mission- driven and profit-driven, forces me to suggest that we, as a sector, need to develop stronger language regarding these issues. Most of all, we need to work towards a different model of sustainability, so that we can pose alternate definitions when a potential funder equates sustainability with a system based on marginal returns for services offered. So my question is: How do we measure sustainability if we're mission- focused (nonprofit) instead of profit-focused (for profit)?. And related: How do we communicate the difference to the venture capitalist, foundation, and other donor communities who we're hoping will support our work?. In both cases, by we I mean all of us mailing list denizens, not our organization in particular. Responses appreciated. Backup on Tactical Phil would be awesome (I think I'm outnumbered). Dave. Dave Chakrabarti Director of Programs Grassroots.org ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Just for fun
Dear DDN Colleagues, Please check out this web site, which was created to provide some comic relief for NPO/NGO technology workers: LOLnptech http://lolnptech.blogspot.com Captioned photographs are eagerly solicited from the worldwide community of digital divide activists! Please feel free to email them to [EMAIL PROTECTED]. Best regards from Deborah Deborah Elizabeth Finn Boston, Massachusetts, USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.cyber-yenta.org Recommended reading: Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Social business Capitalism
I am researching for an article I am writing for Global Progress and seeking some suggesstions on social business enterprises which are relying on a capitalist model to alleviate poverty. So far, I have info for Grameen, GAIN, OneWorld, Barefoot College,Equity for Africa, Unilever... I've found some research on the underlying philosophy behind the idea -- looking at Global Issues, WiserEarth, REDF... Wading through the sheer quantity of development projects with an eye towards assessing if they actually are utilizing this model as opposed to knowing the lingo to present themselves in a favorable light is quite difficult. I've found some dissection to Hudson Institute's Recent report on the expanding role of the private sector in foreign aid and am also interested in some informed comment on this report. I would appreciate information on any projects, organizations I might not yet be aware of as well as feedback on those I have mentioned above. Thanks for any assistance. Deborah On 5/27/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Women Empowerment via ICTs 'You teach us and we can do it' - This was the overwhelming response of the 20 odd women from the rural areas of Gujarat, who attended the workshop organised by Self Employed Women Association (SEWA) (http://www.sewa.org/) along with UNDP, held in Delhi, India on 30-31 March 2007. Over two days, the workshop delved on the critical aspects of how ICTs can empower women to address issues of poverty and livelihood challenges. We heard evocative stories of how women from the most backward areas of the country had broken the boundaries of illiteracy, caste and social backwardness to independently raise their social and economic status. http://www.i4donline.net/articles/current-article.asp?articleid=1161typ=Rendezvous (I have *nothing* to do with this initiative) Jayne Cravens, MSc jc at coyotecommunications dot com Nonprofits/Civil Society -- Resources Services www.coyotecommunications.com/ International Development Work Studies www.coyotecommunications.com/development ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] KENYA: COMMUNITY ACTION TOWARDS BRIDING THE GAP
I am from Kenya. I read an article and looked at a project which I think is a great experience towards brdging the digital divide in Kenya. It involves communities coming together and contributing towards generating electricity. Initially each family has to contribute about $ 145 for the project. That is of course a big amount considering that these are rural communities which live on about $ 1 a day and where the average income is $1 a day for a casual labourer. However, the families save over a long period and once the project is completed, they pay just $ 3 per month- a very low price as compared to other Kenyans whose electricity is supplied by the National Parastatal, KPLC! This is a very worthwhile project that could hasten access to communication equipment as most of them depend on electricity. Training in rural schools and polytechnics could be revolutionised! The full story is available at http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=1241Itemid=4352 ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Keep the Core Neutral
From: http://keep-the-core-neutral.org/join The *Keep The Core Neutral Coalition* is committed to protecting freedom of expression and innovation in domain name policy at ICANN. This means basing gTLD-approval policy on criteria of only a technical/operational and related nature, and refraining from embedding any particular national, regional, moral, or religious policy objectives into global ICANN policy. http://keep-the-core-neutral.org/join ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
