O'Malley, Biden to talk broadband
Gov. Martin O'Malley is set to stop at the White House Thursday when he returns from his DGA event in Chicago. He'll share the stage with Vice President Joe Biden for an event pushing greater access to broadband for first responders.
President Obama's budget included $10 billion for the "development and deployment" of a national "wireless broadband network," according to a White House press release. The network is intended for public safety agencies.
On Monday, O'Malley pushed a similar message in Maryland, stopping in Howard County with Sen. Barbara Mikulski and County Executive Ken Ulman to launch a state-wide push for more access to high speed internet.
Maryland's chief executive has been racking up the travel miles. He landed in Maryland Saturday after a 10-day trade mission in Asia and admitted to feeling a little "blurry" on Monday, just before a groundbreaking for a new sports field in Baltimore's Patterson Park.
On Tuesday after briefing reporters on the Asia trip in Annapolis, he jetted off to Chicago for a two-day Democratic Governors Association regional policy meeting in the windy city. (Fun fact about the DGA conference: There appears to be an app for it. Really.)
President Obama's budget included $10 billion for the "development and deployment" of a national "wireless broadband network," according to a White House press release. The network is intended for public safety agencies.
On Monday, O'Malley pushed a similar message in Maryland, stopping in Howard County with Sen. Barbara Mikulski and County Executive Ken Ulman to launch a state-wide push for more access to high speed internet.
Maryland's chief executive has been racking up the travel miles. He landed in Maryland Saturday after a 10-day trade mission in Asia and admitted to feeling a little "blurry" on Monday, just before a groundbreaking for a new sports field in Baltimore's Patterson Park.
On Tuesday after briefing reporters on the Asia trip in Annapolis, he jetted off to Chicago for a two-day Democratic Governors Association regional policy meeting in the windy city. (Fun fact about the DGA conference: There appears to be an app for it. Really.)
Comments
Unless the government (at whatever level) opens up the market to some TRUE competition for wired broadband connections the US will continue to fall behind in access speeds and surge ahead in access costs.
Oh and the One Maryland Broadband network isn't about connecting people but rather connecting government institutions. And if you think that connecting libraries is about open internet access for the masses think again all the public libraries offer 'FILTERED' internet access thanks to government restrictions.
Posted by: Paul | June 15, 2011 11:47 AM
This is high speed internet for those with low incomes. The Obama administration already introduced a special cell phone service for those who "qualify". I pay $100 a month for Comcast Internet. I am not about to subsidize the poor with government-provided "free" Internet service paid for with my taxes. Why doesn't the Sun report the real reason for OMalley, Mikulski, and all the other Socialists supporting this program?
Posted by: Mike | June 15, 2011 12:02 PM
Once the gov't accomplishes its goal of taking control of the internet from private sector, they'll decide what we will see and read.
Posted by: Dave | June 15, 2011 12:27 PM
I am so glad that Governor O'Malley is moving forward on extending internet services throughout the state. Such actions make broadband available in areas where it is not profitable for the privateers to provide services. And the extension of services makes our local market places more competitive. It also is fast becoming the necessary communication of households much like the telephone, even better. Children can learn more over the internet and seniors can be safer in their homes by keeping in communication with family and friends. O'Malley gets it and that is good for all of us.
Posted by: CarmanK | June 15, 2011 12:34 PM
Maybe MOM can convince his Chinese friends to open some sweatshops in MD and pay the employees with broadband and Walmart vouchers?
Posted by: didactic1 | June 15, 2011 12:35 PM
MOM is just as useless as Glendening and Hughes were.
Posted by: Mike | June 15, 2011 1:39 PM