[Web4lib] FW: Cave Day Announcement

[Dobbs, Aaron]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for pointing out my combination of high-speed and broadband --
most of the lay-people (non-computer/information scientists) I know use
the two terms interchangeably (obviously, I do myself) -- these terms do
have pretty narrow definitions that are useful to digiterati of course.
Sorry for forgetting my audience :)

My "worldwide definition of broadband" is my loose combination of
apparent national averages in well connected countries (Japan being the
fastest-connected at 5+ MBps, see: http://speedmatters.org/ala for some
fun comparisons.  

My (academic) library & campus connects at an average of 3MBps midday,
my house (nominally charged for 3 MBps via Comcast - for *way* too much
money) averages about 1.7 MBps in the evening.

Lastly, I suspect the FCC defined the 200KBps as high-speed so we could
look good in the worldwide self-reported internet connectivity
statistics lists -- I mean, who would want to admit to the US public
that we are now 5-10 years *behind* most of the rest of the developed
world in terms of connectivity?

ALA's Office for Information Technology (OITP) has done a far better job
of terms definition than I did in my casual riffing on a fairly broadly
held view amongst the general public.  See:
http://www.ii.fsu.edu/plinternet_reports.cfm for the ALA/Gates
Foundation Public Library Connectivity Study.

-Aaron
:-)'

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Wiggins [mailto:richard.wiggins at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:37 AM
To: Dobbs, Aaron
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] FW: Cave Day Announcement

Aaron,
 
Sounds like a cool demonstration and application...
 
With all due respect, you're conflating two terms -- "high speed" and
"broadband," and you're actually overstating the FCC's definition of
"high speed" Internet access.  
 
Also, would you please cite an authoritative source as to the "world
definition of broadband"?  A former boss defines "broadband" as
"whatever is twice as fast as what I have on my desk." 
 
The FCC has caught considerable flak for its relatively low bar for what
might be called high-speed.  Their definition basically called for
something faster than ISDN in one direction, presumably download.  But
many people, including myself, felt that a goal of universal ISDN speeds
to homes and businesses was a worthwhile and achievable target.  Mitch
Kapor argued for it.  And years later, in 2007, we don't have it. 
 
If the ALA is doing a study and proposing standards and goals, they
should define their terms carefully, for today, and for 5 and 10 years
out.  
 
Following is the FCC definition of "high speed"
 
/rich
 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RELEASES DATA ON

HIGH-SPEED SERVICES FOR INTERNET ACCESS

High-Speed Connections to the Internet Increased 34% During 2004 for a
Total of 38 Million

Lines in Service

Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today
released

new data on high-speed connections to the Internet in the United States.
Twice a year, facilitiesbased

broadband providers must report the number of high-speed connections in
service pursuant

to the FCC's local competition and broadband data gathering program (FCC
Form 477).

For reporting purposes, 

high-speed lines are connections that deliver services at speeds 

exceeding 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction,
while 

advanced services lines 

are connections that deliver services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in
both directions.

 
/rich
 
On 4/11/07, Dobbs, Aaron <AWDobbs at ship.edu> wrote: 

	Question: High speed internet connectivity in public libraries?!
Why on
	earth would *they* need *that*?! 
	
	Answer: See the Cave Day announcement below for yet another good
example
	supporting high speed internet in public libraries.
	
	(High-speed in this case means the world definition of broadband
	(2+MBps) vs the U.S. legislative/regulatory definition
(744KBps).  I2
	would be nice, but an I2 connection is not necessary for the
program
	below.)
	
	-Aaron
	:-)'