Confessions of a Mad Librarian

Gigabit Today
December 2003

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IN THIS ISSUE
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

GIGABIT NEWS
1. Task Forces Develop Agendas for Building Gigabit Network
2. New Task Forces Being Formed

NATIONAL BROADBAND NEWS
1. Municipal Fiber Networks Increase; Funding Challenges Persist
2. RBOCs Slow to Embrace Fiber All the Way to the Premise
3. Senate Amendment Increases RUS Broadband Funding
4. CDMA Schemes for Broadband Wireless Communications
5. Internet2 Land Speed Record Broken

ABOUT CENIC'S GIGABIT OR BUST ROUNDTABLE

ABOUT CENIC

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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We feel that not only is it [fiber] a good idea, it is the future of our business. We just don't see a future in plain old telephone services over a copper network.
--Tim McCallion, President, Pacific Region, Verizon
During Gigabit or Bust Initiative Roundtable Meeting, November 5-6, Sacramento, CA

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GIGABIT NEWS
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1. GIGABIT TASK FORCES DEVELOP AGENDAS FOR BUILDING GIGABIT NETWORK
The Gigabit or Bust Initiative leaders and its 13 task forces got down to business quickly at the November 5-6 Roundtable Meeting. More than 95 gigabit believers attended the Sacramento meeting, and they brought passionate energy to the work at hand.

Task forces spent the two days identifying the opportunities and obstacles to achieving one gigabit throughout California by 2010 and establishing action plans to achieve this goal.

This Gigabit Today issue is dedicated to introducing the task forces, their chairpersons and the individual goals the groups' identified during the Sacramento roundtable. We encourage you to investigate the task forces and join one (or more) that shares your interests and goals. For more information about each task force visit:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/taskforces/index.htm

To view the video clips and slide presentations from the event visit:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/meetings/110503/pres/contents.htm

BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES TASK FORCE
John Jamison, Chair

Ubiquitous broadband connectivity is the next "Great Leap Forward" in the development of the Internet. We cannot enjoy the benefits of ubiquitous broadband until the network infrastructure is in place. The Broadband Technologies Task Force is the keystone of the Gigabit or Bust Initiative.

Join the Broadband Technologies Task Force and help determine the appropriate technologies that will allow one gigabit ubiquitous broadband by 2010. We are currently developing a list of suggested pilot projects.

ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES TASK FORCE
Tad Marburg, Chair

Entertainment is California's largest export industry, and it is the second largest U.S. export industry. The Entertainment Task Force will bridge the chasm between education and the entertainment industry to find solutions for challenges such as intellectual property rights.

Join the Entertainment Task Force and participate in a collective effort to educate entertainment companies of the potential of one gigabit.

FIBER TASK FORCE
Victor Braud III, Chair

The Fiber Task Force is responsible for identifying the carriers, enterprises, governmental agencies, right of way owners, and other public and private entities that are interested in optical fiber infrastructure projects in California. We are seeking members who have the vision, pride, and commitment to build a network that will reach the state's residents and businesses by 2010.

Join the Fiber Task Force and help build the infrastructure that will deliver gigabit service throughout California.

INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) LITERACY TASK FORCE

Barbara O'Connor, Chair

The ICT Literacy Task Force is defining how to integrate technology training into academic and consumer content so that California will continue to be a technology leader. Nations from across the globe are defining literacy standards and California must follow their example. The Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development has a Program for International Student Assessment that will test ICT literacy worldwide in 2006. Thirty-one countries will measure their workforce's ability to use technology in the context of math, science, social science and language.

Join the ICT Literacy Task Force and create a framework and standards for measuring ICT literacy in California.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) TASK FORCE
Jack McConaghy, Chair

The IP Task Force is identifying the IP rights issues that arise when consumers can access content via a gigabit network. One of the main goals of the Task Force will be to identify the IP roadblocks that will hinder the deployment of ubiquitous gigabit broadband.

Join the IP Task Force and help solve one of the Gigabit or Bust Initiative's most challenging issues.

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ABOUT CENIC
CENIC is a not-for-profit corporation serving the California Institute of Technology, California State University, Stanford University, University of California, University of Southern California, California Community Colleges and the statewide K-12 school system. CENIC's mission is to facilitate and coordinate the development, deployment and operation of a set of robust multi-tiered advanced network services for this research and education community.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
You can subscribe to Gigabit Today by visiting:
http://www.cenic.org/GB/gbtoday/gbtoday.htm
Subscribing to this mailing list provides you with the bimonthly newsletter plus weekly updates from the One Gigabit or Bust staff.

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