With so much good information at conferences, the challenge is to retain a few pearls of wisdom. Last week’s Digital Hollywood Conference was that way, as there was too much great content to absorb. There isn’t enough time now to synthesize all of this great material into articles, so here are some interesting sound bites from various speakers at this multi-day conference.
- “The Fixx Privacy Principle – ‘Do what you say, say what you do, one thing leads to another,'” is a good philosophy to have when constructing a privacy policy, according to Seth Weisberg – Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Stamps.com.
- Chia-Lin Simmons of Harman International (high-end audio) suggests that personalized radio in cars will soon be mainstream – we will be listening to Facebook and Twitter feeds in our cars.
- Who has the power? The new power brokers are anyone who can gather an audience. The key is marketing. Talent has become much more powerful and much more power to build their brands.
A Celebration of Community Near Yosemite
One of the reasons for our lack of time is that we are busy preparing for summer and for something we have wanted to do for years. In looking forward, it forced me to look back some eight years ago to a video I filmed (yes, before the days of digital) at Sierra Telephone’s celebration of National Small Telecommunications Week. This event was really a celebration of community and Sierra Telephone’s vital role in the continued growth of the community it serves. Click to view.
Kevin Martin’s Comments on Hybrid-Wireless Networks, NBP & More
Former FCC Chairman and current partner in the law firm of Patton Boggs, Kevin Martin, comments on the importance of fiber as a necessary ingredient in the creation of robust wireless networks in this interview at the 2011 Broadband Properties Summit. He also weighs in on the National Broadband Plan, as well the use of so-called “white spaces” and the balance between licensed and unlicensed frequencies. Click to view.
National Broadband Plan Creator Speaks
Blair Levin of the Aspen Institute and creator of the National Broadband Plan comments on this 350+ page document in this video interview at the 2011 Broadband Properties Summit. In this interview, he discusses the NBP’s broadband speed definition, as well as the transition to a universal service model for broadband. Joan Engebretson has a good article in Telecompetitor that highlights her discussion with Mr. Levin and echoes what is heard in this interview. Click to view.
Comments on the National Broadband Plan
Bill Hegmann of NECA discusses the National Broadband Plan in this interview at the 2011 Minnesota Telecom Alliance Annual Convention. He points out that the majority of the un-served customers are located in price-cap areas, as opposed to the areas served by rate of return operators. He also provides details of their research, which indicates the $17,000 per line support figure for one operator, referenced in the NBP, is actually much lower. This is due to the growth in that operator’s network. Finally, Hegmann points to the importance of providing the FCC with data. Click to view.
Prelude to TiECon: TiE Silicon Valley Announces TiE50 2011 Winners by Alan Weissberger
The Indus Entreprenneurs (TiE) Silicon Valley chapter announced the winners of the TiE50 Awards, which will be presented at TiEcon 2011, May 13 – 14th, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. TiE 50, the 3rd annual awards program to recognize the “Top 50 Startup Companies”, will be a prominent part of TiEcon. TiE50 is TiE Silicon Valley’s premier annual awards program keenly contested by technology startups worldwide. TiE50 track record since inception in May 2009 shows that 94% of the winners and finalists have been funded, attracting over $20 Billion in investments! Click to read more.
Some Tweets and Short Thoughts:
- Panelists slated for Omaha Field Workshop on Modernizing Universal Service for Broadband – good one to view or attend
- On a Rooftop in the City, Grows Hope – Great concept, plus USDA is using cost-efficient WordPress as a mouthpiece
- Roundup of Century Tel news and preview of Alan Weissberger’s opinion on Savvis purchase and its cloud computing impact
- A country-rock tinged sound that hearkens to the early 70s Eagles/Linda Rondstadt LA music scene from someone ViodiTV has interviewed in his other life. Good stuff and another example of how talent is all around us, even when it is sometimes hidden inside a suit.
The Korner – The Wireless Cook
Summer is a time for barbecuing. A few years back, we reviewed a sort of home-brewed version of an electronic meat thermometer. It was only a matter of time before someone would take this concept and make it usable for the rest of us.
Microwave frequencies have long been used for cooking our foods, but now, they can also be used to tell us about the cooking process. We caught up with the inventors of the iGrill wireless temperature probe at CES 2011 and they explained to us how their device uses the Bluetooth protocol to transmit temperature information about that slab of beef on the barbecue or that turkey in the oven to one’s smart phone or tablet.
Instead of having to constantly keeping an eye on the oven, the accompanying app will alert the cook when their food is ready. The app also provides recipes and cooking tips, as well as opportunities to participate in contests with other connected cooks.
So, it may be too late to get iDevice’s iGrill for your favorite mother, but I have been talking to a few father’s who would love to get this gizmo as a Father’s Day gift. Click here to view.
