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High speed Internet as an economic stimulus

Posted by Speed Matters team | November 7, 2008 |

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Last week, the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) sent letters to the Democratic and Republican leadership in both houses of Congress, urging them to include funding for high speed Internet infrastructure in their economic stimulus efforts.

As Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont wrote in the NGA letter,

“[I]nvestments in ready-to-go infrastructure projects are a cost effective creator of high paying jobs. These investments should include a broad array of infrastructure projects including airports, highways, transit systems, clean water, sewers and broadband.” (Emphasis added.)

The TIA letter made an even more detailed case, citing a study conducted earlier this year by Connected Nation that found just a seven percent increase in high speed Internet adoption could create $134 billion in economic benefits. And with the housing market in trouble, the TIA also noted that high speed Internet can have major impacts on job creation and home values.

Overall, investing in high speed Internet is an important way for our nation to pull out of the current economic crisis and lay the groundwork for a prosperous future. As the TIA letter stated,

“Broadband networks directly impact the productivity of our industries and our economy, and pivotally affect public safety, education, health care, and countless other functions in Americans’ daily lives. Like any other infrastructure project, the deployment and use of broadband will significantly increase and maintain job growth and well beyond the initial investment in the infrastructure itself. Now is the time to invest in the long-term future of our country.”

Links

Letter to Congressional Leadership (National Governors Association)

The Economic Impact of Stimulating Broadband Nationally (Connected Nation)

TIA Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Them to Include Broadband Deployment Incentives in Any Future Stimulus Bill (Telecommunications Industry Association)

Please join us this year for the very popular Christmas Tree Ship / Storytelling series!

The Christmas Tree Ship series is right around the corner and already filling fast.  Can’t you just hear the jing, jing, jingling?  The award winning Christmas Tree Ship series is being offered this November 17^th – 21^st and December 1^st – 19^th for students of all ages.  All programs feature the art of storytelling through the context of Great Lakes Maritime history and align with National and State Language Arts standards.  Age appropriate sessions are available for students in k-12 grades.

·         Christmas Tree Ship Series: Story Time (K – 3) – In this program for little ears, listen to the reading of Jeanette Winter’s book, “The Christmas Tree Ship.”  Participants then make a storytelling ornament that helps them share Great Lakes maritime history with friends and family.  Ornaments for each participant are included in this program.

·         Christmas Tree Ship Series: The Art of Storytelling (4 –  – Hear the story of the famous “Christmas Tree Ship” through song in this program by singer, songwriter, and storyteller, Lee Murdock.  Participants them become the storyteller through a windowpane storyboard of their own.

·         Christmas Tree Ship Series: Creative Writing With a Historic Perspective (9 – 12) – Step back in history to write a story of your won about this historical maritime event, the “Christmas Tree Ship.”  Use the resources provided by author Rochelle Pennington who has written two books about the famous Christmas Tree Ship.  Creative writing is easy and fun with Rochelle’s tips and guidelines!

Many have booked time and again over the last 5 years and each year the program has booked to capacity.  For those of you that haven’t booked a program in the past we invite you to join us at the 2007-08 pricing of only $95.00 per session.  Ornament kits for each student are included in the $95.00 pricing and are mailed directly to you. To accommodate the increasingly large numbers of bookings we’ve added additional sessions this year.  Programs are filled on a first come, first serve basis, so please book your session today by contacting Gaye-Lynn Clyde by email at clyde@mpm.edu, or by calling, 414-278-6146.

Thank you for your continued support of our Passport Distance Learning Series programs!

MPM Distance Learning and Education Department

From today’s TR Daily:

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS COMPLETES CREST DEAL

Anchorage-based telecom services provider Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., has completed its acquisition of Crest Communications Corp., which operates a fiber-optic communications network linking Alaska to Oregon and Washington, for $70 million in cash.  In addition to the Crest network assets, Alaska Communications expects to begin in January providing fiber-optic network service through its own network linking Alaska andOregon.  Separately, Alaska Communications reported a 0.8% year-over-year revenue increase for the third quarter of 2008, to $101.3 million; the company’s operating income for the most recent quarter came in at $12.1 million, down from $17.8 million in the year-ago period.  Alaska Communications common stock was down nine cents per share today, to $9.14.

All,

MAGPI cordially invites you to attend a special project with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. We have space for three classes of post-secondary classes in the Greater Philadelphia area – hope you can join us!

To reserve your place, please send an email to hweisse@magpi.net no later than Friday, October 24^th. There will be a multisite test for this event on October 30^th from 11:00 a.m. .- 12:00 p.m. Participation in the multisite videoconference test is required.

Best,

Heather

_ _ _ _

The Opera Company of Philadelphia Interactive Videoconference Event: The Italian Girl in Algiers

MAGPI has space for three classes of college students to participate in this exciting program. Please note that participation in the videoconference event on November 6^th requires students to travel to the Academy of Music for the dress rehearsal of The Italian Girl in Algiers on November 12^th. Therefore, this project is most suitable for post-secondary institutions in the greater Philadelphia area.

Host:                     Opera Company of Philadelphia

Date:                      Thursday, November 6, 2008

Time:                     2:00 – 3:00 PM

Connection:        H.323 Videoconference via the Internet2 Commons

Open to:               College Students

Guests:                 Lawrence Brownlee, tenor

                                Katy Pracht, mezzo-soprano (pending confirmation)

                                Laurie Rogers, accompanist

Moderator:          Michael Bolton

Event Description:

                                Michael Bolton from the Opera Company of Philadelphia will moderate a discussion about

                                Rossini’s opera, The Italian Girl in Algiers.  Music from the opera will be used to highlight the

                                discussion and will be performed by mezzo soprano Katy Pracht with Laurie Rogers at the piano.

                                Also joining the discussion will be tenor Lawrence Brownlee, one of the most acclaimed singers of

                                his generation and one of the most acclaimed singers in the Rossini bel-canto repertoire.  Mr.

                                Brownlee, who stars in the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s production of the opera, will also

                                discuss his career and the challenges of working in the performing arts. 

                                The discussion will provide students with ample interactive opportunities to ask questions of all

                                participants as they share their insights into the opera and into performing arts-related careers.                                                                      This will be of particular interest to participating students, who are music students from area

                                universities and colleges.

                                Students participating in the I2 event will have the opportunity to see the Opera Company of

Philadelphia production of Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers at the November 12^th student dress rehearsal. Please note, students will be asked to travel to the Academy of Music for this performance.

Event Timeline:

                                2:00        Welcome from Michael Bolton

                                                – Introduction of guests

                                                – Introduction of participating organizations

                                2:05        The Italian Girl in Algiers

                                                – Information on composer Gioacchino Rossini

                                                – Background on The Italian Girl in Algiers

                                                – Plot Synopsis

                                2:15        Performance: Isabella’s aria “Cruda sorte”

                                                – Katy Pracht, mezzo-soprano and Laurie Rogers, piano

                                2:20        Questions from participants

                                2:25        In conversation with Lawrence Brownlee

                                                – How did he discover his talent?

                                                – Who are his major influences?

                                                – What are his views on bel-canto and Rossini singing?

                                2:40        Questions from students

                                2:50        Careers in the Arts discussion

                                                – Discussion with Lawrence Brownlee, Katy Pracht, Laurie Rogers

                                                – Challenges of making a career in the arts today

                                                – Interactive discussion with students

* * * * * * *

Heather Weisse Walsh

Applications Coordinator

MAGPI

3401 Walnut Street, Suite 233A

Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228

Email: hweisse@magpi.net

Phone: 215-573-6417

www.magpi.net