Hello again!

Spring has sprung, and temperatures here in Vermont soared to record highs this weekend. Many Vermonters skied in t-shirts and shorts Saturday, as temperatures reached the mid 80s! I, on the other hand, enjoyed a nice, warm day in the garden.

The most important news of the month came from the FCC about the newly proposed National Broadband Plan. (See article below or watch the YouTube video with the FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski.) Read on for some of the other latest technology news.

Until next month,

Paul

FCC unveils $20B national broadband plan
On March 16, the FCC finally made public its recommendations for an ambitious National Broadband Plan. The plan would try to extend Internet access to 90 percent of American citizens (up from today’s 65 percent). It proposes to increase broadband rates up to tenfold to the 100 million Americans that have existing Internet connections. This marks the first time that broadband access, and Internet access in general, has been given considerable government attention in America. Hurdles do remain, however. Read the telcos’ initial response here.

FCC eyes new changes to USF to fund broadband
Our monthly phone service charges include what are called Universal Service Fund fees. These ensure that all citizens can receive phone access, anywhere in the country—which is pretty amazing if you think about it! The FCC is currently considering some major changes to the USF to fund the broadband plan.

Clearwire announces seven more cities for WiMAX in 2010
Clearwire recently announced that Los Angeles, Miami, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, and St. Louis are now part of 40 WiMAX service launches planned before the end of the year. Speaking of WiMAX, will it find a home as the infrastructure for a new U.S. smart grid?

Cable gearing up for a perfect storm
The MSOs and cable companies have been busy the past two years, gearing up to take on the traditional telcos and CLECs head-to-head with voice and Carrier Ethernet services. This is more than just fiber-to-the-premises services, as they continue to move forward with DOCSIS 3 upgrades too. If you think they will allow the techno-savvy to provide online video for free, fahgetaboutit! Read about the revenge of the cable guys.

Data revenue not keeping up with data usage
Wireless data’s consumption of bandwidth almost tripled in 2009, but revenue from mobile data increased only 24 percent last year. AT&T and Verizon Wireless accounted for almost 90 percent of all new data revenue in the fourth quarter.

It’s time for a data-centric security strategy
Many network administrators have been moving away from a pure perimeter security strategy, but it is still prevalent. That is unfortunate since it is no defense against the threats of today. What should you do? First, align your protection strategy with your data. For more details, download this data-centric security report.

Assessing the future of 3DTV
Few in the TV industry doubt that one day 3DTV will be a big part of the business. According to this report, several important questions remain, such as whether 3DTV will ever become a staple like HD is today.

An essential guide to solid-state storage
Solid-state drive (SSD) technology is relatively new, but users are discovering the performance enhancements over other storage methods and the added benefit of reducing power consumption. What are the current trends and challenges to consider when implementing SSD? This guide has the answers.

New VLAN guide
Virtual LANs (VLAN) have been playing an ever-increasing role in enterprise networks, allowing for enhanced security, management, and scalability. The recent trends of virtualization and cloud computing have only increased the requirement for understanding them. This guide covers all the key aspects–both old and new.

The View from the Hill
Do you wonder where to get the latest tech news, insight, analysis, and opinion? Our various updates provide you the best in telecom news now. Whether it is our Twitter feeds, PodSnacks, wiki, or our weekly podcast series the Hill Associates Week in Telecom (tHAWT), thousands of our students count on us to keep them up-to-date on topics they find important. You can too! Check them out and sign up.

Where are you on the 2010 training track?
Training must be more than just facts, definitions, and role play. It must be talent development that ultimately impacts revenue. A training program can also be a major team building exercise. When everyone shares the same insight and speaks the same language, the confusion surrounding complex concepts disappears. Our programs are customizable, designed and tailored to meet your specific needs.

Want to know more? Contact Mark Steinberg, Director of Business Development, at mark@hill.com.

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