Through the Wire

Rockefeller’s Broadband Data Deficit

The politicization of broadband statistics continues to rage on Capitol Hill, highlighted last Tuesday by an ill-informed assertion by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) at the start of FCC chairman Kevin Martin’s confirmation hearing before the Commerce Committee. “A full 25% of my constituents in West Virginia have absolutely no access to any form of broadband,” Rockefeller said after bemoaning tepid Bush administration interest in broadband policy.

It turned out that Rockefeller — who is desperate to subsidize broadband in his state with federal money — obtained his data from a recent report by the West Virginia Public Service Commission that measured the availability of just digital subscriber line and cable modem service. The report failed to mention that nearly all West Virginia homes have access to satellite-delivered broadband supplied by HughesNet and WildBlue Communications.

“Satellite service is available at every location in West Virginia that has a clear view of the southern sky,” said Billy Jack Gregg, director of the PSC’s consumer advocate division. WildBlue is a new service, but HughesNet has 300,000 U.S. subscribers. “There seems to be myopia when it comes to satellite,” HughesNet spokeswoman Judy Blake said.

Gregg and a Rockefeller spokesman stressed that satellite has such high upfront equipment and installation costs that it can’t be called a realistic option for many in West Virginians. But are price and availability identical issues?

Satellite costs don’t appear to be totally unrealistic. WildBlue’s current promotion — after a one-time fee of $299.00 — costs $49.95 a month for 512K downstream and 128K upstream. Not bad compared to the alternative — dial up.

If You Hear Me Now, CTIA Must Be Over

It is a strange irony, but the one place where you can count on getting lousy wireless connections is at a wireless trade show.

That proved the case last week, when an estimated 15,000 wireless and mobile entertainment industry types invaded the Los Angeles for the annual CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment show and the companion Mobile Entertainment, Content, Commerce and Applications Conference.

That’s not entirely surprising. There is no group of individuals more welded to their Blackberries, RAZR phones or laptops with Wi-Fi connections than those working for wireless companies, so they are like a plague of locusts descending on a wireless network, instantly overwhelming it with high traffic volumes.

Connections were particularly bad at the MECCA conference at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, which like many hotels has not ponied up for in-building wireless signal boosters common in larger public venues to ensure that their guests can stay connected. With nary a bar showing on anyone’s cell phone antenna display, frequently attendees could be seen doing the 50-yard Wireless Dash, running outside into a world of better cell reception, only to stand on the sidewalk and scream into their handsets to be heard over the din of traffic.

Even worse, the free public Wi-Fi service that now covers downtown Los Angeles was stubbornly unavailable. Attendees including a handful of press types instead found a connection to a free Wi-Fi network offered by the hotel’s fourth-floor bar and grill, but to access it the user had to provide an e-mail and prepare for the inevitable spam that would generate.

Still, that is the price for people now addicted to the theory of connecting wirelessly anywhere, any time to get their fix.

Welcome to the real wireless world.

McGrath Praises Freston For Diversity Efforts

MTV Networks chairman Judy McGrath credited her ousted boss, Tom Freston, with being the architect of her cable fiefdom’s embracing of diversity — in its workforce and on the TV screen.

“Making MTV Networks into a diverse company was truly Tom’s vision, and in the 25 years we’ve been around, it may be the most radical act we’ve foisted onto the world,” McGrath said at the Walter Kaitz Foundation Dinner last Wednesday. “He said, 'For a company that’s famous for a lot of things, I want us to be famous for diversity.’”

McGrath’s remarks — as she accepted the Kaitz Foundation’s award on behalf of MTV Networks for its commitment to diversity — sparked applause and cheers from dinner attendees. Her appearance at the event came just over a week after Viacom CEO Freston was replaced by Philippe Dauman, who attended the dinner.

The Kaitz dinner raised $1.5 million this year, to support efforts to hire and promote members of racial and ethnic minorities and women at cable operations and programming companies.

Other events — a night out at Broadway musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” on Tuesday and a performance by rockers Barenaked Ladies at Music Choice Studios on Thursday — raised funds for Cable Positive, the AIDS action organization.

By Ted Hearn, Karen Brown and Linda Moss.