Civil Defense Blog
NYC: Harlem Voters React
On Election Day, voter turn out was unprecedented in many places across the country including Harlem in New York City. CNPI reporter Kristofer Ríos visited several polling stations, and spoke to some of the voters who came out in big numbers to cast their ballot on a historic day.
Teens Rally For Lower Voting Age
Several teenagers aged 17 and under gathered at City Hall on Election Day to ask that the voting age be lowered to 16. CNPI reporter Abdulai Bah was at the steps of City Hall to file this report for Free Speech Radio News.
Record Turnout Prevents Some People From Voting in Jersey City
A record breaking turn out was noted on Election Day, but not everyone was actually able to cast their ballot. In New Jersey, some voters had to go back home without voting. CNPI reporter Ravi Ragbair was at some polling stations that could not accommodate everyone. He filled this report for Free Speech Radio News.
PPH Commends the FCC on White Space Vote
People's Production House commends the Federal Communication Commission on their vote to allow unlicensed access to the unused portion of the television airwaves know as white spaces. The FCC's 5 to 0 vote in favor of opening the white space spectrum is a significant step towards delivering lower-cost, high speed Internet across the nation. It will help to close the gap between those who have Internet and those who do not.
Urban and Rural Media Justice Groups Unite to Urge FCC Vote Nov. 4th on White Space
Rural and urban groups who work on digital divide and media access with remote and traditionally marginalized communities are telling the FCC their constituencies would be harmed by further delay in the Commission's vote on “white spaces.” They want the FCC to reject pressure from broadcast lobbyists who are trying to extend a process that has already dragged on for nearly five years.
Testimony on webcasting
Written Testimony of Joshua Breitbart, Policy Director, People's Production House, before the New York City Council Committee on Technology in Government on the topic of "Requiring that all public meetings be webcast (Prop. Int. No. 533-A)”
Letter to the FCC on white spaces
On October 28, People's Production House, along with Media Alliance, Media Mobilizing Project, and the Texas Media Empowerment Project, submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the white spaces proceeding. In it, we urge the Commission to act quickly to approve unlicensed mobile devices to operate in the television white spaces. The comment is below and is also available as a PDF. If you would like to submit your own comment on this matter, you can do so until Friday, October 31 using the FCC's online form.
A stay of execution issued for Troy Davis
On Thursday October 23rd, Amnesty International organized a worldwide rally to support Troy Davis, the African-American man accused of killing a police officer in Savannah, Georgia.
CNPI monthly show: The community weighs on the presidential election
The Community News Production Institute in partnership with Global Movement Urban Struggles aired its monthly show on Tuesday October 28th at 10am on WBAI 99.5 FM. The hour-long show features Amy Gottlied of the American Friends Service Committee talking about immigration, an issue both presidential candidates have less addressed in their campaigns. Billy Wharton of The Coalition Against Privatization and Martin Holland of The Transport Workers Union address the privatization plan of GHI/HIP, two major health care providers servicing more than 4-million New Yorkers.
Tell Congress the time is right to open the airwaves
The Federal Communications Commission seems poised to open the airwaves at their November 4 meeting after their engineers gave white space devices the green light earlier this month. But City Council and many of New York's Congressional Representatives, heeding corporate broadcasters over digital expansion advocates, are calling for further delay in a process that has already dragged on for six years. We need New Yorkers to step up and demand public access to public airwaves. Call your Congressional Representative now. For help, use this tool from Free Press.
PPH Responds to Council Resolution on White Spaces
City Council tries to halt new technology that could close the digital divide. Community advocates react.
Advocates for closing the digital divide condemned a City Council resolution urging the Federal Communications Commission to delay a decision concerning the unused part of the airwaves known as “white spaces.” The FCC has announced its intention to issue a ruling at a November 4 meeting.
White Spaces, a new way to access the Internet
Next year, television broadcasters will move to digital broadcasting, automatically creating enormous unused spectrum between the channels. The unused spectrum, otherwise known as White Spaces, will allow the public to use it with broadband-enabled mobile devices that would significantly reduce the digital divide.
CNPI reporter, Christine Lewis of Domestic Workers United files this report for Free Speech Radio News.
Assemblyman Micah Kellner speaks about School Overcrowding
There is a growing concern over school overcrowding in New York City, hundreds of them are said to be facing this escalating issue. CNPI reporter, Florence Wapimewah recently sat down with New York State Assemble Member Micah Z. Kellner to talk about the issue and the organizing that parents, students and some elected officials have been doing to address the problem.
The interview was aired on WBAI 99.5FM.
Audio from the City Council hearing on white spaces
Joly from the New York chapter of the Internet Society recorded the full conference. You can see his video and listen to his audio at the ISOC-NY website.
Council Member Gale M. Brewer chaired the hearing and the witnesses were:
Panel 1
Mary Landolfi - Pres. American Federation of Musicians Local 802
Ira Mont - VP Actors Equity Association
Laurie Baskin - Director of Government & Education Programs. Theatre Communications Group
Heidi Mathis - Corporate Relations Manager at The Shubert Organization / Broadway League
Panel 2
Stuart Overby - Senior Director, Global Spectrum Strategy. Motorola, Inc
Marc Berejka - Sr. Director, State Affairs & Public Policy, Microsoft Corp.
Why is mobile Internet access key to digital expansion?
Broadband Internet service is available for nearly every house in New York City, yet less than half have adopted it. Barely a quarter of low income households pay for a high speed connection at home.
As PPH Policy Director Joshua Breitbart explains in this audio clip, Internet access on mobile phones brings connectivity to people where they are on devices that they have already decided to pay for. This is a better way to get people online than trying to convince them to buy a new machine and pay for a new service.
How white space devices would impact the digital divide
At the City Council hearing on the white spaces resolution, Committee Chair Gale Brewer asked about the cost of white space devices. Dana Spiegel from NYCwireless explained that, like most new technology, the cost would start high then go down over time. PPH Policy Director Joshua Breitbart pointed out that the true cost would actually be a savings compared to what we spend now for Internet access and mobile phone calls. In this audio clip, he explains how delivering Internet connectivity to people's mobile phones is the most effective way to close the digital divide between those with high speed Internet access at home and those without.
Testimony before City Council on white spaces
Good morning. My name is Joshua Breitbart. I am the Policy Director of People's Production House. People's Production House provides young people, immigrants, and low-wage workers with a comprehensive education for the information age, combining media production, media literacy and media policy. We work in public schools and with community organizations in all five boroughs.
Join our campaign to open the airwaves
We ask all organizations and individuals in New York City to endorse the simple letter below by contacting us directly. Thank you.
Model City Council white spaces resolution
Resolution urging the Federal Communications Commission to implement regulatory amendments that would allow portable devices to operate on the white space radio spectrum in order to close the digital divide and stimulate investment in new technology without negatively impacting television broadcasters, performing artists, professional sports leagues, and all incumbent wireless microphone users.
PPH calls on City Council to endorse “white space devices”
New York – Community media and immigrant rights advocates are calling on City Council to endorse “white space devices,” a new technology that would boost the economy and drive down the cost of mobile phone calls and Internet access.
