MESSAGE
| DATE | 2005-12-22 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] [Fwd: E-Update for the Committee on Technology in Government -
|
-----Forwarded Message-----
> From: Michael Santorelli
> Subject: E-Update for the Committee on Technology in Government -
> 122205
> Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 16:20:13 -0500
>
> Hello all,
>
> After nearly four years of hard work, briefings, meetings, and
> hearings, we are proud to announce that the New York City Council
> unanimously passed Int. No. 625-A, sponsored by Council Member Gale A.
> Brewer, yesterday by a vote of 47-0. This bill now awaits the
> signature of Mayor Michael Bloomberg before it officially becomes a
> law. (We expect him to do this sometime next week.) The passage of
> this bill means that New York City will now join the rapidly growing
> conversation about how to best use municipal resources to facilitate
> the deployment of citywide broadband technologies, current and
> emergin.
>
> Int. No. 625-A calls for the creation of a public broadband advisory
> committee. It will be comprised of Mayoral and City Council appointees
> and will be charged with issuing a report at the end of each year of
> its existence regarding the state of broadband in the city and what,
> if anything, the city can do to address the broadband needs of
> residents, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. This new
> committee with also be required to hold public hearings in each of the
> city's boroughs to educate the public on broadband technologies and to
> accept public comments.
>
> Before getting to this point, however, the Committee on Technology in
> Government held a hearing on Int. No. 625-A on Monday, December 12,
> 2005. At this hearing, testimony in support of this bill was heard
> from a number of technology professionals, including: Donald Berryman,
> president of Earthlink's Municipal Networks division; Andrew Rasiej,
> former candidate for NYC Public Advocate; Bruce Bernstein, president
> of the New York Software Industry Alliance (NYSIA); and
> representatives from WiFi, WiMAX and BPL companies. To access the
> briefing paper from this hearing, go to
> http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/attachments/70237.htm. With such
> overwhelming support, we moved forward with the legislation by
> negotiating with the Mayor's office. We came to an agreement and it
> was voted out of Committee unanimously by a vote of 4-0 on Tuesday,
> December 20, 2005.
>
> This bill has received quite a bit of press. Check it out:
>
> NY Newsday's City Hall column on the Committee' broadband
> efforts:http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nyhall194558018dec19,0,3241264.column
>
> CNET article on the Council vote:
> http://news.com.com/NYC++moves+closer+to+broadband+plan/2100-1034_3-6004928.html?tag=nefd.top
>
> Guest column on the legislation by Council Member Brewer posted on
> Muniwireless (thank to Esme Vos):
> http://muniwireless.com/community/guests/956
>
> Computer World posting after the Council vote:
> http://www.computerworld.com/managementtopics/outsourcing/isptelecom/story/0,10801,107267,00.html
>
> Links to the legislation and the press release (thanks to Jim Baller):
> http://www.baller.com/comm_broadband.html (bottom)
>
> Media Advisory on the passage of the bill posted on Muniwireless
> (thanks again to Esme):
> http://muniwireless.com/municipal/watch/955
>
> Posting of press release:
> http://www.civitium.com/ (on the right, under "Features")
>
> Blog posting on the Council vote (thanks to Dana Spiegel):
> http://www.wirelesscommunity.info/2005/12/21/nyc-council-creates-public-broadband-commission/
>
> CNET story on the Committee's December 12, 2005 hearing:
> http://news.com.com/Can+Wi-Fi+make+it+in+Manhattan/2100-7351_3-5992316.html?tag=nefd.top
>
> AM New York article on the December 12, 2005 hearing:
> http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-amnet1213,0,4022001.story?coll=nyc-moreny-headlines
>
> Blog posting on NYC broadband:
> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20051212/2334259_F.shtml
>
> Blog posting on the feasibility of WiFi in NYC:
> http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/70348
>
> Thank you to all those who have testified at our hearings in the past,
> counseled us on the technology, and to anyone who has contributed to
> the success of the Committee on Technology in Government. Have a happy
> holiday and great New Year!
>
> *****
> Announcements
>
> New York City Technology Companies for TechNYC Census (From Frank
> Madison)
>
> Do you have a technology business in New York City? TechNYC©, a
> program of the Industrial and Technology Assistance Corporation of New
> York (ITAC) is conducting a census of New York City technology
> businesses. The technology industry in New York City is extremely
> diverse, encompassing robotics, defense materials, information
> systems, biotech, medical products, advanced manufacturing and more.
> ITAC needs to know who you are. What does your company doe? What your
> unique needs are?
>
> The information gathered will be used to promote growth, raise the
> profile of the NYC technology sector and to work with elected
> officials to develop new opportunities for growing your business in
> NYC. Register at http://www.technyc.org/registration.htmlto ensure
> that your business is counted among the thousands of other technology
> firms in NYC! Over 2500 firms are already recorded. The next 200
> firms to register will receive a free TechNYC USB memory stick! For
> more information, or to register your business, visit
> www.technyc.orgor contact Leah Archibald at 212-442-2990 or
> larchibald-at-itac.org. ITAC is a non-profit economic development
> organization that works one-on-one with technology and manufacturing
> firms in NYC—visit www.itac.orgfor more details.
>
>
>
> *****
>
> About the New York City Council's Committee on Technology in
> Government
>
> The primary goals of the Committee on Technology in Government
> are (1) to expand digital equality by increasing access to broadband
> in underserved communities of New York City (2) to increase the
> strategic use of technology in government, thereby, increasing
> efficiency in government and enhancing the quality of public services,
> and (3) to promote the openness and transparency of government by
> making sure that public information is accessible to every New York
> City resident. Through its ability to hold oversight hearings over
> City agencies and introduce and hear legislation, the Committee on
> Technology in
> Government works to achieve its goals in partnership with the private,
> public and nonprofit sectors.
>
> More information about the Committee and the Chair of the
> Committee, Council Member Gale A. Brewer, can be found at the
> following link:
>
>
> http://nyccouncil.info/issues/committee.cfm?committee_id=106<sbdkey=5121http://nyccouncil.info/issues/committee.cfm?committee_id=106<sbdkey=5121.
>
> All Committee briefing papers from the current session (beginning in
> January 2004) are also available at this link.
>
> If you know of people who would be interested in the Committee on
> Technology in Government's activities, please feel free to forward
> this e-mail to them. If you know of anyone who would like to receive
> these e-mails, just have them e-mail me, and I will be put them on the
> list. Finally, feel free to post this information on any listserve
> you may belong to or on any website you are affiliated with.
>
> Thank you. I look forward to seeing you at one of Committee's
> hearings or events.
>
> Regards,
>
> Michael Santorelli
> --
> Michael Santorelli
> Legislative Policy Analyst, Committee on Technology in Government
> New York City Council
> 250 Broadway, 14th Floor
> New York, NY 10007
> Work: 212.788.9109
> Fax: 212.788.9168
> E-mail: michael.santorelli-at-council.nyc.ny.us
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