Speed Matters' partner One Economy was awarded $28.5 million in grant money to expand high-speed Internet in underserved communities in the latest round of NITA's Broadband Opportunity funding.

On March 4, The Communications Workers of America and three of its partner organizations released a report called Networking the Green Economy. The report found that new communication technologies are actually a critical part of making our energy-hungry economy more sustainable and energy-efficient.

Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen testified before the House Judiciary Committee on February 25 about the impact of a proposed merger between Comcast and NBC Universal. Cohen, who represents employees of both companies, made the case that the merger would adversely affect the public interest by shedding quality jobs, reducing competition, and devaluing online content and broadband services.

Leaders in the education and healthcare industries have come together to form a coalition to promote broadband access in schools, libraries, and healthcare facilities. The formation of the public-private partnership Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition was announced Thursday, June 11 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, in Washington, D.C.

The fifth of six broadband stimulus roundtables was held in Washington DC on Monday, March 23 and the role of the states, broadband mapping and network neutrality were the topics of discussion.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development (RUS), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss how they would coordinate the dispersal of economic stimulus money for broadband projects.

At Speed Matters, we have highlighted the benefits of high speed Internet for the economy, education, health care, the environment, public safety and closing the digital divide. However, several new broadband-based programs are helping solve another problem: allowing ill children to be kids.

Telemedicine achieved a significant milestone recently when an endoscopic surgery in Puerto Rico was broadcast live to doctors in several locations throughout the United States.

Speed Matters has released our second

City buses rolled out of parking garages in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 1 with a message for city leaders and residents -- "This bus isn't the only thing passing you by. Verizon is bringing high-speed Internet to the suburbs: Not to D.C." While Verizon has been advertising its high-speed FiOS network on D.C. airwaves, plans to actually install high-speed Internet in the city are far from the drawing board, and the Communications Workers of America and other groups are calling on city council members to push back.