edwardvielmetti's blog

WorldChanging has a collection of good stories about emerging technology in the developing world. Their recent story about Grameen Phone is a good summary of the past and future of their organization:

The Grameen Foundation employs some of the most innovative poverty-reduction and economic development tools around: microfinance; biomass-based village micropower; and "Village Phones," which enable rural communities to maintain access to regional and national markets, information and -- most important of all -- family members. Grameen Phone has been wildly successful in Bangladesh, where it started (and now serves as the nation's top phone company), as well as in Uganda and Rwanda.

Here's a schedule of plans for the CIC reunion weekend, which is held along with the general School of Information reunion and the iConference. There's a lot going on - we're hoping you can join us. If you have any questions about details or plans for this weekend let Edward Vielmetti, the CIC organizer, know at emv@umich.edu

Friday, October 13

10:30am - noon: SI 575, Community Information Corps seminar (Resnick/Vielmetti). West Hall 311. Alumni and friends welcome to join. George Hotelling will be presenting on his Pizzigati Prize winning CivicSpeak project. (Session details)

The third session of SI 575 looks at public access to internet and communications technologies internationally. We will discuss a full range of issues that come up when providing telecommunications and computing services in parts of the world where incomes are low, power supplies are intermittent, infrastructure is inadequate and international connections are expensive. There is no outside speaker currently planned for this session, but there are several class members with experience outside of the US who will describe some situations they have experienced.

Public Power Magazine has a good Sept. 2006 overview of legislative activity in the last two years in regulating cities and other governments entering the business of providing access to the internet to the public.

Communities across the United States are working to bring broadband to their residents. Often, they are working with the private sector to provide services. But where private companies are unwilling or unable to meet local needs as fast as the community demands, some municipal governments are considering providing advanced communications networks and services themselves. Incumbent telecommunications companies and cable operators have often responded with fierce opposition and launch efforts to obtain state laws obstructing municipal broadband initiatives. Municipalities in Indiana faced such a fight this year—and secured a victory. “We expected a fight from the private providers,” said Carolyn Wright, director of government relations for the Indiana Municipal Power Agency. “We understand the economics from the telcos’ business perspective, but Indiana municipals must bring broadband to our communities that request it. I believe the United States is ranked 16th in the world in terms of broadband deployment. That is not a good track record.”

You are invited to attend the Community Informatics workshop at the University of Michigan School of Information, to be held on Sunday, 15 October 2006 before the beginning of the iSchools conference. Organizers This event is jointly sponsored by the Commuity Informatics Initiative at the University of Illinois (Ann Bishop and Chip Bruce), the Community Information Corps at the University of Michigan (Steve Jackson, Maurita Holland, Joan Durrance, Paul Resnick, Dan Atkins, and Edward Vielmetti), and CRACIN at the University of Toronto (Nadia Caidi and Andrew Clement).