Into the wild: Palin and the wireless Internet
September 12 2008 - 5:59 am ET | Jeffrey Silva | RCR Wireless News
In this latest election news cycle, one dominated by piggish lipstick politics and meant to feed the gluttonous appetites of the herded masses, it seems the wireless plight of some Alaskan schools has been largely overlooked.
Well then, here’s the story. Seems Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), the popular vice presidential running mate of John McCain (R-Ariz.), vetoed funding for wireless Internet access for Badger Road Elementary School ($20,000), Taku Elementary School ($27,000), Ticasuk Brown Elementary School ($20,000), North Pole Middle School ($10,000) and North Pole High School ($32,000). The reason in every case given for wireless cuts in the state’s supplemental ’08 budget: other funding options available.
In this season of hyperbole, convenient omission and sincere untruths, such vetoes by a governor-turned-instant-celebrity-VP-hopeful might easily incite venomous political attacks and indignant outrage.
On the other hand, there are federal universal service E-rate and high-cost funds (though sweeping reforms are in play) and the private-sector dollars that could possibly bridge the wireless divide for schools left behind because of Palin’s line-item vetoes.
Some folks were unhappy about Palin’s vetoes. “So how much did she keep for Wasilla? She has got to go,” remarked bluesky11 in an online reaction to a budget story by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in late May. Maybe she will go. To the nation’s capital.
But not everyone was peeved at Palin. Bugger, in peppery-Palin-like fashion, let out: “Good start, Ms. Palin. It’s about time someone tries to stop the drunken spending. Sad that it’s too little. Computer access, you can install wireless access into a building for less than $1,000; so what’s the big deal? Get some enterprising young business to sponsor it and ‘getter-done.’ Or put it out to bid and it will cost $100,000 after all the red tape … keep it up, Sarah.”
Of course, the truth is out there somewhere insofar as which presidential ticket can best promote wireless and high-tech generally in our increasingly knowledge-based service economy of belt-busting federal budget deficits. But with candidates trying to hog the limelight with accuracy-challenged barbs and counter attacks about cosmetics for even-toed ungulates of the family Suidae, pork-barrel spending and those swines known as lobbyists, the debate is anything but kosher.
September 22, 2008 06:28 pm
I think this is very relevant. It's part of what it means to elect people who believe the universe was created in six solar days, 5,000 solar years ago. Just consider that to them science isn't a matter of fact -- it's a matter of theology. And people in communications ought to be concerned. The least of it would be Pres. Palin auctioning spectrum on eBay. She'd be reading Revelation for telecom policy.
September 18, 2008 10:55 am
Nice try Ed Tech Advocate (aka Jeffrey Silva).
September 18, 2008 10:55 am
Wait a minute. Seems to me that this is a policy issue that every parent, teacher and tech leader should think about. How do we enable 21st century learning, especially in rural states like Alaska. The fact that Pallin vetoed money for wireless Internet in schools is appalling. And, whoever thinks you can install a wireless network for several hundred kids/teachers for $1k all using the network at same time for an assignment, doesn't understand the first thing about schools and technology. BTW, the Erate program requires local match on a sliding scale based on poverty, so if Pallin cut state funds it is a big deal.Congrats to Jeffry Silva for engaging the tech community in this discussion. A recent US Dept. of Commerce study ranked 55 industry sectors by IT intensiveness. Education ranked lowest-- #55. We need leadership in Washington that understands that our education system needs to reflect 21st century skills and learning environments.
September 15, 2008 05:20 pm
We'll never know from reading this article whether is was WAN or LAN. It appears Mr. Silva is too star-struck by Obamania to really care.
September 15, 2008 04:06 pm
Did she veto wireless LAN or WAN access for the schools? Wireless WAN access for rural schools could be a critical connection to teachers, information sources, and curriculum. Many rural student are disadvantaged because they simply do not have local access to skilled teachers and as many curriculum options. Wireless WAN may be the only way to connect remote schools. Other states with large rural populations coordinate efforts to provide network access to all schools to take advantage of economies of scale and leverage with vendors rather than leaving small schools with little buying power to negotiate for themselves.
September 15, 2008 06:04 am
This a pointless article. In fact I am please that the Governor has the moxey to understand funding for Wi-Fi can be obtained through other sources. Get off politic, you are too obvious, and get back to technology.
September 15, 2008 06:04 am
It’s great to see Palain regaining in useless spending and not voting for items just to appeasing the liberal nuts, I’m definitely voting for her.
September 15, 2008 06:04 am
Wow, what a pointless article. I will never have the 2 minutes back it took to read it. Hey Jeffrey, who are you voting for anyway? Everyone is pretty tired of politics, talk about what you know and what people come to this site to hear about.
September 14, 2008 04:15 pm
Nice job - did one of your interns write this mess? Since when does an industry newspaper write an article attacking a political candidate and use unidentified sources - bloggers at that. Can't wait to see what dirt you turn up on Obama/Biden...not holding my breath.
September 14, 2008 04:15 pm
Maybe we missed something - did Crain Communications get purchased by GE (read NBC, read MSNBC)? I've definitely noticed these editorials becoming less and less objective and more leaning toward particular agendas. It's sad that it's happened to the main stream media, and now it looks like it's creeped into trade pubs too. I'm glad I don't pay for a subscription to this rag.