Your Information Source for Home & Building Automation

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(IS-2010-24) Federal Communications Commission: National Broadband Plan
This report is a summary of decisions taken by the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission in March 2010 regarding high speed Internet access using broadband
communications. The FCC supports a policy of a competitive market for broadband with
access to all especially deployment in high cost and low-income areas. The FCC is
planning to support broadband with appropriate radio spectrum (extra 500 MHz within 10
years) and rules to encourage competition for equipment such as set-top boxes. A goal
of a minimum 4 Mpbs download speed is proposed with a desired service of at least 100
Mbps. Possible applications of broadband by government agencies include healthcare,
education, energy management (including real-time consumption data), economic
growth, civic engagement, and public safety. Access rates of 1 Gbps are proposed for
public institutions in every community.
(IS-2010-23) What global executives expect of information security - in the middle
of the world's worst economic downturn in thirty years
This report from Price Waterhouse Coopers was written in 2009 to determine the effect of
the recession on purchases of products to ensure data security. This survey of 7200
persons found that expenditures would increase or stay the same. Investments in data
security were considered worthwhile. Many were concerned that they did not know
where their privacy-related data were stored. Also, social networking will challenge the
requirements for data security.
(IS-2010-22) AARA Survey Analysis
This research brief from Pike Research examines consumer sentiment on energy and
environment provisions within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
(IS-2010-21) Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States
This executive summary from the National Academy of Sciences explores the impact of
technology on improving energy efficiency. Potential savings by 2020 would come from
buildings (53%), industry (35%), and transportation (12%). Some of the technologies that
will impact buildings include LED lighting, new window systems, new cooling systems,
and more efficient electronics.
(IS-2010-20) BroadbandSuite 3.0 Companion Guide
This article from the Broadband Forum provides an overview of specifications developed
for telephone companies to deliver Internet access. The initial technology was DSL and
now has moved to IP-Ethernet and fiber optics. The objective is to improve the delivery
of IPTV and a better “Quality of Customer Experience” (QoE). Each specification is
summarized. Future specifications will include IPv6 transition, converged network, and
multi-service architecture.
(IS-2010-19) Energy Management Systems for Commercial Buildings
This executive summary report from Pike Associates analyses the evolution of energy
management for large buildings. Heating, cooling, and lighting account for 57% of
building energy consumption. Energy expenditures for these functions were considered
fixed costs. There is now a shift in thinking due to energy awareness, government policy,
and applications of information technology. Long term, building design will move toward
net-zero buildings and electricity demand response. Shorter term, the focus will be on
energy efficiency.
(IS-2010-18) Green Telecom Networks
This executive summary report from Pike Research examines the impact of green
practices on the information and communications and technology (ICT) industry. It
focuses on plans by fixed and mobile telecommunications companies to reduce
greenhouse gases. Although ICT accounts for only 2% of emissions, the industry is
growing and may be able to reduce overall emissions by 15% over the next 10 years.
Most approaches require higher initial investments. The industry is starting to evaluate
life-cycle costs. Some of the approaches for reducing energy include equipment-cooling
improvements, turning off unused equipment, use of renewal energy sources, and more
efficient design of circuits for processors.