Broadband Focus of Commerce Meeting in Tacoma

The Washington State Economic Development Commission (WEDC) meeting in Tacoma will focus on the State's Broadband policy.

DATE: October 20
TIME: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
VENUE: See venue change below:

Angela Wu, WA DIS Broadband manager will provide a briefing to the WEDC Infrastructure Working Group of the current state of broadband in the state. The expected discussion will cover mapping of broadband adoption, broadband ARRA applications and current legislation and funding.

This meeting is open to all interested parties. Please RSVP if you will attend.

More info on broadband is available on the Department of Information Services (DIS) website. All the latest and greatest is posted there in a timely manner.

Our apologies for the last minute change, but the venue for tomorrow’s broadband briefing has been changed. New meeting information is as follows:

Date: October 20, 2009
Time: 10-11AM
Venue: The new location is Phil Lelli Conference Room
Port Admin Bldg.
One Sitcum Way
Tacoma, WA 98421.

This particular building will require badges as you enter the location. If you RSVP, we will notify the Port of Tacoma that you will be attending. Thank you.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS - FROM I-5 Northbound:


· Take the Portland Ave Exit (Exit #134)
· Turn LEFT onto Portland Ave
· At 3rd stoplight, turn RIGHT onto 11TH ST and go over bridge
· At the bottom of the bridge, make an immediate, sharp RIGHT turn before the railroad tracks
· At stop sign, turn RIGHT onto Milwaukee and go underneath bridge
· At next stop sign, turn RIGHT onto Sitcum Way
· Take immediate LEFT into parking lot


DRIVING DIRECTIONS - FROM I-5 Southbound:


· Take Exit #135 toward PORTLAND AVE
· Ramp becomes EAST 27TH ST
· At stop light, turn RIGHT onto PORTLAND AVE
· At 3rd stoplight, turn RIGHT onto 11TH ST and go over bridge
· At the bottom of the bridge, make an immediate, sharp RIGHT turn before the railroad tracks
· At stop sign, turn RIGHT onto MILWAUKEE and go underneath bridge
· At next stop sign, turn RIGHT onto SITCUM WAY
· Take immediate LEFT into parking lot

If you have questions, please contact Egils Milbergs or Noreen Hoban or call 360.586.5662.

How Small Business Can Commercialize Technology

Washington Small Business Development Centers and Washington Technology Center present this seminar, based on Foresight Science & Technology's instruction to SBIR awardees of the agencies Foresight supports as an SBIR Commercialization Support Contractor.

Register online -- Space limited to 35 registrants.

Date/Time Wednesday
October 14, 2009
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location
WSU West
Pike Tower Building
520 Pike Street, Suite 1101Seattle, WA
Directions
Parking available: Pike Tower Bldg., Convention Center; Washington Athletic Club.
Registration
$20
Space limited to 35 registrants.
Deadline Oct. 9, 2009.


Speaker:
Phyl Speser, J.D., Ph.D., author of the best selling text book, "The Art & Science of Technology Transfer"

Mandate or a Market

The CQ Today Midday Update reports that the Senate has joined the House in action to bolster Net Neutrality.

Net Neutrality is a policy of preventing broadband service providers from blocking certain traffic or establishing a tiered pathway for Internet content. The FCC's proposed mandates prohibit selectively blocking or slowing content and applications. For the first time, these provisions would also apply to wireless providers.

Supporters contend it would level the playing field for content providers. Opponents say it would hamper online innovation. Wireless providers are concerned they could not block voice calling services.

The Senate proposal is from Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-So. Dakota) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) is expected to cosponsor. The House effort is lead by Cong. Edward Markey (D-Mass.).

Tacoma is the WTC's Summit

Washington Technology Center has announced the first ever placement of their annual Technology Summit in Tacoma!

Scheduled for April 9, 2010, the Innovation Summit will take place in the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Already, Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, Pres./CEO of the Museum of Flight and astronaut, is one of several keynote speakers.

The Summit 2010 will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about and interact over new trends, current applications and case studies. Breakout tracks will include Renewable Energy and Aerospace.

SST Announces Keynoter

The annual South Sound Technology Conference is the technology showcase for Tacoma and the South Puget Sound region.

For years it has brought together leaders from industry, education, and government, both locally and from around the state, to discuss and demonstrate innovations and ongoing applications which utilize technology. Panel and keynote presentations, including networking opportunities, provide a venue to discuss, explore, understand and deploy technology as a solution, an opportunity and an advantage. SST is perhaps this region's best annual event to learn how technology is transforming our business and community life."

Keynoting at the event will be Richard Purcell, CEO of the Corporate Privacy Group. Purcell ranks among the original Chief Privacy Officers in the United States. He created the position at Microsoft in the late ‘90’s, becoming a leading voice in addressing consumer privacy and data protection, domestically and internationally.

Smith's Tech Town Hall

Cong. Adam Smith today faced a baker's dozen of tech industry entrepreneurs and advocates for one of his back-home town hall meetings sited at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber offices.

Smith, always and continuing as both a knowledgeable tech supporter and a consistent tech supporter, was able to speak directly to tech issues both in his initial remarks and in response to the queries from attendees.

Here, as seemingly everywhere, health care reform entered the conversation. But, tech issues predominated the discussion. When asked about his insights from serving in the House intelligence oversight and forthcoming opportunities, Smith replied that both "yes" there are opportunities and "no" he couldn't tell us what they are. But, he did give a serious response in that he identified two areas of special opportunity and funding availability: energy and medical. Attendees were referred to DARPA and Battelle/Pacific NW National Lab for research that is available for commercialization.

Another topic of special interest was the question of funding availability in the tech industry. Others noted that Washington does well in attracting VC, but there is a growing area of concern about angel investing. With the wealth reduction that has occurred with the Great Recession, where many individuals have also seen their portfolio value decline dramatically, the willingness of angel investors to invest - and the ability of ventures to attract angel funds has suffered.

Fastest in the County

Today, Speed Matters released its third annual report on Internet speeds around the U.S.

So, what's fastest in Pierce County:

• Gig Harbor (98332): upload- 2,837 kbps; download-11,598 kbps
• Fort Lewis (98433): upload- 3,502 kbps; download-10,971 kbps

Want to see more, like your business or home speeds as measured by tests (number of tests varies), go to Speed Matters 2009 Report. Overall, 413,000 individuals chose to take Speed Matters speed test. You can on their website, an option on their reporting webpages.

So where does Washington stand? Answer: Above the U.S. average.

And where does the U.S. stand? Answer at 5.1 mbps download speed, good enough for 28th among industrialized nations.