Rep. Solis lead off the briefing by observing that increasing gas prices and overall energy costs underscore the need to rethink the role of information and communications technology (ICT) as part of energy and climate change policy. The potential associated with the implementation of ICT demonstrates that it is possible to address energy dependency and climate change while growing the economy. But, we must also address the life-cycle of these technologies and ensure that as we move to more energy efficient technologies that communities can properly reuse and dispose of materials.

Along with presenters from Cisco and Gridpoint, I discussed the remarkable decreases in emissions we have already seen from broadband use – and where we can expect the technology to take us in the coming years. 

Numerous studies have documented how broadband transforms the relationship between productivity and energy, enabling more economic value to be generated with less power.  A recent study by the Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSI) projects that ICT can reduce global carbon emissions by 15% by 2020. Indeed, economists estimate that in the last 10 years, the use of networked computers and devices has already displaced 6-10% of the emissions that otherwise would have been generated, more than offsetting the 2% of emissions that were emitted in order to power and use that equipment.

How is this possible?  One example we discussed is telework – a dramatically advanced version of what we used to think of as “telecommuting.”  By allowing teleworkers access to real-time, virtual face-to-face communication, broadband makes it possible to avoid the long-distance travel that is commonplace in government and business.  Cisco demonstrated one example of telework’s possibilities: its innovative Telepresence system, which is built on a broadband network and allows those who use it to “travel” virtually anywhere in the world.  This is a truly exciting direction in which to be headed.

Here’s another and perhaps not-so-obvious example of how broadband has already begun to reduce emissions. Consider the familiar phenomenon of downloading music.  According to the American Consumer Institute, more than 6.5 billion fewer miles were driven to and from record stores in 2007 as consumers continue to switch en masse from buying CDs to downloading songs via high-speed connections.  Over the past 10 years, the emissions savings from avoided drive time alone add up to 17.6 million tons of GHG.  Demand for plastic CD cases has also fallen as more and more people switch to downloading.  ACI estimates that “6 million tons of emissions have been saved in the last 10 years by reducing the demand for plastic cases,” which are generally made from petroleum.  All told, the switch to downloads from CDs that’s been underway since 1997 translates into a total savings of 23.6 million tons of GHG – a remarkable decrease in emissions.  

These are just two examples of broadband’s potential to promote energy-efficient behaviors.  As Congress continues its efforts to address global warming, the debate over which technologies can best contribute to that fight will continue – and broadband must be an integral part of that conversation.

To learn more about the event, review the GeSI study, and some of the other studies on the role of broadband and ICT in promoting energy efficiency, please visit: http://www.americanprogressaction.org/events/2008/07/climateconnections.html

Telco Will Match Employee Donations Dollar For Dollar

By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 6/19/2008 12:39:00 PM

The Verizon Foundation has begun a 1-to-1 match for every dollar donated by Verizon employees in support of relief efforts under way in seven states affected by record-breaking storms and heavy flooding, according to officials.

As part of the foundation's disaster relief program, Verizon’s philanthropic arm will match individual employee contributions to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, America's Second Harvest and the Salvation Army. Relief organizations have provided clean-up supplies, shelters and meals in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Verizon has been supporting relief efforts in affected areas, donating more than 6,000 sand bags and providing a company emergency vehicle.

In addition, emergency personnel and relief agencies in Iowa have received Verizon Wireless mobile phones and USB modems. The company's BroadbandAccess service is being used to access the Internet via laptop computers and USB modems.

Verizon Wireless also rolled out its high-speed wireless network in Iowa City, Iowa, to support communications services for the University of Iowa and other emergency personnel during the severe flooding in the area. The high-speed network was previously deployed in Cedar Rapids and other areas of Iowa. All Verizon Wireless Communications Stores are open to assist customers.

Ivan sketched out the great opportunities open to kids and communities in the Internet age, but addressed quite directly the need for joint action to curb those who use online communities and mobile tools for cruel and hateful behavior against others.  

These are huge challenges, of course, but we believe technology can help a lot.  In fact, Ivan announced to the participants that our Internet  service--Verizon Online--will soon be offering its parental controls service free-of-charge to consumer broadband customers. 

But if one thing was clear from the conference, it's that while technology can be a big part of the solution to ending cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking and other privacy and security concerns, it is but one part of the solution.  We need the various parts of the online community involved--parents, teachers and law enforcement, and, perhaps especially, young people who use many of these technologies more than anybody else.  There is a great need to expand the dialogue so we're not only educating and empowering, but advancing an online culture of trust, respect and accountability.  That, it seems to us, is the best path to a safe and secure digital space.

I recommend you take a look at the webcast for some really fine thinking from both kids and adults about how to set norms for responsible online behavior. 

The big moment came when Verizon VP Kathy Brown answered my question, "Would Verizon block, throttle or cap video conferencing over FIOS?"  Her answer -- and I paraphrase only because I did not record her exact words -- she said absolutely not.

Video conferencing, using hi-res formats and wideband sound, can occupy up to 20 mbit/s in each direction for hours at a time.  Unlike movies and audio, you can't compress it or delay it or buffer it much because it needs to happen in real time. Video conferencing is the corner case that proves the network.

If Verizon's network will tolerate video conferencing, for sure it will not choke on the kind of peer-to-peer traffic that Comcast is trying to . . . ahem, control.

I appreciate David’s comments, and I want to add to it but, first, I want to thank David for inviting me and for leading such a great conference.  My goal was to bring to an informed and engaged ‘Net a rarely discussed aspect of broadband deployment, namely that broadband should be part of every effort to reduce energy consumption and environmental damage (see my talk at F2C “Broadband: It’s the Green Network”).

From Verizon’s perspective, the delivery of broadband is symbolized by our creation of FiOS – the country’s only big, all-fiber network that reaches directly to people’s homes. Our fiber network has robust capacity in BOTH directions – both downstream into the home and upstream back to the Internet.  Our technology is already capable of offering 50 megabit downstream service and we are trialing 100 megabits as well.  And we are offering 20 megabit FiOS symmetrical service (i.e., in both directions) today and new versions of our FiOS technology will make it possible to offer literally hundreds of megabits to our consumers.

Why is this important? Because it is the speed in broadband networks that make the ability to telecommute real and vastly improves office-to-office communication.  FiOS makes it possible to offer two-way video conferencing of very high quality which I believe will prove valuable not only to applications that reduce energy but also help address urgent healthcare needs like home medical monitoring.

Of course, we’re building more broadband than just FiOS. Our wireless data network is already available to more than 250 million people and we’re working on the next generation, 4G, national broadband network.

This is a good dialogue – and one that I would like to continue. We build networks so people can use them and I hope that this discussion will, in a similar way, help us exchange views and information.

Because of its dependence on coal-generated power, Australia has the highest emission per capita of any OECD country, according to the report from Telstra, a leading Australian telecom company.

Telecommunications networks can help Australia jump up the OECD queue by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by almost five per cent by 2015, delivering up to $6.6 billion a year in cost savings for Australian businesses and households, according to the report.

Telstra’s findings are similar to those of a recent ACI report that I discussed in my November 1 posting. The Australian study is especially noteworthy when it comes to talking about how people can reduce energy use through remote power monitoring. 

With presence-based power in intelligent buildings, for example, electrical appliances would go to sleep when no humans are around to use them. About 15% of energy use in Australia goes to waste this way, according to Telstra. A typical plasma TV, for example, uses as much energy as an electric heater even when no one is watching it.

Presence-based power is intriguing because it uses smart technology to “automate” more efficient consumption of electricity by a mass market. 

More people are becoming aware of the promising ways in which information and communications technology can contribute to the challenges of climate change and energy use.  Dialogue, research and the sharing of ideas about ways that broadband can reduce our collective carbon footprint should continue and should expand.

In the same vein as our as our fuel cell and hybrid vehicle efforts, we’re going to start using solar to power a Tampa, FL central office.

140 solar panels will reduce the office’s normal power consumption by 5.5 hours per day, and is expected to generate an average of 19 kilowatts to 21 kilowatts of daily energy production.  

Read more about our solar effort here.

Add these efforts to the greenhouse gas reductions seen from broadband-powered telecommuting, and I hope they show we’re trying to be “green” leaders with our actions, not just words.

Steve Pociask, an economist with TeleNomics, examined, at our request, the literature on the impact of ubiquitous broadband on greenhouse gas emissions. The American Consumer Institute released the study at the Press Club event and invited some rather interesting speakers to discuss this and other studies on the effect of broadband and information technologies on energy intensity and carbon emissions.

Steve’s paper, “Broadband Services: Economic and Environmental Benefits,”

 identifies ways in which broadband can reduce or avoid energy use – totaling up to 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions - over the next 10 years. They include:

·         Business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce, expected to cut greenhouse gases by 206.3 million tons.

·         Telecommuting, projected to shrink greenhouse emissions by almost 600 million tons from less auto use, business energy conservation and reduced office construction.

·         Teleconferencing, which could ax greenhouse gases by 199.8 million tons if it replaced just 10% of air travel over the next 10 years.

These findings are consistent with the work of the roundtable’s moderator, Joe Romm, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, in his 1999 study called: “The Internet Economy and Global Warming.”

UPDATE:  They also are similar to the findings of a study by the Consumer Electronics Association, “The Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact of Telecommuting and e-Commerce,” discussed by Douglas Johnson, their Senior Director for Technology Policy.

John Donoghue, with the World Wildlife Fund, pointed to similar effects found by Dennis Pamlin, Global Policy Advisor for WWF, in the 2002 study entitled “Sustainability at the Speed of Light.”  With this kind of potential, the ubiquitous deployment of broadband should be seen as part of the solution to our environmental problems. Indeed, as the strategy for achieving deep reductions in greenhouse gas is developed, it would make little sense to overlook the role of a national and global network that is, even today, changing the way we live, work and play—and how that has fundamentally effected energy usage. Yet, so often, broadband technology is not present in the discussion among environmental policy makers.

So, it was heartening to hear a number of the roundtable panelists from the environmental community—including John Donoghue and others—envision a key role for broadband networks, information technologies and consumer electronics in the fight against global warming.

Emma Stewart from Business for Social Responsibility rightly pointed out that the effects of this 21^st Century technology must be viewed in light of all kind of changes in human behavior.  And, Elena Safirova from Resources for the Future Social Responsibility, another panelist, reiterated the need to more extensive research.

I think they are right. We’d like very much to further this discussion. The ACI study is by no means definitive, and we will be promoting more research on the actual impact of broadband, including individual “behavior changes” that result from broadband usage, actual efficiency that can be achieved with intentional and strategic use of broadband and the consideration that should be given to a national broadband policy as we explore a comprehensive energy policy

Seybold discusses the misinformed nature of the Times’ assertion that the American wireless networks’ closed nature is the reason for why its technology is “so primitive compared with Europe’s and Japan’s.” He asserts that we have equal or better choice of handheld devices per network than our foreign counterparts and that our already “world-class” networks are continuing to evolve.

See Seybold’s full post here.

The 13 new vans in the trial -- retrofitted with hybrid technology from Enova Systems -- could improve gasoline mileage by 40-50 percent, and reduce greenhouse emissions by as much as 90 percent.  What made the announcement even more significant is that no motor vehicle manufacturer currently makes a hybrid vehicle in the van class -- which led to the company's decision to retrofit existing vans for the trial.  Verizon is hoping that the U.S. automobile manufacturers take note and consider making such a vehicle on the assembly line because there is a growing market for them.  With over 50,000 vehicles in its fleet -- and half of them in the van class -- Verizon would be a good customer.

This week's announcement is part of an overall environmental and energy-usage reduction effort by Verizon.  Not only can our customers reduce their so-called carbon footprint by using our leading fiber- or copper-based broadband products, but the company itself has and continues to take a number of industry-leading steps.  Two years ago, for example, Verizon launched the nation's largest demonstration project for fuel-cell technology.  These environmentally friendly sources of electrical power combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with the only by-products being pure water and heat.  At the project site in Garden City, Long Island, fuel cells are now the primary power source for a large administrative building and 50,000-line central office switch.  The water and heat by products are also used to heat and cool the facility, as part of overall utilization of everything the cells produce. In the first year of operation, the cells performed well and the company saved some $600,000 that would have been spent buying power off the commercial grid.  In addition, by avoiding buying all the power from the commercial grid, the equivalent of the pollution that would have been emitted by some 1,200 cars over the course of a year was eliminated. 

There are other examples of what we've done in this area, and some of them are summarized in our news release from this week linked above.  In the meantime, we'll continue looking for new ways to reduce energy consumption and minimize the impact our operations have on the environment.

We’re proud of role we play as corporate citizens, see why right here.

On the day we honor the lessons and legacy of Dr. King, just wanted to share news of the Verizon Foundation's award to the MLK Memorial Foundation (related news here, here, and here).

From the news release:

Verizon Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to Martin Luther King Jr.  Memorial Foundation

Grant Will Fund Educational Component of the Memorial’s Permanent Visitor’s Center on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The Verizon Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to the MLK National Memorial Project Foundation to underwrite the educational program of the memorial’s Visitor’s Center.  The memorial is scheduled for completion on the National Mall in Washington next year.

The Verizon grant, to be presented to the project foundation Monday (Jan. 15), will fund preparation and installation of a permanent, educational component, also available online, that will bring to life -- through streaming video and interactive multimedia displays -- the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision and contribution to the civil rights struggle.   The educational content will include historical documents, news stories, video clips and archives of King’s extensive writing and speeches, which resonate through history.  It will also include rare and previously unavailable material.

The memorial will be constructed at the northeast corner of the Tidal Basin, adjacent to the FDR Memorial and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.

            The award will be presented to Harry E. Johnson Sr., president and CEO of the MLK National Memorial Project Foundation, by Patrick Gaston, president of the Verizon Foundation, during a Verizon employee luncheon event honoring King. 

“Dr. King’s vision of equality and opportunity continues to inspire generations around the globe,” Gaston said. “We’re honored to contribute 1 million dollars to the MLK Memorial Foundation to help enlighten the millions of visitors who will visit the memorial to honor the man and learn of Dr. King’s historical accomplishments.”

Johnson said, “Thanks to the generosity of the Verizon Foundation, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial will be enhanced through the funding of a permanent, interactive educational guide that will teach the important lessons of the life and work of Dr. King not only to visitors on the National Mall, but to millions of students across America who participate in our outreach programs for years to come.  “We applaud Verizon for its commitment to our vision of perpetuating Dr. King’s legacy.”

The Visitor’s Center is expected to attract up to 5 million visitors annually from around the globe.  In addition to informing all visitors to the memorial, the Verizon-sponsored content will serve specific educational purposes for children and young adults.  Among the programs that will benefit are Kids for King – featuring essay-writing by as many as 150,000 students (grades 3-12) annually – and the Dream Keepers program, which encourages college students to study the life and legacy of King in campus civil rights forums.

Verizon is also extending this educational effort beyond the visitor’s center and the walls of the memorial.  Lesson plans and interactive educational tools that bring to life the civil rights struggle are available at the Verizon Foundation’s Thinkfinity, a free, online resource rich in more than  47,000 standards-based and interactive multi-disciplined educational resources that help teachers engage students in 21st century learning.

For King’s dream to say alive, Gaston explained, its participation in the national school curriculum must be ensured.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is committed to improving literacy and K-12 education; fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promoting the use of technology in health-care delivery.  In 2006, the foundation awarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29 million in combined contributions. Under the foundation’s Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation’s largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees have also contributed nearly 3 million hours of community service since Verizon’s inception in 2000.

 For more information, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.                   A memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.  The Memorial will be situated adjacent to the F.D.R. Memorial and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials.  Congress passed Joint resolutions in 1996 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a memorial honoring Dr. King to be built in Washington, D.C.  The Ceremonial Groundbreaking took place on Nov. 13, 2006 and the Memorial is scheduled to be completed in 2008. Website:  www.buildthedream.org

            Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 57 million customers nationwide.  Verizon’s Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon’s News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

“BRB [Be right back]…my mom is yelling,” one teenage boy wrote just after Foley coaxed him into [a lascivious discussion].

“back”, the boy continued.

“cool hope she didn’t see anything,” Foley responded.

“no no…she is computer dumb”, the boy offered.

The intern was probably right.  Too many of us parents are “computer dumb”.  But of course we would never allow ourselves to be dumb about so many other things in our children’s lives—like driving a car.  We know the dangers…we preach…we prod…we question…we instruct…we watch…in other words, we parent.   

The world has changed and for all the great benefits of the Internet, we all know in the wrong hands it can become a tool for predators and a danger to children.   

According to a recent survey by the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, one of every seven Internet users between the ages of 10 and 17 received an unwanted sexual solicitation over the course of a year.  And nearly one of every three users in this age group was exposed to pornography during the year as well.

This is the kind of serious threat to our children that calls for a united response from the public and private sectors.  In my role developing Verizon’s corporate responsibility commitment, I have thought long and hard about the individual roles of parents, kids, content providers, and the community as a whole.  It takes all of us working together to protect our kids.  This is why Verizon is sponsoring a series of Town Meetings to promote a “Partnership for a Child-Safe Internet”.

We’re bringing together law enforcement officials, teachers, and Internet security experts to discuss how best to protect children from online predators.  And we are partnering with folks like iSAFE who talk directly with our kids about how they use today’s technology and how best to be responsible and safe.  The first Town Meeting took place yesterday at the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham and we learned a lot.     

We want the Net to be a vibrant place where kids meet, communicate, create and grow together.  But we need them to be safe.  Thoughts, comments, suggestions on this important topic are welcomed here and at the future forums we will sponsor over the next year.

As a Verizon employee I am proud that we take this issue very seriously (see this recent op-ed by Verizon Online’s Tom Dailey.)

As a mother, I know it’s essential for parents to educate themselves–and their children—about the potential abuses and dangers of the Internet. After all we wouldn’t hand our kids the keys to the car without doing our job. 

UPDATE: Here's a David Brooks column on the iSafe conference.