ࡱ> ;=:@ bjbjbqq 2b l :****, 2 "5**555:**555 "  5 5 For Immediate Release March 23, 2009 Contact: Art Brodsky Public Knowledge (202-518-0020 office) (301-908-7715 cell) Tracy Rosenberg Media Alliance (510-832-9000-office -(510-684-6853-cell) Public Interest Groups Criticize Privatization of Broadband Mapping Oakland-CA - The $350 million broadband mapping program required by the recent stimulus bill would be set back if there is widespread participation in it by a group called Connected Nation, according to a new report issued by Public Knowledge and the Media and Democracy Coalition. Connected Nation conducts mapping and broadband demand surveys around the country through subsidiary organizations. It started as Connect Kentucky, and has repeatedly told a story of its successes there and around the country in measuring broadband deployment and creating demand for the service. According to the report, Privatizing the Public Trust: A Critical Look at Connected Nation, It would be a setback for our broadband policy if Connected Nation were to take a prominent role in broadband mapping and data collection if it continues on its present policy course because the organization does not represent wise public policy and because it distorts its results. The report argues that Connected Nations policy restricts the collection and use of information gathered from the telecom companies and other incumbents that make up its board. Quite simply, Connected Nations strategy is to accept public funds for collecting information from its sponsors which is then kept largely private, hidden behind strict non-disclosure agreements (NDA). This privatized data gathered with public money is a violation of the public trust. The report also argues that Connected Nation has overstated its achievements: Despite some states and Federal embrace of the Connected Nation model as the ideal approach to promoting broadband deployment and adoption, there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that their program actually produces positive benefits, whether from outside evaluators or from Connected Nation itself. Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge, said, NTIA should make certain that the mapping is done in the public interest, and not in the private interest. The telecommunications industry must not be able to dictate the information on which broadband policy will be based. Tracy Rosenberg, Executive Director of Media Alliance, said Kudos to Public Knowledge for taking a deeper look at this initiative. Public assets and public funds must be handled transparently. Americans have made that clear. Connected Nation fails the sniff test. ### Media Alliance is a 32 year old media advocacy and activism organization which works for an accountable, ethical, and diverse information society. More at  HYPERLINK "http://www.media-alliance.org" www.media-alliance.org. Public Knowledge is a Washington, D.C.-based public interest group working to defend citizens rights in the emerging digital culture. More at:  HYPERLINK "http://www.publicknowledge.org/"http://www.publicknowledge.org The Media and Democracy Coalition is a collaboration of over two dozen local and national organizations committed to promoting open and equal access to a democratic media system that serves the public interest. 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