Testimony

Written Testimony of Joshua Breitbart, Policy Director, People's Production House, before the New York City Council Committee on Technology in Government on the topic of "Requiring that all public meetings be webcast (Prop. Int. No. 533-A)”

On October 28, People's Production House, along with Media Alliance, Media Mobilizing Project, and the Texas Media Empowerment Project, submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the white spaces proceeding. In it, we urge the Commission to act quickly to approve unlicensed mobile devices to operate in the television white spaces. The comment is below and is also available as a PDF. If you would like to submit your own comment on this matter, you can do so until Friday, October 31 using the FCC's online form.

Joly from the New York chapter of the Internet Society recorded the full conference. You can see his video and listen to his audio at the ISOC-NY website.

Council Member Gale M. Brewer chaired the hearing and the witnesses were:

Panel 1
Mary Landolfi - Pres. American Federation of Musicians Local 802
Ira Mont - VP Actors Equity Association
Laurie Baskin - Director of Government & Education Programs. Theatre Communications Group
Heidi Mathis - Corporate Relations Manager at The Shubert Organization / Broadway League

Panel 2
Stuart Overby - Senior Director, Global Spectrum Strategy. Motorola, Inc
Marc Berejka - Sr. Director, State Affairs & Public Policy, Microsoft Corp.

• produced by Joshua Breitbart
• in 2008

At the City Council hearing on the white spaces resolution, Committee Chair Gale Brewer asked about the cost of white space devices. Dana Spiegel from NYCwireless explained that, like most new technology, the cost would start high then go down over time. PPH Policy Director Joshua Breitbart pointed out that the true cost would actually be a savings compared to what we spend now for Internet access and mobile phone calls. In this audio clip, he explains how delivering Internet connectivity to people's mobile phones is the most effective way to close the digital divide between those with high speed Internet access at home and those without.

Good morning. My name is Joshua Breitbart. I am the Policy Director of People's Production House. People's Production House provides young people, immigrants, and low-wage workers with a comprehensive education for the information age, combining media production, media literacy and media policy. We work in public schools and with community organizations in all five boroughs.

Resolution urging the Federal Communications Commission to implement regulatory amendments that would allow portable devices to operate on the white space radio spectrum in order to close the digital divide and stimulate investment in new technology without  negatively impacting television broadcasters, performing artists, professional sports leagues, and all incumbent wireless microphone users.

Testimony of Joshua Breitbart, Policy Director of People's Production House before the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding the Digital Television Transition on July 18th, 2008 in Brooklyn New York.

(See the letter as a PDF.)

Common Cause/New York
Consumers Union
New York Public Interest Research Group
People’s Production House

May 20, 2008

Testimony of Joshua Breibart, Policy Director of People’s Production House, before the Franchise and Concession Review Committee regarding the Cable Franchise Agreement by and between The City of New York and Verizon New York Inc.

• produced by Joshua Breitbart
• in

PPH Policy Director Joshua Breitbart testifies to the New York City Council Committee On Technology In Government regarding Resolution 712, which would advocate for net neutrality. In his statement, Josh urges the Council to apply the same principles to cellular communications as to other data transmission platforms. You can read his statement here.

March 30, 2007

Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Skype Communications S.A.R.L. Petition to Confirm A Consumer’s Right to Use Internet Communications Software and Attach Devices to Wireless Networks RM-11361 PETITION TO CONFIRM A CONSUMER’S RIGHT TO USE INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE AND ATTACH DEVICES TO WIRELESS NETWORKS Dated: April 30, 2007 My name is Joshua Breitbart. I am the Policy Director for People’s Production House (PPH). PPH trains middle and high school students in public schools and low-wage and immigrant workers in New York City and Washington, DC, in radio journalism and media literacy.

• produced by Cameron Craig, Community Organizer with NYCAHN
• in

Testimony of Cameron Craig, Community Organizer with NYCAHN, before the New York City Council Committee On Technology In Government regarding Net Neutrality.

• produced by Shulzberger
• in