Energy, broadband and mobile technology

Energy, broadband and mobile technology

Now that the election season pandering is over, let's focus on some real issues, like the dreadfully slow adoption of clean energy (http://www.epa.gov/cleanrgy/epaclean.htm) and broadband Internet (http://tinyurl.com/ycj3lo) connectivity that is dragging the U.S. into a technological slump.

As a mobile tech user, I am a big believer in energy efficiency, but also self-sufficiency. When I'm out and about, I don't want to have to rely on someone else's power outlet, just as the U.S. relies on foreign oil. We need to cut that cord to the foreign oil outlet and make serious steps toward harnessing ubiquitous resources like solar and wind.

In addition, clean energy pushes us away from centralized power supplies to a networked system that is harder to disrupt, much like the Internet. Any homeowner can plant a wind turbine in their backyard and install solar panels on their roof to power their homes and sell excess to the grid. Centralized power grids already fail to meet the demands of hot summer days and burgeoning data server farms, which must halt expansion as a result. Why suffer these limits when so much of our clean energy remains untapped and other nations are outpacing us in the race to transition?

Not only are we behind in the race for a network of clean power, but we don't even rank in the top ten in adoption of broadband access to the Internet. Even our definition of broadband is laughable by the standards of other nations. Our economy is increasingly driven by data and the speed with which we can access that data is essential if we hope to be competitive. The FCC needs to step out of its socially conservative shell and push an economically liberal agenda that promotes access to the Internet that is more powerful and widespread. Spend the money now to secure the data economy of the future.

While these issues are not directly related to mobile tech, they are of critical importance nonetheless. Devices don't just need power; they drive our need for power. Clean sources of electricity don't just increase supply; they improve quality and reliability as well. Widespread adoption of better broadband strengthens our data network and expands opportunities for wireless connectivity.

And keep in mind, the issues here are power supply and connectivity, the same issues that concern most mobile tech users. Our mobile tech values translate to the national level. Limits on energy and data affect the nation the same way they affect us individually. So let's make the effort to integrate our tech values into our political values, and make it known that what's good for mobile tech users is also good for the nation.

CateGoogles: mobile_tech political_silliness Mood = concerned