Last week, Stop the Cap! considered the challenges America faced developing universal electric service — so much of that debate echos in today’s struggle to provide universal broadband service.

Although hindsight allows us to recognize the benefits universal electrification has brought Americans over the past 100 years, the transformational benefits from universal broadband are bit more mysterious because many applications haven’t even been envisioned yet.

IBM is a proponent of two revolutionary concepts universal broadband makes possible: The Internet of Things and The System of Systems.  The company produced a video to consider the implications of improved connectivity and how that will impact our daily lives:

[flv width=”641″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/IBM – The Internet of Things.flv[/flv]

IBM Social Media produced this video explaining The Internet of Things, one of the concepts made possible with universal broadband. (5 minutes)

Now imagine the implications if the platform which makes this all possible remains in the hands of a broadband duopoly intent on securing big profits earned from high pricing, limits on service, and other cost-controlling measures.  Transformational broadband — for the right price as long as you don’t use too much, brought to you by big cable and telephone companies.

For those around in the 1980s, Verizon Wireless’ latest 3G ad slam against AT&T should have brought back some memories.

Someone at Verizon probably spent some time reviewing advertising collections of the 1970s and 1980s and ran across Big Red, the cinnamon-flavored gum with the long-lasting flavor.  First appearing back in 1976, the gum really took off in the early 1980s when the William Wrigley Jr. Company commissioned a catchy jingle for its advertising campaigns.  It stuck, and most still remember it to this day.

Verizon, which bathes its corporate image in red, made the connection, and managed to recreate most of the imagery of several Big Red commercials, mostly from the early 1980s, albeit with updated lyrics.  They certainly got the classic corporate 1980s Reagan-era jingle sound down pat.

[flv width=”640″ height=”500″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/Verizon Big Red.flv[/flv]

For those too young to remember Big Red gum, I’ve brought one of the original advertisements together with Verizon’s reproduction so you can appreciate the scope of their recreation.  Verizon actually borrowed from several Big Red ads, but you’ll get the point.  Too bad it’s the gum priced at 25 cents and not the 3G.  With the gum, you could have any many sticks as you wanted — no chewing limits either. (1 minute)

In addition to our ongoing concerns about Internet Overcharging schemes like usage allowances and caps, Stop the Cap! is a strong advocate for Net Neutrality protection.  As part of yesterday’s unveiling of the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski spent 30 minutes answering questions from CitizenTube participants about broadband policy.

Among the 18 questions asked was one from yours truly, taking on broadband industry lobbyists who make evidence-free claims that Net Neutrality will somehow kill investment in broadband expansion.

Pointedly, I pressed Chairman Genachowski about whether we had to sacrifice the Internet’s openness in order to bring broadband service to the presently unserved.  We sure don’t think so.

Based on the answer, which appears about 24 minutes into the video, he doesn’t think so either.

The false argument providers make to scare legislators is little more than hollow rhetoric, especially when you accept their claim they are not engaged in the kinds of activities today that Net Neutrality would ban tomorrow.  How exactly does prohibiting what providers claim they are not doing anyway harm investment?

Answer: it doesn’t.

What it harms are further efforts to monetize broadband from every angle in an effort to further fatten already engorged profits.

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[flv width=”641″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/PBS Newshour National Broadband Plan from FCC 3-15-10.flv[/flv]

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski sits down for an interview as part of this expansive report on America’s broadband issues aired this week on PBS Newshour (11 minutes)

AT&T Mobility doesn’t want a repeat of 2009’s wireless meltdown at Austin’s annual geek gathering South by Southwest (SXSW).  The wireless provider is bolstering coverage across Austin with temporary cell towers rising from trailers strategically placed around the convention center, as well as an indoor cell system inside the Austin Convention Center.

All this to avoid the embarrassment the company experienced last year when thousands of iPhone-wielding attendees slowed AT&T’s network to a crawl.  When smartphone customers notice slowdowns or dropped service, they become vocal.  That’s no good for a convention catering to the cool-kid techie.

Making a good impression at SXSW may represent a road back to credibility for many unhappy AT&T customers, who have repeatedly criticized the carrier for not keeping up with mobile demand in 2009.  In addition to “Cellular On Wheels” — the aforementioned AT&T cell tower trailers, the company has also beefed up its permanent cell sites with improved backhaul connections, which provides increased bandwidth.

Most of AT&T’s data demands come from its exclusive arrangement with Apple to provide iPhone service in the United States.  The deal brought millions of new customers to the company, which claims to have twice as many smartphones on its network that any other carrier.

The results of all the work seem to have paid off.  Many attendees report the network is performing better than expected.  Some have noted its working even better than the conference-provided Wi-Fi network.

[flv width=”480″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/KXAN Austin ATT trying to prevent mobile meltdown 3-12-10.flv[/flv]

KXAN-TV in Austin covers the opening of SXSW and AT&T’s service improvements throughout Austin (2 minutes)