When Peter talks, people listen; Ben, too

When Ben Pilani spoke at this morning's breakfast people in the back were listening hard to what he was saying, because the heat or air conditioning was on, and the microphone was not, but Carbondale's own technology guru, Peter Gregory had some questions for Ben afterwards.

The Power Grid

Unified Technologies Group presents: The Power Grid

SouthernTECH - An ITEC Program of Southern Illinois University Carbondale

SouthernTECH - An ITEC Program of Southern Illinois University Carbondale

New Windows Patch Proves Tricky

New Windows Patch Proves Tricky (washingtonpost.com): "On Sept. 14, Microsoft released a patch to remedy a problem in the way the company's products process digital image files. That problem could allow attackers to take control of computers running the Windows XP operating system, Server 2003 software and Microsoft Office just by getting people to open an e-mail message or visit a Web site."

Not many have downloaded the patch and installed it, but you can also get a disk at the desk at Best Buy.

School House Shock

School House Shock (washingtonpost.com): "It was a noble concept that was designed to bridge the digital divide: Offer public schools and libraries steep discounts on Internet access and phone service through a special government-mandated program. But reports of fraud and lackluster oversight have caused the program to be put on ice and now some educators and librarians are scrambling."

The moratorium of the FCC's E-Rate program was implemented two months ago, although no mention on the web site.

Verizon Wireless Expands High-Speed Data Network

Verizon Wireless Expands High-Speed Data Network: "Wireless said on Wednesday that it would expand its wireless high-speed data network into 14 additional cities, including New York and Los Angeles, starting on Monday. The move is part of an acceleration by wireless companies to expand the reach of their broadband Internet services." New York Times > Technology >

linking up

Two things are necessary for Carbondale to undergo the transformation to Cyberdale: the technical infrastructure, and the human effort of individuals charged with the responsibility of maintaining their organizations' web sites.

If you're reading this sentence, then the first has been covered, but human effort of inserting the links has not been done.

High Fiber presentation

John and Sue Andrews from Salem, Illinois, told an audience of 30 people about their experience setting up

First Post, Two Events

Tomorrow and Wednesday, a couple of important events for the future of the Carbondale to Cyberdale effort. On Tuesday, Sept. 14 at John A. Logan College, Southern Illinoisans can attract investments to our region by demonstrating our eagerness to adopt technologies that enable our businesses and workforce to compete in national and international markets. You can help by encouraging your colleagues, employees, and friends to attend the September 14th community technology training event at John A. Logan College.

This training event is sponsored in part by the Illinois Community Technology Fund, which is administered by a committee appointed by the Illinois Commerce Commission. (Registration is only $10 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.) The conference will feature two local entrepreneurs who have succeeded in developing successful businesses utilizing computer technology.

For more information please download the PDF brochure.

Then on Wednesday, there's a meeting of the Carbondale to Cyberdale group where the topic will be: Fiber-based communication for Southern Illinois, presented by US Sonet. The breakfast will be served in the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale at 8 a.m.

This month's Carbondale to Cyberdale speakers will be John Andrews and Sue Andrews of US SONET. US SONET and Lightspeed Telecom have built a fiber-to-the-home business network in Salem, Illinois, providing high-speed Internet, cable TV, and telephone services. In the future, they plan to turn raw bandwidth into unified communications. If you've been reading about the rolling-out of optical services, you know that the integration of an IP-centric optical metro and dense wavelength division multiplexing architecture for voice, video, and data are here.

John and Sue will discuss this and how issues of multi-vendor, multi-technology convergence, and a mandate for the small business to leave the paper trail and communicate digitally, have prompted rural communities to demand high-speed access.

There is no cost for this event. Please RSVP to 453-3804, going to the website southerntech.org/cyberdale, or emailing stech@siu.edu.