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Technology for Ohio’s Tomorrow Technology for Ohio’s Tomorrow is the Ohio-based project of Midwest Consumers for Choice and Competition, a non-profit organization of individual consumers interested in technology, broadband, and telecommunication issues with state projects throughout the Midwest region. Our mission is to advocate for public policies that inspire and encourage innovation in technology while informing and educating technology consumers about legislative and regulatory issues that impact their lives. Technology for Ohio’s Tomorrow will strive to foster an environment that will embrace high-tech jobs, investment, and emerging technologies to better prepare us for Ohio’s Tomorrow. For more information about Midwest Consumers for Choice and Competition, visit www.MC4CC.org. View our Advisory Council.
ISSUES
TOT plans to concentrate on several issues that embrace high-tech jobs, investment and research and development to better prepare all of us for Ohio’s Tomorrow. Some of these critical technology issues are ones that come to mind immediately when we think of technology, the internet, wireless issues, broadband, and wi-fi. TOT also plans to focus on some broader issues. These include harnessing economic development opportunities, providing excellent educational opportunities, and life changing advancements in health care. Economic Development To be competitive with other states, Ohio needs to embrace and support technology companies. Whether it’s providing venture capital funding or small business loans to start-ups, Ohio must give businesses the tools they need to thrive to generate revenue and jobs to the Buckeye state. Read more >> Internet Eight short years ago, only 46 percent of people in the U.S. used the Internet; now a staggering 75 percent of people go online (Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project). Read more >> Education Technology’s reach extends deep into the classroom. Whether it’s students taking classes online, teachers posting their assignments on the web or making lectures available for download, technology has completely changed the way students learn. Read more >> Wireless Wireless users have been growing at an extraordinary rate. In just over a decade, the number of wireless users has increased nearly ten-fold. Read more >> Health Care One of the major industries that has been impacted by technology is health care. Medical records and x-rays can be easily transmitted online, saving time that can be critical when a person’s health is at stake. Read more >> Broadband Broadband Internet access, often shortened to just broadband, is high-speed Internet access—typically contrasted with dial-up access over a modem. Read more >> WiFi Some 34% of Internet users have logged onto the internet using a wireless connection either around the house, at their workplace, or some place else. Read more >>
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With all of the astounding, innovative technology that is changing our lives every day, government can’t always keep up. Technology for Ohio’s Tomorrow is working hard on behalf of technology consumers to ensure that our state promotes sound public policy that encourages and fosters innovation. Join today and we will keep you updated on important legislation that could impact our state’s technology future. .link, .link a, #SignUp .signupframe { color: #381C7F; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; } .link, .link a { text-decoration: none; } #SignUp .signupframe { border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; background: #ffffff; } #SignUp .signupframe .required { font-size: 10px; } Email Marketing You Can Trust
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Representative Craig Newbold Chaired a special committee to look at how technology is used in state government. Representatives Dovilla, Henne, Brenner, Conditt, Celeste, Phillips, and Stinziano joined him in serving on this committee. The Technology in State Government Committee allowed the people of Ohio to have a chance to speak to the Ohio House of Representatives about using technology to become more efficient in state operations, reduce overhead and red tape, and improve responsiveness to the taxpayers. Upon completing the necessary research, the committee intends to put forth an executive summary and possible recommendations for the Legislature. To see testimony from this committee hearing please see the links below. Ohio House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Technology in State Government Testimony of Scott Schweitzer October 5, 2011 Ohio House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Technology in State Government Testimony of Jason Loree October 5, 2011 Ohio House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Technology in State Government Testimony of Kumar Rachuri October 5, 2011 Ohio House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Technology in State Government Testimony of Aladin Gohar September 20 2011 Technology in State Government Committee Testimony of Stuart R. Davis August 31 2011 The Ohio House of Representatives Legislative Study Committee on Technology in State Government Chairman Craig E. Newbold August 17 2011 The Ohio House of Representatives Legislative Study Committee on Technology in State Government Jon Cook Technology in State Government Committee John Conomy September 14 2011 Technology in State Government Committee Kurt McDowell September 14 2011 Get involved: Connect with your candidates Share your Ideas Find out more: Why is industry competition necessary? An innovative technology or product knows no size. Think of Google or YouTube or Facebook. A decade ago, these companies didn’t even exist. Today they are all worth hundreds of millions dollars. With a strong technology infrastructure and a product consumers want, any company has the potential to become the next “Big Thing.” The current laws governing Ohio’s telecommunications industry are antiquated – they even contain 30 references to the telegraph! It is imperative that our state laws recognize that the industry has changed and grown, and continues to do so at a rapid pace. There are now many communication technologies from which consumers can choose – landline service, cellular service, cable or Internet phone. SB 162 and HB 276 reflect this competition in the marketplace and will help Ohio keep pace in the modern telecommunications field. How will this legislation help consumers? Unlike some other industries, the technology industry is constantly changing. It is a thriving, complex, and competitive industry. Similarly, the rules governing the industry need to change so Ohio consumers can benefit from the new technology innovations. This proposed legislation includes affordable rate safeguards as well as protections for low-income consumers. As the rules governing the telecommunications industry in Ohio are revised to keep pace with industry advancements, telecommunications companies will be more likely to bring their products to the state. And more competition means more choices for Ohio consumers. How will this legislation help Ohio’s economy? According to the Ohio Telecom Association, the telecommunications industry in our state is a $15 billion a year industry that employs nearly 16,000 people. Ohio must continue to foster legislation that promotes growth and development in this sector to ensure that our state is in a strong position to compete with other states for new development and job opportunities. Neighboring states like Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee have already incorporated new telecommunications regulations that make their states conducive for new technology investments – Ohio must do the same to remain competitive. One hundred years ago, Ohio was on the cutting edge of the Industrial Revolution. Today, we need to be on the cutting edge of the technology revolution. Modernizing the rules can help to make that happen.
Technology Investments in Ohio
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Scroll over the map to find what broadband investments have been announced in Ohio.
