Connecticut’s Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is leading attorney generals from 37 other states in an investigation of Google’s Street View software.

Blumenthanl says in a release, “Google’s responses continue to generate more questions than they answer. Our powerful multistate coalition — 38 states so far — is demanding that Google reveal whether it tested Street View software, which should have revealed that it was collecting payload data.”

The release does not disclose all 38 states participating because some state laws prevent disclosure of investigations. Blumenthal, however, says his office is seeking permission to disclose the other states. Those listed include:

Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Kansas
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New York
North Carolina
Oregon
Rhode Island
Texas
Vermont
Washington

The issue of consumer privacy is important to Wired Wisconsin, and we applaud those states that are working to ensure people’s privacy is protected. Why has Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen not signed on to participate in the investigation? Technology growth is key to developing Wisconsin’s economy and is also dependent on consumer’s trust that their private content is being protected.  Committing to this investigation would be a key step in sending the message to Wisconsin residents that their privacy is valued and protected.

The U.S. government recently launched 17 new mobile apps for a variety of different services and agencies, from the FBI’s Most Wanted to FEMA Mobile.  With smartphones becoming increasingly popular and more information being absorbed on the go, it’s great news that the government is working with these platforms. Here are a few of our favorites:

Alternative Fuel Locator – This app makes life a little easier for people with flex-fuel vehicles. The locator uses Google technology to find the five biodiesel, electricity, E85 (etha­nol), hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling sites closest to the user. Plus it’s not just for smartphones! The Alternative Fuel Locator is available for any mobile-Internet ready device.

Fuel Economy.gov – Not sure you’re ready for a flex-fuel vehicle yet? Check out the carbon footprint of your car or truck, or use it to calculate gas mileage, annual fuel costs and petroleum use. The results may just surprise you.

EPA Mobile – Another great app for the environmentally conscious. This app allows users to browse the EPA Newsroom, learn about your environment, check out the EPA’s blog Greenversations and contact the EPA.  Now the nation’s premier environmental resource is at your fingertips.

MedlinePlus Mobile – Feeling under the weather? Check out this app to browse health information, drug facts and explore other health topics. All in English or Spanish!

You can find out more about all the the new app available at USA.gov’s app page.

What are your favorites? Are there any services you think the government missed? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Green technology – good. Job creation – good. The two together – great!

In a significant step toward effectively utilizing green technologies for energy production, President Obama recently announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) will invest nearly $2 billion in two solar energy companies – Abengoa Solar and Abound Solar Manufacturing.

Arizona-based Abengoa Solar will be the largest concentrating solar power in the world when it’s complete. It will produce enough energy to power nearly 70,000 homes! To put that into a green perspective – it means a reduction of 475,000 tons of CO2 annually.

On top of the environmental benefits, building these plants will mean new construction and permanent jobs for more than 5,000 Americans.

Watch the President’s full address on solar energy below:

You can also read more in this story from Mashable.

This investment is a huge leap forward for the U.S. in terms of both environment and economy and we’re happy to see this progress being made.

What are your thoughts on the projects?

In an op-ed printed in today’s Milwaukee Small Business Times, our Executive Director Thad Nation discusses how important it is for Wisconsin that a recent request from Governor Doyle for broadband funding be approved.  The plan, which would add fiber optic connections at 467 schools in 70 districts and libraries in 380 communities, is a surefire way to foster economic development in the state and ensure Wisconsin remains on the cutting edge of technology.  Given the expected economic benefits of broadband deployment, there is no better use for the federal recovery dollars.

Please contact members of the Joint Finance Committee in support of this important funding.  We need your support to ensure Wisconsin continues to grow and doesn’t get left behind! You can find contact information for the committee here.

Social media is already essential to the way we communicate with friends and family.  Businesses are beginning to find success using social media to build relationships with customers.  The next step – politics.

Political figures and groups are starting to realize the huge potential social media has to help them connect with constituents and concerned citizens, and engage about important issues.  A new article in Mashable discusses how some political figures are using social media and outlines how social media can benefit political campaigns, and even improve our political system.  To read the full story, click here.

Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook encourage transparency, accountability and conversation – all positive things in government. It is great to see examples of these tools being used effectively and to the benefit of citizens.

Imagine the frustration you feel when the internet is down or you don’t have the right plugin to watch a video. Losing that immediate access to information can be a major hindrance in this hyper-connected time. People with disabilities often experience similar frustration with the barriers they face accessing technology. In an effort to help overcome these obstacles, The National Broadband Plan (NBP), a division of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is seeking comments to help launch their new Accessibility and Innovation Forum in July.

The Forum’s goal is to promote innovative solutions to broadband and other communications technology barriers by encouraging input with ongoing online efforts, workshops, field events, and facilitated dialogues.  Currently they’re seeking input on launching an online clearinghouse.  To provide feedback, or to find out more about their future initiatives, visit their blog.

Wired Wisconsin partner IndependenceFirst is another great resource for people with disabilities who want to find out more about improving their access to technology. The organization’s mission is to “effectively facilitate empowerment of individuals with disabilities.” As part of this mission they have developed an Assistive Technology Program.  They provide information about products and services about assistive technology and adaptive equipment that help people with disabilities find technology that works for them.

Ensuring that everyone has reliable and convenient access to technology is essential. Both the FCC and IndependenceFirst are doing great things to ensure technology is accessible to all demographics.

A recent story in The Business Journal of Milwaukee discusses the importance of changing telecomm rules to reflect the realities of the current marketplace.  In the race to be chosen for Google’s “ultra high-speed” fiber network, Wisconsin’s current telecomm regulations put our state at a serious disadvantage.  While the city has campaigned hard to be selected as the Internet giant’s test site, many, including us at Wired Wisconsin, believe the state’s outdated telecomm rules could mean missing out on the opportunity.  A bill pending in the State Legislature proposing changes to our current telecomm rules would begin to make the adjustments necessary to attract Google and put Wisconsin on the right track towards economic development.

Read The Business Journal’s full story here (subscription required).

This week, March 7-13, marks the 12th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). The purpose of this week is to encourage consumers to be more knowledgeable about what their law-protected rights are as consumers.

Digging a little deeper into the consumer.gov website, I found many useful tools consumers should use to educate themselves on a variety of issues such as ways to avoid identity theft and how to safely get out of debt.

President Obama and Congress have been working hard to ensure the proper consumer protections are in place and passing the new credit card laws were a good step. I don’t know about you, but seeing how long it would take to pay off my credit card by only making the minimum payment really put things into perspective.

All the new technologies enabled by the advent of the internet (did you know the internet was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize last year?) are great, but it’s important that we have policies that reflect the ever-changing tech landscape AND continue to provide consumer protections like proper oversight over things like billing, sales, consumer fraud, and collections.

So educate yourself friends!

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions also have great websites full of free resources for consumers looking to get a better handle on their financial situation as well as protect themselves from scams.

http://www.wdfi.org
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/core/consumerprotection/consumerprotection.jsp
http://consumer.gov/ncpw/

Did you watch the State of the Union last night?  Maybe you even tweeted about it or participated in an online live chat during it.  One year after President Obama took office, many are assessing how his promises and policies have held up.   At Wired Wisconsin, we want to know how he changed the use of technology in the White House.

In January of 2009, after first taking office, the President released a memo sent to the heads of departments and agencies on transparency and open government.  In it he asked them “to harness new technologies to put information about their operations and decisions online and readily available to the public.”

Besides being arguably the most tech-savvy president (he did have to be torn away from his Blackberry when he became president), what has he done to incorporate technology into his administration?

Let’s take a look at a few examples:

• Data.gov:  The White House has compiled data from a number of government agencies to make it more accessible to the public
• Virtual Town hall meetings: The president has used this as a way to address concerns about jobs, education, and health care reform
• Blogging, Tweeting and Youtube: The White House uses all of these social networks communicate with the public

When elected officials use technology it can create greater transparency and openness, as well as increased efficiency.  We hope to see greater uses of technology on all levels of government.

From the moment you wake up in the morning and check your email over coffee, to the time you spend on the computer at work—the internet is ubiquitous in most people’s lives.  It’s an important part of both personal and professional worlds, and, that being so, it is essential that the speed of broadband be available to all.

While some parts of the state have broadband access, there are still many areas of Wisconsin without it.  At Wired Wisconsin, we will keep pushing this important issue to the forefront.   We believe that expanding broadband access will create economic growth (including jobs!) and help individuals connect.

 The FCC is required to deliver a national broadband deployment  plan to congress by February 17; however, they are currently seeking a month-long extension to complete the plan.  We are eager to see more action taken on a national level to increase broadband, but, seeing those delays, we also understand that it is important to keep forging ahead statewide.  We need public-private partnerships to bring broadband to rural Wisconsin communities. 

 Even though it can be a struggle, we hope you’ll join us in continuing the fight to provide broadband to all Wisconsinites.