Hi Tricia!: Beyond Broadcast: Panel IV Notes on Mark Cooper

Mark Cooper is the Director of Research at the Consumer Federation of America where he has responsibility for analysis and advocacy in the areas of telecommunications, media, digital rights, economic and energy policy.

He is the only one from Panel IV and Panel III that made any sense. So far I've been disappointed with the panels. The problem is that the talk is not focused on what's "BEYOND BROADCAST!" which is the whole theme of the conference. they keep talking about BROADCAST itself. Kenyatta says that the problem is that they are ascribing broadcast models to the individual - but the problem is that broadcast cannot be scaled down to the individual - so it's unfair to apply broadcast models. So far the only folks who have spoken about "beyond broadcast" is Terry Heaton and Mark Cooper. The 10min Second Life Presentation was cool - but it was too short - I would've like to see more discussion about collaboration on 2nd life.

MY NOTES FROM HIS TALK:

We need new business models that are better rooted in civil society not based on advertising or charity.
Time Warner and ABC put up their content for free - that's a sign of the revolution.
can't be narrowband company in broadband world e..g AOL is an example
now can't be one-way company in a two-way world: the minute we got ability to create content the internet exploded and old one-way media freaked
we are no longer passive consumers
old media will try to make you feel participation
new media gives real was to participate
old models: broadcast, cable tv, public TV
new model: networked individuals and and paid membership tv
40-million bloggers is less then 1% of world's population
This can be the future of participation: Participatory Cooperatives bc. of trust. e.g. credit unions, farmers, food coops
I am suggesting Not a subscription model but a members model, members decide what to put on - find people who will pay little $ decide what they want to watch
you have to fund yourself if you want change in civil society
old media: closed reporting, editing and responses
open media: breaks this model
if you give members a chance to participate within an open space in one of the function - the more willing they pay - part of an organization that has influence larger that their own community - people want to see change beyond themselves
government should provide the space for people to speak - give us back the spectrum - wifi. Municipality should provide wireless system. let gvt provide infrastructure
give people a chance to speak with a new business model - allow public be public to compete on open market