Leadership
Rick Boucher
Honorary Chairman
Bruce P. Mehlman
Co-Chairman
Jamal Simmons
Co-Chairman
Tracey Sawicki
Executive Director
The Internet Innovation Alliance is a broad-based coalition of business and non-profit organizations that aim to ensure every American, regardless of race, income or geography, has access to the critical tool that is broadband Internet. The IIA seeks to promote public policies that support equal opportunity for universal broadband availability and adoption so that everyone, everywhere can seize the benefits of the Internet - from education to health care, employment to community building, civic engagement and beyond.
Here you'll find convenient research items culled from the best broadband data sources. If you need to find bite-sized talking points on a tight deadline, you're in the right place. We've already done the hard part for you!
Smart Grid Reduces Monthly Utility Bills
Low income families spend 17 percent of their monthly expenses on utility bills. Smart grid technology tracking energy use can reduce their consumption by 5 to 15 percent, leading to a reduction in utility costs.
Smart Grid Saves U.S. Economy $49 Billion Annually
As reported by the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, the smart grid aside from its environmental benefits can save the U.S. Economy $49 billion per year through enhanced efficiencies across the electrical system.
Smart Grid Technology Reduces Energy Consumption
The “smart grid” distribution system facilitates consumer and utility company communication and integrates renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar energy to the benefit of the consumer. This system promotes responsible use of energy to create a cleaner environment.
Broadband Benefits the Environment
Modern broadband infrastructure offers opportunities to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, conserve energy, enhance energy efficiency and protect the environment
Key issues of network requirements are availability of suitable networks, and identification of network requirements for each smart grid and smart transportation application.
The DOE last month received roughly 570 applications from utilities requesting as much as $14.6 billion in smart-grid funds—more than three times the amount available.
According to research company IDC Energy Insights, North American utilities are expected to spend $10.75 billion on computer hardware, software and services related to the smart grid this year, up from $7.56 billion in 2008.
$4.5 billion in federal stimulus funds are allocated for smart-grid projects.
Noah Horowitz, at the Natural Resources Defense Council, calculated that the nation’s gaming consoles,
like the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the Sony PlayStation 3, now use about the same amount of electricity each year as San Diego, the ninth-largest city in the country.
According to the IEA, building the equivalent of 560 coal-fired power plants
or 230 nuclear plants will be necessary to satisfy the demand that gadgets will require.