This week he returned to work and received a hero’s welcome as “World Champion Clark Rachfal.” (Rachfal is on the left in both photos.)

Rachfal participated in a Disability Mentoring Day in 2006 in our downtown Washington, D.C. office, and so impressed senior managers there that he was hired as an intern in the Strategic Alliances organization. A year later, our lobbying office extended the internship and put him to work on Capitol Hill. He’s been working in that group ever since, and he’s made quite an impression.

In fact, two Verizon colleagues flew to Manchester from Washington to cheer him on. Joanna McIntosh and Ed Senn, both executive directors in the D.C. office, brought cowbells to ring and an American flag to cheer him on.

McIntosh said she made the trip partially because Rachfal’s parents couldn’t, but mostly because she wanted to support Rachfal during the race.

“Clark’s incredibly brave,” said McIntosh, a cyclist herself who has ridden with Rachfal in the annual ride across Iowa sponsored by the Des Moines Register. “It’s just been amazing to see him define and dream and then work for it. I think it’s fantastic when people match up with their passion. Some never do; some don’t have the discipline to do it. But Clark does, and he went there and proved it.”

For Rachfal and his teammate Swanson, it was another step on the way to the 2012 Paralympics in London. Between now and then, they’re planning on a lot more training and a few more races.

Rachfal, though, is still savoring the moments filled with tears and smiles when he stood on the winner’s podium proudly wearing the gold medal around his neck. He said the one thing that calmed him down was reciting the words to “The Star Spangled Banner” as it accompanied the raising of the Stars and Stripes.

“It’s a pretty spectacular feeling,” Rachfal said. “To know you went out and represented your country, and then they’re playing your song. That’s a powerful moment.”

This isn’t exactly news, but it is the reason that Verizon is reaching out to children, parents and grandparents so that they experience the value of the digital world in a safe, non-threatening way. We have worked hard to help people use the power of technology to connect and create new communities on-line.

As one example of this work, the Verizon Foundation has sponsored a terrific PBS Frontline program called Digital Nation and I encourage everyone to take a look at it.

The idea is that Frontline is going out and interviewing a wide range of the population – across the country – and exploring how people from all walks of life are using a vast array of digital tools.

Well, I visited the site and you’ll never believe what, or rather who, I found.

I found Bubbe.

Bubbe is an 83 year old grandmother who has an Internet cooking show that her grandson produces. Bubbe cooks and tells stories from her family’s past. She has a large following and has found that she is now Grandmother, or Bubbe, to thousands of people on-line. She started with her simple “Jelly Jammies” recipe and now has 26 episodes with recipes ranging from stuffed cabbage to chicken schnitzel.

I don’t believe I could have found a better illustration of what digital literacy is all about. You just have to watch this clip from Digital Nation to see what this digital tool has meant to Bubbe, her family and now by extension to her numerous fans. Check her out. You won’t be disappointed. As for me, I’m trying the vegetarian stew recipe this weekend. It looks great.

As the father of three children, I often feel like that cartoon character who follows his children around the house, turning off all the lights and devices behind them as they move from one activity to the next. As soon as you shut down one room, two more are lit up. I suppose motion sensing lights represent one way to manage energy usage, but I now feel empowered by the notion that my cell phone will enable me to complete my tasks from anywhere in the world.

Opto 22 makes hardware and software that uses open communications standards like IP and Ethernet on broadband networks to connect all kinds of machines, devices, and sensors to computer networks. The premise is by providing energy monitoring capabilities, customers can manage energy use. Opto 22 started off in the commercial market, creating a system that allowed building owners to better monitor and remotely manage how energy is used in their buildings. Opto 22’s system helps utilities and commercial power users implement load curtailment programs to better manage electrical grids during periods of peak demand. The system also lets building owners practice demand-side energy management strategies, because they have access to detailed information regarding energy consumption and future pricing.

It was exciting to learn that Opto 22 has turned its attention to the residential market. It has developed a prototype system that connects directly to the home’s electrical box and does not require a smart meter to help customers monitor their energy consumption. Energy usage data on appliances, air conditioners and even water heaters can be transmitted over a broadband connection back to Opto 22’s server and is available to the home owner via the Internet over a smart phone. So, any time the kids leave the television on, you can turn it off, even if you are in Europe. Better yet, you can program your dishwasher to only run after midnight, when you know electricity rates are lowest.

The second practical innovation is by a joint venture called Text On. Text On is a joint venture between New York-based Riverphonic LLC, a mobile phone applications specialist, and GreenOrder Ventures, a clean technology accelerator group. The company has developed a technology that can be applied to public lighting facilities to turn them on and off via text messaging.

Text On is working with the NYC City Parks and Recreation to develop a pilot scheme to manage lighting at athletics fields. City ballfield floodlights are energy-intensive and often stay on needlessly despite no-shows, rain-delays and system malfunctions. There is public resentment about wasting energy and about the perceived unfairness to non-players who pay the bill for ballfield lights.

With Text On, the lights stay off by default. Authorized users can turn them on by sending a text message to a designated ‘Short Code’, and be charged (or not) by the hour for their usage. The technology is operated via a central online platform that can be activated by the general public using simple keywords, and via municipal parks officers using individual pass codes.

Both of these applications are great examples of how information communications technology delivered over wireline and wireless broadband networks facilitate more energy efficient behaviors. Since the younger generation adapts to technology so quickly, I am hoping to install the Opto 22 solution in my home so that the kids think it’s cool to use their cell phones to turn the lights off in their rooms.

In today’s ever evolving, wired world it’s easy for parents to feel a step behind their children when it comes to technology.

Luckily, many companies, parental advocates and law enforcement officials offer practical resources and continue to look for new ways to help parents learn simple steps to make their child’s online experience a positive one.

This week leaders in those fields will gather in Washington, D.C. for the Family Online Safety Institute’s (FOSI) two-day conference entitled “Building a Culture of Responsibility from Online Safety to Digital Citizenship.”

I will moderate a panel at FOSI on law enforcement trends and prevention initiatives. Panelists include the attorneys general of Washington and Rhode Island, Robert McKenna and Patrick Lynch; Sgt. Jim Smith, of CT Internet Crimes Against Children; Ann Harkins, of the National Crime Prevention Council; and Parry Aftab, of WiredSafety.

My colleague, Jack McArtney, who oversees advertising and content standards for Verizon, will serve on a panel entitled “Kids on the Go – Challenges Confronting Mobility.” He’ll highlight some common-sense steps parents can take to manage their child’s online experience.

Need a few tips? A great place to start is the Verizon Parental Control Center. The center has a host of free materials and videos on topics ranging from social networking, to safe surfing for kids, to cyberbullying.

Finding parental peace of mind in the digital world can be easier than you think.

The Safe Internet Alliance held its annual conference on Capitol Hill (Oct. 20), where I spoke about what we’re learning from consumers when it comes to Internet safety.

The upshot: there’s plenty of good news about what people are doing with broadband and wireless technologies.

The good news is tempered, however, by gaps in digital literacy. Our research, in fact, shows some skittishness among consumers. They aren’t generally aware about the tools and resources that are available to help them navigate the oceans of digital media out there. Consequently, they don’t feel as much in control as they would like. And they’re very concerned about privacy and security. Data we’ve seen shows most have little confidence in any institution to keep their information adequately protected. The greatest fears: identity theft and hacking.

So, where are the areas in which we need to concentrate? We’re convinced that we need digital literacy programs to teach the rules of the road, and to empower parents and teachers to embrace our digital culture, as well as address the potential negatives.

That’s why one of the things we’re doing in this area is partnering with PBS to report out the findings of Frontline’s Digital Nation study on what all of this means to us.

In a very practical way, Frontline is exploring the impact of what’s going on in this virtual world. By February they will produce a full length film that takes what I believe will be a significant step toward providing us with the knowledge we need to take advantage of our connectivity in a very productive way.

To be honest, the 30,000 plus attendees are there to see speakers and events related to aging, stroll the massive exhibit hall and pick up whatever “freebies” are being given out. It is not normally a venue to discuss public policy.

However, aided by the large presence of Verizon Wireless in the Exhibit Hall we were able to weave a little bit of education into the fun and games. So while thousands of folks asked wireless questions, tested our products and listened to a “Wireless 101” tutorial, we were also able to discuss Internet Safety, an issue that affects anyone of any age that goes online.

With Verizon’s “Internet Safety Tips for Seniors for Dummies” as our guide we spent time talking candidly about the Internet and its wonderful benefits while counseling them on some things to keep in mind to remain safe in that space. Additionally, we were able to touch on the importance of broadband and how it can truly enhance their lives.

It was a fun and rewarding experience that gave us the opportunity to talk one-on-one with a very important part of our customer base. I know that our Verizon team learned much from that interaction and I hope the conference goers not only learned a few things, but had a good time too.

I’m looking forward to next year’s conference in Orlando. In the meantime, if you or someone you know is venturing onto the Internet, check out these sites that will help make it a positive and rewarding experience: LookBothWays and the Safe Internet Alliance.

Today we have more information to share that will help tell the story of this serious social issue. For too long, domestic violence has been considered solely a women’s issue.

The truth is:
1 out of 4 women are affected
1 out of 9 men are affected
3 million children are affected each year

More than 120 leaders stepped forward to be a part of the discussion. Now it’s your turn.

Take a few minutes and see what took place at this year’s summit and leave comments here if you have suggestions on how to effect even more positive change for victims of domestic violence.

In and of itself, sexting is eyebrow-raising. Add to the equation a sender or receiver who is under the age of eighteen and suddenly a problem of ever-growing proportions begins to appear. Getting the word out to kids about the possible ramifications of sexting is the key. Child pornography charges, a jail sentence and having to register as a sex offender should deter them from sending a racy photo of themselves or someone else. And, even if these legal repercussions were to disappear, the emotional fallout would remain as would the effects such a decision could have on their future.

Our solution: education.

Recently, we partnered with the Ad Council to create a PSA called “Textual Harassment.” The campaign focuses on the subject of “digital dating abuse,” and has been running on mobile, TV and web platforms.

Another recent launch of ours is the Verizon Parental Controls Center; which houses up-to-date digital safety information, tools and resources. Our hope is that everyone who visits will learn, participate and generally get involved in the ongoing conversation about relevant topics such as sexting, cyberbullying and digital citizenship.

Let us know what you think.

All three physicists are being recognized for the work they performed in labs forty or more years ago. And the outcomes of their efforts touch every one of our lives in some way.

The results of Dr. Kao’s work were in the field of fiber optics. His ideas and research lead the way to making very pure glass into fiber optic strands that could stretch more than half a mile, leading the way to the ultra fast communications networks we use today. In fact, if you’re reading this blog over a high-speed connection, say “Thank you” to Dr. Kao.

Drs. Boyle and Smith invented the tiny semiconductor sensors that make displaying digital photography possible. They get a special shout-out. They did their groundbreaking work at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, which means we share a common heritage. In fact, if you have a 10 mega-pixel camera, you hold 10 million of their semiconductor sensors in your hand every time you snap a photo.

So, thanks again Drs. Kao, Smith and Boyle. If it weren’t for great minds like yours we might not have the advanced networks we have today. And that would be unfortunate because we are just now beginning to see how these networks and digital media can transform education and empower those with disabilities. We are seeing how the power of broadband can be a powerful engine of growth and innovation for our industry and for the economy as a whole.

Every day, broadband becomes embedded more deeply in our lives, to the point where sometimes we don’t even think about it. Let’s take a moment now to think about some of the people who made it possible.