Posted by Paul MitchellSenior Director, Technology Policy Group, Microsoft
Earlier this year, the Singapore White Spaces Pilot Group (SWSPG) launched a significant pilot of wireless broadband using TV White Spaces (TVWS). As part of the momentum of this pilot, the SWSPG convened a one day workshop in Singapore on Oct. 10 that brought together technology and business leaders from around the world to discuss recent progress deploying wireless broadband solutions using TV White Spaces. While participants came from around the world and from across the public and private sectors, attendance and interest from Singapore and the Asia Pacific region were especially encouraging. I was fortunate enough to attend the event, and was truly impressed with the progress and creativity demonstrated by the pilot participants in developing the potential surrounding TV White Spaces.
It was clear that Singapore in particular understands the importance of and correlation between the digital infrastructure and economic growth, and is determined to fully leverage ICT technologies to turn Singapore into a global leading Smart City and a data hub for the region’s digital economy.
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Editor’s Note: This post is part of a monthly series from Microsoft’s Citizenship team that appears on the second Wednesday of every month. Pulse on Citizenship provides insight and commentary on topics and trends in corporate citizenship.
Posted by Lori HarnickGeneral Manager, Citizenship & Public Affairs, Microsoft
Today, we are releasing our annual Citizenship Report, which provides an overview of our citizenship work over the past fiscal year, from July 2011 to June 2012. This is the third year in a row that we have released the Citizenship Report at the same time as our annual financial report. Together, these two milestones give our shareholders, customers, employees and many community partners a full view of Microsoft’s financial and non-financial performance across all business operations.
The Citizenship Report, in particular, outlines Microsoft’s citizenship goals, progress and next steps in our responsible work practices and service to communities as part of our company commitment to making a real impact for a better tomorrow everywhere we do business.
Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues
In this edition of The Week in Tech Policy, we have stories on the continuing debates around cybersecurity, warrantless tracking of Americans’ mobile devices and more.
Debate on cybersecurity continues. Gen. Keith Alexander, the head of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, says that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should lead any effort to facilitate the transfer of threat information between American companies and government agencies, according to this report in Hillicon Valley. However, Senate Republicans say a recent congressional report on DHS indicates that the agency lacks the skills and resources to take a lead role in protecting the nation's computer systems
Posted by Anthony SalcitoVice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft
Tomorrow, our partner UNESCO celebrates World Teachers Day, when thousands of communities around the globe honor the women and men who selflessly (and for little material reward) hold our collective future in their hands. It’s a lot to ask, but we trust teachers to help shape our children into productive, responsible citizens for the future. And without the innovative teachers who are redefining education for the 21st century, that future would be very uncertain indeed.
As the joint impacts of rapidly advancing technology and environmental change continue to remake the global economy, we must build a workforce to support it. We know that well more than 50 percent of today’s jobs require some technology skills, and that percentage is expected to rise to nearly 80 percent in the next decade. We also know that technology alone does not improve student outcomes.
Today, in front of 2,000 students and teachers at Federal Way High School in Washington state, Microsoft General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Legal & Corporate Affairs Brad Smith joined Free The Children founder Craig Kielburger and Seattle Seahawks’ Head Coach Pete Carroll to announce We Day Seattle - an exciting new, year-long program at that will educate, engage and empower 15,000 youth in Washington to become involved global citizens.