An evaluation of the Connected Nation broadband adoption program

Closing the digital divide and increasing broadband adoption within households and communities continues to be a target for government and nonprofit groups. While a large number of studies have examined policies and programs aimed at improving broadband infrastructure availability, little analysis to date has focused on evaluating efforts to increase adoption. One of the most well-known programs focused on adoption is Connected Nation, which partnered with 14 states to provide local curricula aimed at raising residential connection rates. This analysis uses a generalized difference-in-difference methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of the Connected Nation program in 5 states during 2012 and 2013. The results indicate that participation in the Connected Nation program had no significant impact on broadband adoption rates. This paper represents a rigorous evaluation of one of the most well-known adoption-oriented programs and emphasizes that measurable impacts of such efforts may not accrue over the short term.     

Forecasting unknown-unknowns by boosting the risk radar within the risk intelligent organisation

This theoretical perspective paper interprets (un)known-(un)known risk quadrants as being formed from both abstract and concrete risk knowledge. It shows that these quadrants are useful for categorising risk forecasting challenges against the levels of abstract and concrete risk knowledge that are typically available, as well as for measuring perceived levels of abstract and concrete risk knowledge available for forecasting in psychometric research. Drawing on cybersecurity risk examples, a case is made for refocusing risk management forecasting efforts towards changing unknown-unknowns into known-knowns. We propose that this be achieved by developing the ‘boosted risk radar’ as organisational practice, where suitably ‘risk intelligent’ managers gather ‘risk intelligence information’, such that the ‘risk intelligent organisation’ can purposefully co-develop both abstract and concrete risk forecasting knowledge. We also illustrate what this can entail in simple practical terms within organisations.     

Impact of modern communication infrastructure on productivity,production structure and factor demands of US industries: Impact revisited

This study investigates the contribution of modern communication infrastructure characterized by high speed broadband access network on the productivity growth, production structure and factor demands for US industries and for the aggregate economy. To evaluate such contribution, we modify the traditional cost function by incorporating communication infrastructure as input in production process in conjunction with other public infrastructures. The network externality and spillover effect of broadband access technology are captured by introducing broadband penetration rate as a shift factor in industry level production function. Empirical results show that the increased use of modern communications infrastructure increases the productivity of all industries with wide variations across industries. Estimated impacts on input demands show that increase in use of communications infrastructure service saves labor and materials and increase the demand for private capital. Finally, aggregate social rate of return on such investment has been estimated for policy implications.     

雷达接收机数据采集平台及其FFT实现

介绍了小型化、通用化和实时信号处理要求下，雷达接收机的通用数据采集处理硬件平台。采用Xilinx公司最新平台级FPGA产品Spartan-3系列芯片构建平台，并实现其中的FFT于模块。试验表明，处理精度和速度都满足要求，为该方案的可行性和后续模块的实现提供了依据。     

探地雷达在公路改扩建工程检测中的应用

公路改扩建工程在广东省正处于快速发展时期,如何准确得到路面病害情况,是旧路处治方案制定面临的主要问题.依托开阳高速改扩建工程,采用三维探地雷达对旧路进行病害检测,得到道路表面及内部的病害分布情况,并分别与人工徒步调查路况及开挖后内部实际情况进行比对.结果表明:当三维探地雷达检测采样间距设置为2.0 cm、驻波时间设置为0.6 ms、时窗设置为85 ns时,可达到较好的检测精准度;三维探地雷达可实现对路面结构内部不同深度位置的裂缝病害进行探测,精确识别3 mm宽裂缝,并了解裂缝的发展方向及性质.     

Consumer cooperatives as an alternative form of governance: The case of the broadband industry

With a growing number of consumer cooperatives in non-agrarian industries such as energy and broadband, there is a need to better understand their emergence as a viable form of governance. In this context, the paper uses Mikami’s (2010) model on consumer cooperatives to explain their emergence as a result of their ability to generate additional equity financing through the membership market. It focuses on the motivations of consumers to financially contribute to a cooperative by examining the risks and benefits associated with the investment. Based on a survey of 759 consumers, it links their motivations for joining a cooperative to different forms of risks and benefits associated with the investment. It shows that the risks related to cost sharing and switching costs are important determinants for consumers. Other factors that affected the likelihood of joining a cooperative were expected benefits with respect to user network externalities and infrastructure gains.     

Infrastructure investment on the margins of the market: The role of niche infrastructure providers in the UK

Across Europe, policymakers and market forces are striving to deploy next generation access (NGA) networks and ensure ubiquitous access to superfast broadband services. Due to scale economies and sunk costs, the roll-out of NGA is expected to be profitable only for large-scale providers and in densely populated areas. Nonetheless, alternative providers, such as utilities and local communities, have significantly contributed to NGA diffusion in many countries. Over the past five years, several small-scale initiatives have emerged in the UK, bringing fibre networks to urban and rural areas previously overlooked by either commercial or subsidised deployments. A multiple case study approach is employed here to explore the nature and the drivers of niche providers in the UK NGA market. All these initiatives are demand-driven and to follow a modular approach. Despite adopting different business models, they all rely on the resources inherited from past broadband initiatives and relationships with local partners. By investigating the strategies of niche providers in NGA market, this analysis sheds light on their contribution to bridging the digital divide in the UK and is presented as a preliminary assessment of their sustainability and potential growth.     

较差质量数据下的返回弹道计算及对落点影响的分析

针对某老式卫星返回时雷达跟踪数据曾发生的测量异常及质量较差等情况，为解决此类数据在返回弹道及落点计算中出现的实际困难以及给出应对措施，基于工程实际情况给出了三种不同建模类型下的弹道计算方法——当前统计解耦扩展卡尔曼滤波（EKF）、动力学建模无迹卡尔曼滤波（UKF）、多项式滑窗最小二乘估计算法，并应用该次质量较差的实际观测数据进行了算法应用效果分析与落点计算情况对比，对计算中的经验及教训进行了总结。研究结果表明，所给出的三种算法在面对较差质量数据时性能差异较大，在工程实际应用中可考虑将多种算法互为参考。研究结果及其经验教训对卫星返回弹道及落点的实时估计的工程实施有一定的参考价值。     

The ladder of investment in Europe,in retrospect and prospect

The ladder of investment was adopted by many European (and other) regulators in the era of copper networks as a means of implementing unbundling in a way which progressively promotes competitive providers׳ infrastructure investment in fixed networks. The paper reviews the evidence of its application and effects, in comparison with the most likely alternative, argues that it probably conferred benefits. In the more recent era of transition to fibre in Europe, regulatory priorities have shifted towards promoting roll-out. Two broad approaches are identified; one continues the focus on a programme of infrastructure competition in taking fibre to the home; another, relying on fibre to the cabinet, reverses it with bitstream used as the access product. It is soon to evaluate the two approaches.     

一种基于雷达图的雷达辐射源识别算法

在分析和考察雷达辐射源(Radar Emitter)多特征模式识别算法的基础上提出了一种基于雷达图(Radar Chart)中向量夹角余弦值的分类识别算法,借助雷达图实现了雷达辐射源空间特征向量向平面向量的转换,实现对雷达辐射源型号的自动识别,给出识别置信度.通过计算机仿真得到大于85%的正确识别率,进一步验证了算法在雷达辐射源识别工程中的可用性和可行性.