| Those heading to Minneapolis-St. Paul to | | | | Pew Research numbers, "are using the Web in |
| participate in or report on the gathering of | | | | different ways than other generations." C/Net |
| the G.O.P. faithful at the end of the summer | | | | reports that, "young voters are consuming |
| may want to get in touch with a provider of | | | | more political online video than older |
| Minneapolis computer rentals to ensure that | | | | adults, while creating their own political |
| they will have the computer resources and | | | | commentary with posts, e-mails, text |
| support to fully cover and participate in | | | | messages, and social-networking sites." The |
| what is emerging as a digital media | | | | Pwew Survey numbers indicate that, "One-third |
| extravaganza. The beefing up of the digital | | | | of all 18- to 29-year-old adults used a |
| infrastructure that will support the demands | | | | social-networking site for political |
| of media, political operatives, | | | | activities like adding candidates as their |
| conventioneers and bloggers who will descend | | | | friends." |
| on the Twin Cities for the September 1-4 | | | | |
| Republican National Convention highlight the | | | | As the online politcal debate between |
| increasing role that the Internet is playing | | | | Republicans and Democrats heats up, it |
| in this year's election. | | | | appears clear that the digital media - |
| | | | particularly videocasting and emerging |
| In anticipation of what will be one of the | | | | videocast giant YouTube - will be a |
| two most heavily wired political conventions | | | | significant battleground for both parties in |
| ever - the August 25-28 Democratic National | | | | trying to shape the views of the American |
| Convention in Denver being the other - the | | | | electorate. Videocasts have begun to take up |
| telecommunication giants that are set to | | | | an exponentially growing swath of digital |
| bring the RNC to the world have significantly | | | | bandwidth, and the use of videocasts as a |
| beefed up their infrastructure. Verizon | | | | source of information and entertainment is |
| Wireless recently announced that it has | | | | growing each month. With exponential |
| "upgraded its capacity to meet an expected 33 | | | | increases in the demand for bandwidth, one |
| percent increase in voice calling and a | | | | can only hope that the infrastructure |
| whopping 150 percent rise in data | | | | enhancement undertaken by Verizon, Qwest et, |
| transmissions" over its Minneapolis-St. Paul | | | | al, will be sufficient for the ensuing |
| network. Sprint, Nextel and AT&T have | | | | demand. |
| also announced that they will be augmenting | | | | |
| their service in Minnesota in anticipation of | | | | When the political pundits, pickers and press |
| the RNC. | | | | meet in Minneapolis, one can expect the |
| | | | digital images and information streaming out |
| Meanwhile, at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, | | | | of one of the two ground zeroes for the |
| the site of the RNC proper, Qwest | | | | biggest news story of the year to crest. |
| Communications International is adding 100 | | | | Those covering the political beat in |
| miles of fiber-optic and copper wiring to | | | | Minneapolis-St. Paul, as well as those |
| bring the RNC to the world. By all accounts, | | | | wishing to play their part in an increasingly |
| both Denver and Minneapolis promise to be the | | | | digital political race, will want to ensure |
| digital media epicenter of the Internet as | | | | they have secured the computer rentals, |
| the fall presidential elections kick off. | | | | server rentals and technical support to bring |
| | | | the American electorate what they have come |
| Preparations for the Republican National | | | | to expect - real-time, live video coverage |
| Convention highlight the growing importance | | | | and analysis of all the nuances of American |
| of the Internet in American politics. Recent | | | | politics. Contracting now with a national |
| survey results from Pew Internet and American | | | | provider who is gearing up to provide the |
| Life Project (in conjunction with Princeton | | | | Minnesota computer rentals that RNC |
| Survey Research Associates) show that 46 per | | | | operatives, reporters and commentators will |
| cent of Americans so far this year have used | | | | require is the necessary initial step for the |
| the Internet to track the unfolding 2008 | | | | pundits and politicos that will be bringing |
| presidential election. | | | | the machinations of the RNC to America and |
| | | | the world. |
| "Young voters," according to reports of the | | | | |