• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, October 30, 2012

Apologies if today's Red, White &Blog Blog isn't 100% about the political media scene, but filing this via my smartphone, with no electricity and diminishing battery. The reason, of course, is the effects of Hurrican Sandy, which has knocked a good portion of some of America's biggest media markets off the commmunications grid. No electricity means no broadband, no TV, and throw us back into the stone age of battery operated transistor radio, candle light, and neighbors walking door-to-door to survey damage and exchange news updates. So what's the political connection? Well, it struck me a year ago after Hurricane Irene had a similar effect on our communications grid that we may need to update and overhaul our national communications infrastructure, and I haven't heard either candidate address that. Yes, I know the economy and national security are the big issues hanging over this election, but from where I sit now in the devestated Northeast, i can tell you that communications access is a vital part of both our economy and national security. I already saw newws reports today indicating that the hurricane will be a boon to local economies due to capital expenditures for rebuilding and repairing infrastructure. Along with that, we should consider overhauling our national emergency alert system in the age of broadband and wireless dependancy. Yes, we are connected more than ever, but as the red battery bar on my Droid indicates, only so long as we have juice. So before I lose it, let me post this, and turn on my transistor radio. https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/157781/grid-and-bear-it-why-irene-was-the-perfect-media.htm l