| What's
New at Hellerstein & Associates A Telecommunications and Technology Research Group |
Overview of Hellerstein & Associates
USTDA Projects in Brazil
BRAZIL RECEIVES USTDA COUNTRY OF THE YEAR AWARD. Reflecting the success of the agency's program in advancing mutual economic benefits and U.S. policy priorities, USTDA Director Larry W. Walther presented an award today naming Brazil as the agency's 2008 Country of the Year. Hellerstein & Associates reviewed and recommended to USTDA to fund five of these projects over the past few years. "In establishing its priorities, Brazil has continuously focused on both infrastructure development and economic growth," said USTDA Director Walther. "Our program responds to these priorities and demonstrates USTDA's effectiveness in bringing U.S. technology, expertise and ingenuity to bear in addressing priority infrastructure projects." Click the above link to read more about this award.USTDA SUPPORTS BROADBAND PROJECT IN BRAZIL'S ACRE REGION - On September 18, USTDA awarded a grant to the Government of the State of Acre to promote the development of a statewide broadband project to further economic growth of the Secretariat of Administrative Management in the State of Acre (Secretariat). Hellerstein & Associates reviewed and recommended the funding of this feasibility study to USTDA. USTDA is pleased to support this project because ICT infrastructure is an essential catalyst for growth in the global economy. This project will connect the Acre region with the world. The State of Acre is committed to the development of a statewide broadband project that includes a hybrid voice, data and video Internet Protocol-based network to reduce the region's interconnectivity and broaden its access to the global economy. Click the above link to read more about this award.
USTDA Also Awards Grant for a Multi-Sector Technology Park in Brasilia. On December 10, USTDA awarded a grant to advance plans by the Government of the Federal District of Brazil to establish a multi-sector technology park. The park will offer common services and resources to high-tech and R&D companies and encourage cooperation between universities, research institutions, and the private sector. A goal of the park is to make the required IT infrastructure readily available and at affordable cost. The $507,000 USTDA grant will provide a detailed plan for the design, organization, construction, operation and management of the park. Director Walther and Governor Jose Roberto Arruda, of the Federal District of Brazil, and Vice Governor and Secretary for the Secretariat of Economic Development and Tourism Paulo Octavio Alves Pereira signed an agreement today officially conferring the grant.
USTDA GRANTS FURTHER E-GOVERNMENT AND AVIATION PRIORITIES IN THE STATE OF MINAS GERAIS On September 19, 2008 USTDA awarded a grant to the State of Minas Gerais to the State's Economic Development Secretariat to further the development of an administrative data center. The $425,000 USTDA grant to the Economic Development Secretariat will assist in the establishment of an administrative datacenter that will upgrade and consolidate the datacenters of various state government secretariats. This project is seen as an important tool for the socio-economic development of the region and is a top priority for the state. Hellerstein & Associates reviewed and recommended the funding of this feasibility study to USTDA. The State of Minas Gerais is committed to establishing the necessary infrastructure to support its development,” said USTDA Director Larry W. Walther. The grant was conferred during a signing ceremony held at the Governor’s office in the State of Minas Gerais. Director Walther signed both grants on behalf of the U.S. Government. Minas Gerais Governor Aecio Neves and Secretary of Development Rafael Guimaraes Andrade signed the grants.
Conference Presentation
Judith Hellerstein was invited to speak at the Public Utility Research Center (PURC)/World Bank International Training Program for Regulators held in Gainesville, FL in January 2008. Ms. Hellerstein spent the day with regulators from around the world and participating in interconnection workshops and also gave a presentation on The Impact of Convergence on the Regulatory Framework.
Judith Hellerstein was invited to speak at the Georgia Institute of Technology's E-Liberia Vision 2006 ICTs for Development in Liberia conference that was connected to the visit to Georgia Tech by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Ms. Hellerstein was on a panel focused on the formulation of National ICT POlicy formulation and spoke about her firm's recent work in creating the National Telecom Policy for the then National Transitional Government of Liberia. Her presentation can be found here.
e-Government in Brazil
In 2008, Hellerstein & Associates recently conducted a pre-feasibility studies (Definitional Mission) funded by USTDA for Public Private Partnerships to develop e-government datacenter complex in the State of Minas Gerais. The new data center will provide technological underpinning for Minas Gerais's program of public administration reform and modernization, which has been a centerpiece of Govornor Aecio Neves two administrations (2003-2006 and 2007-2010). In this study we assessed and evaluated any alternative study or activities that were viable options for USTDA consideration; identified implementation risks, suggested appropriate mitigation measures, assessed the projects risks, its financial viability, the extent of political/ social/organizational support, potential sources of financing, the capability and experience of the projects sponsors, identified several models for the State of Minas Gerais to use, and prepared terms of reference for the proposed feasibility study. USTDA approved this project and issued an RFP for the feasibility Study.
Also in 2008, Hellerstein & Associates provided e-government and ICT assistance to the USTDA for the Federal District of Brasilia and the states of Acre, Rio De Janeiro, Espirto Santo on ICT related projects including a Multi-sector Technology Park in Brasilia, a Broadband Fiber Network for the State of Acre and an e-government study trip for Mayors of the States of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo. We assisted both states and the Federal District to develop pre-feasibility studies analyzing the viability of these ICT projects; assessing the project's risks, its financial viability, the extent of political/ social/organizational support, potential sources of financing, the potential US exports resulting from the project, and the capability and experience of the project's sponsors. We also assessed and evaluated all alternative studies or activities for USTDA consideration; identified implementation risks and appropriate mitigation measures; and prepared terms of reference and budgets for the proposed feasibility studies an orientations visits. USTDA approved grants for all three projects following our recommendations and issued RFPs.
In 2005-2006, Hellerstein & Associates conducted two pre-feasibility studies (Definitional Missions) funded by USTDA for Public Private Partnerships to develop e-government infrastructure projects in the States of Sao Paulo and Ceara. This project worked with the States of Sao Paulo and Ceara to develop feasibility studies analyzing the viability of Government Communication's Network projects. In this project, Hellerstein & Associates consultants assessed the projects risks, its financial viability, the political/social/organizational support, potential sources of financing, and the capability and experience of the project's sponsors. We also identified several models from which States of Sao Paulo and Ceara may wish to proceed and prepare terms of reference for the proposed feasibility studies. These studies were funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). Two of the projects involve data centers (one each in Sao Paulo and Ceara), and one an intragovernmental voice, data and video network (Rede Intragov) in Sao Paulo.
National Telecom Sector Policy Work
Hellerstein & Associates consultants provided the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) with a detailed review and diagnostic of the telecom sector in Liberia; formulated sector growth expectations, realistic goals and actions including key recommendations for sector growth; formulated a strategy to improve competitiveness and competition in the provision of services in Liberia; and maximized the pro-competitive contribution of public assets, including a strategy for private participation in Liberia Telecommunications Company (LTC), the incumbent operator.
Hellerstein & Associates consultants developed and created a national telecom policy and a telecom strategy document, which included detailed goals for the telecom sector an action plan to achieve these goals, and also held a successful workshop where the national telecom policy issues were actively debated and discussed among Government officials, industry, other stakeholders, and donors.
Most Recent Newsletter
Updated Newsletter Demographics from August 2001: Telecom & Technology Review: Demographics
 |
 |
Copyright 1998-2008 Hellerstein & Associates
Please send your questions or comments to judith at jhellerstein dot com - Hellerstein & Associates.
Web site design by 
Washington, DC
Registry