Organizers boast tech-savvy convention

From flooding YouTube with pithy political ads to launching a faux social networking Web site to expose controversial "friends" of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, Republicans are clamoring to be cool in the Internet age.

Comment on this article in The Forum.Investing in new media and online outreach has become a cornerstone of the campaign to get Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., elected, and that movement will reach its zenith at the Republican National Convention this week.

Organizers want Minneapolis/St. Paul to be the most tech-savvy convention in history, and it appears that goal will be met if the list of contracts with big-name brands is any indication.

The convention credentialed 15,000 journalists from around the world and close to 200 bloggers from nearly every state, up from only a dozen in 2004.

"We understand and appreciate the importance of the blogosphere in providing information and shaping public opinion," convention spokeswoman Joanna Burgos said, noting that bloggers and media outlets are being treated as equals in most respects.

Many citizen journalists, though, might have gotten sticker shock once they saw how much they would be charged for an Internet hook-up -- anywhere from $850 to $53,550 for four days of high-speed service from Qwest, the official communications provider. The price is actually lower than the fee charged in 2004 and it includes on-site repairs, a Qwest official said.

Bloggers also have other options, such as using their own wireless Internet cards or filing for free on computers in the Republican National Convention's press room.

Within and around the Xcel Energy Center, cellular bandwidth has also gotten a boost, and wireless providers are increasing their coverage capabilities to accommodate the expected usage surge, Burgos said. More than 20 miles of coaxial, data and voice cable and 4,500 data and analog lines make it all possible.

Additional high-tech highlights include:

• Google was tapped as the convention's official innovation provider to enhance the GOP's Web presence with new applications, search tools, and interactive video.

• YouTube, which is owned by Google, is also hosting a convention channel where visitors can upload, view and share online videos. YouTube upload booths are scattered throughout the convention hall so attendees can create video content and commentary.

• Microsoft is the convention's official technology provider, offering support for computer operating systems, security and communications. Microsoft is also helping streamline convention infrastructure from collaborative virtual workspaces to volunteer management systems. In addition, the company's touch-screen technology is serving as a digital concierge with tips on transportation, dining and entertainment.

• Hewlett-Packard is supplying printing and desktop and notebook computers as the convention's mobility and digital output solutions provider. The company has supported the past three Republican and Democratic conventions; this year's contributions are valued at more than $500,000 apiece, HP's top lobbyist Gary Fazzino said.

After the big event, the equipment will be given to area schools and nonprofits, he said. Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is an economic adviser to McCain.

• Qwest Communications is serving as the official communications provider of the convention, offering high-speed Internet; voice and data lines; hosting services; network management and technical support. In anticipation of the big event, the telecommunications giant -- based in Denver, the site of the Democratic National Convention -- ramped up its fiber infrastructure in and around the Xcel Center. Qwest is providing "enough fiber to run two major corporations," a spokeswoman said.

• Ustream.TV is serving as the convention's live video streaming provider and ShadowTV was named broadcast monitoring provider.

Ustream will enable anyone with a video camera, computer, and Internet connection to broadcast gavel-to-gavel convention coverage online.

ShadowTV will offer organizers live and archived digital broadcast footage of convention news reported by any of the 250-plus TV stations the firm monitors.

Unisys was tapped to be the official IT managed services provider, which will help maintain efficient day-to-day operations from monitoring convention servers to manning the IT help desk.

Republican consultant Phil Musser said his party has realized "we've been failing to communicate effectively with a large demographic of the American population" because more Americans are turning to the Web for political information. Historically, the GOP's strategy has been "to project its message at people through TV, phone and mail," but the 2008 campaign represents a paradigm shift, he said. The stakes are high, he added. "If we fail, we have serious problems with our ability to compete in the future."