EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Household use of broadband Internet service has risen dramatically during the first decade of the 21st century as the Internet has become integral to the lives of most Americans. Nonetheless, not everyone uses broadband Internet – either by choice or because they lack access. This report, prepared jointly by the Commerce Department’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), explores differences in broadband Internet use among households.

SUMMARY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996 (PERA), the Department of Commerce analyzed changes in propane prices relative to other energy sources. The report presents the relevant price data and concludes that propane prices continue to exceed the threshold established by PERA. As a result, certain activities of the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) are restricted. The Department of Commerce will conduct an analysis every 180 days, as required by the Act.

Summary

This report documents the changes in women-owned businesses over time, explores disparities in the characteristics of businesses owned by women as compared to those owned by men, and discusses potential reasons for these disparities and the different outcomes that are associated with them.  The focus is on proprietorships, partnerships, or any type of privately-held corporation with one or more owners.  Publicly-held companies are not included.  Highlights include:

Abstract

Summary

The BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, situated about 50 miles off the coast of southern Louisiana, exploded on April 20, 2010, resulting in 11 deaths, 17 injuries, and one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. In response, the Secretary of the Interior exercised his authority to suspend certain deepwater drilling activities. Given uncertainty about the adequacy of existing safety regulations, the moratorium provided time to determine whether and how deepwater drilling could continue in a safe and environmentally-sound manner. The current moratorium is in effect until November 30, 2010. This report estimates the economic consequences of this moratorium in the five Gulf Coast states.