Chicago’s Fed Bank Adds VP Who Blogs

By Anna Marie Kukec

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago could be shaking off its conservative image and becoming a little more hip.

After all, it’s now blogging.

Visit the Chicago Fed’s updated Web site at midwest.chicagofedblogs.org and you’ll see Vice President and Senior Economist Bill Testa blogging – a first for the Chicago Fed.

He focuses on local economic issues and topics. It’s part of a new Midwest Economy section that provides facts and figures about Illinois and nearby states: www.chicagofed.org/ economic_research_and_data/midwest_economy_index .cfm.

“We do a lot of research and attend a lot of roundtables, all to gather information,” Testa said. “This blog is just one more vehicle to get information and also to assist people here with their growth and development plans in their communities.”

Testa plans to write three times a week, post responses and chat on issues.

As with any blog, some who respond express satisfaction with the new forum, while others wonder about postings.

“Some were surprised by the opinions being expressed because they thought the Chicago Fed was this ultra conservative and authoritative institution,” said Testa.

He said the blog is an expression of many of the researchers and economists, and not necessarily the opinion of the Chicago Fed itself. “I guess in a way you could say we’re dusting off that conservative and authoritative image,” he said.

Surfing: Motorola Inc. (www.motorola.com) played a significant role in Verizon Communication Inc.’ s launch last week of FiOS TV in Keller, Texas. FiOS is not cable or satellite TV, but television programming delivered by fiber optics. From the video head-end technology to the fiber network to the set-top boxes shipped to customer homes, Motorola is supporting the whole FiOS strategy, said a spokeswoman. It will be rolled out nationwide soon.

– Sprint said two Sony BMG entertainers – LaFace recording artist Ciara and J Records recording artist Mario – together have accounted for more than 1.5 million downloads of Music Tones, ringers created from actual songs to Sprint PCS Vision mobile phones.

– Illinois has launched a Web site (www.ilchildsupport.com) for Illinois employers to report their new hires. It will help the state’s child support enforcement officers locate delinquent parents and get them to set up payments.