Pete Ashdown
Encyclopedia
Peter Lynn "Pete" Ashdown (born January 11, 1967) is the founder and CEO of Utah
's first independent and oldest Internet service provider
, XMission
. In 2006 he challenged and lost to incumbent U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch
, running as the Democratic
candidate.
. His father worked as a machinist, an elementary school teacher, and a professor of manufacturing design at Salt Lake Community College
. His mother, an immigrant from Denmark
, ran the Ashdowns' family business of importing kitchenware
from Finland
. In his teen and young adult years, Ashdown held jobs of bussing tables at a Japan
ese restaurant, working for an electrical contractor, computer sales and repair, and data entry.
Ashdown graduated from Woods Cross High School in 1985 and attended Salt Lake Community College, subsequently transferring to the University of Utah
to study filmmaking
. While at the university, Ashdown began studying computer science
.
Throughout the early 1990s, Ashdown was a promoter and participant in rave
culture, importing acid house
music to Utah and throwing concerts with partner John Webster. Although these concerts played host to drugs such as ecstasy, Ashdown has stated that he did not participate, commenting that, "I never took drugs during the raves, and I never encouraged anyone to do so [...] I made an effort to not equate raves with drugs. A large reason why I left the scene is that it became more of a dealer and pusher situation."
While at the University of Utah, Ashdown was hired by local computer graphics firm Evans & Sutherland
as a computer operator and administrative assistant. After Ashdown's mother Greta died in 1990, his father urged him to start his own business. In 1993, at the age of 26, Ashdown formed the ISP
XMission with an investment from his father, and in 1994 left Evans & Sutherland.
In 1998, Pete married his wife Robin. They have three children, Madeleine, Henry, and Greta.
who filed to run against incumbent Republican Senator Orrin Hatch
in the 2006 Utah Senate election. Ashdown stated that he was "disgusted" by Hatch's policies regarding technology, notably the INDUCE Act
. He supports the goals of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
, and has stated the support for reforming copyright laws in support of initiatives taken by the EFF.
In July 2005, Ashdown was endorsed by the blog Boing Boing
for the election. Ashdown is believed to be one of the first politicians to use a wiki
to develop a campaign platform, although he has had to restrict editing due to excessive vandalism
.
Ashdown lost, and Hatch was re-elected with 62% of the vote, but Ashdown's showing of 31% was claimed to be strong against an entrenched incumbent, and the low amount of money spent by the Ashdown campaign (around $250,000).
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
's first independent and oldest Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
, XMission
XMission
XMission was the first and is one of the few remaining independent Internet Service Providers in Utah, United States, founded in late 1993 by Pete Ashdown. Starting in 2003, the company began providing free wireless in public libraries and some local businesses...
. In 2006 he challenged and lost to incumbent U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
, running as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate.
Early life, education, and career
Ashdown was born in Salt Lake City to Robert and Greta Ashdown, and grew up in Bountiful, UtahBountiful, Utah
Bountiful is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,552, a three percent increase over the 2000 figure of 41,301...
. His father worked as a machinist, an elementary school teacher, and a professor of manufacturing design at Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is the largest higher education institution with the most diverse student body in Utah . The College offers and operates throughout the Salt Lake valley. Even with its large student body, the College maintains a student to faculty ratio of just 20 to 1...
. His mother, an immigrant from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, ran the Ashdowns' family business of importing kitchenware
Kitchenware
Kitchenware include utensils, appliances, dishes, cookware, and so on for use in the kitchen.-See also:*Cookware and bakeware*Dishware*Drinkware*List of eating utensils*List of food preparation utensils*List of Japanese cooking utensils...
from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. In his teen and young adult years, Ashdown held jobs of bussing tables at a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese restaurant, working for an electrical contractor, computer sales and repair, and data entry.
Ashdown graduated from Woods Cross High School in 1985 and attended Salt Lake Community College, subsequently transferring to the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
to study filmmaking
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
. While at the university, Ashdown began studying computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
.
Throughout the early 1990s, Ashdown was a promoter and participant in rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
culture, importing acid house
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
music to Utah and throwing concerts with partner John Webster. Although these concerts played host to drugs such as ecstasy, Ashdown has stated that he did not participate, commenting that, "I never took drugs during the raves, and I never encouraged anyone to do so [...] I made an effort to not equate raves with drugs. A large reason why I left the scene is that it became more of a dealer and pusher situation."
While at the University of Utah, Ashdown was hired by local computer graphics firm Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland is a computer firm involved in the computer graphics field. Their products are used primarily by the military and large industrial firms for training and simulation, and in digital projection environments like planetariums.-History:...
as a computer operator and administrative assistant. After Ashdown's mother Greta died in 1990, his father urged him to start his own business. In 1993, at the age of 26, Ashdown formed the ISP
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
XMission with an investment from his father, and in 1994 left Evans & Sutherland.
In 1998, Pete married his wife Robin. They have three children, Madeleine, Henry, and Greta.
2006 U.S. Senate election
Ashdown was the only DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who filed to run against incumbent Republican Senator Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in the 2006 Utah Senate election. Ashdown stated that he was "disgusted" by Hatch's policies regarding technology, notably the INDUCE Act
Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act
The Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act, often abbreviated to just INDUCE Act, is a bill introduced in the United States Senate which targets "whoever intentionally induces any violation" of copyright. The name came from an earlier version named the "Inducement Devolves into Unlawful Child...
. He supports the goals of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an international non-profit digital rights advocacy and legal organization based in the United States...
, and has stated the support for reforming copyright laws in support of initiatives taken by the EFF.
In July 2005, Ashdown was endorsed by the blog Boing Boing
Boing Boing
Boing Boing is a publishing entity, first established as a magazine, later becoming a group blog.-History:...
for the election. Ashdown is believed to be one of the first politicians to use a wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
to develop a campaign platform, although he has had to restrict editing due to excessive vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
.
Ashdown lost, and Hatch was re-elected with 62% of the vote, but Ashdown's showing of 31% was claimed to be strong against an entrenched incumbent, and the low amount of money spent by the Ashdown campaign (around $250,000).