Tag Archives: Municipal WiFi

Schumer Pushes $50m for Rural Wi-Fi

Posted on August 16, 2006 | Comments Off

There might be hope for those of us in rural areas for reasonable broadband access.

Wi-Fi Networking News
Wi-Fi Networking News reports nearly daily on all the news associated with wireless networking.

Schumer Pushes $50m for Rural Wi-Fi

By Glennf on Rural

Wireless Week reports on Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) proposal: The Senator would like to get $50m added to an existing Department of Agriculture rural broadband program to provide funds or tax breaks to get more Wi-Fi built out in smaller towns and rural areas. Wireless Week wonders if this would affect EarthLink or other metro-scale network contractors, but notes that the funds would go to towns almost certainly below these companies’ scale of operations.

In a recent podcast with Don Berryman, EarthLink’s head of municipal networking, he said that the company has to work by the number of houses passed as a metric for whether to bid on contracts. That metric led them to give a pass on the Smart Valley wireless project in Silicon Valley.

 

 

 

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Story on Municipal WiFi from USA Today.

Posted on April 21, 2006 | Comments Off

The story linked to below provides a great overview of the current state of municipal WiFi networks.  If you are interested in this topic, it is a must read.

USATODAY.com – High hopes grow for big, new wireless networks

High hopes grow for big, new wireless networks
Posted 4/20/2006 9:35 PM ET

By Michelle Kessler, USA TODAY
SAN FRANCISCO — Officials in San Francisco have high hopes for the giant wireless Internet network that soon will span this hilly city.

Mayor Gavin Newsom has said that the Wi-Fi network, being built through a partnership with Internet service provider EarthLink and search giant Google, will help eliminate the “digital divide” by providing free Web access to nearly every home and business.

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Big Stink in New Orleans WiFi

Posted on March 31, 2006 | Comments Off

This article from Daily Wireless talks about the ongoing controversy on getting WiFi up and running in New Orleans.  Be sure to read the full story! – Bill Drew

Daily Wireless <http://dailywireless.org>

Big Stink in NOLA <http://dailywireless.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5286>

New Orleans decided last fall to convert its Tropos-based WiFi public service network, used for emergency personnel, into a free Wi-Fi service. But, as USA Today recounts this week <http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2006-03-28-new-orleans-wifi_x.htm> , it has ruffled the feathers of BellSouth which says the city’s network is illegal.

The city got around the state-wide ban on municipal wireless because the governor declared a state of emergency after Hurricane Katrina. But the state of emergency is expected to be lifted this year. happens, the broadband network would have to shut down:

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Phila. Closes Deal with EarthLink, Releases Terms

Posted on March 2, 2006 | Comments Off
 It looks like EarthLink is the winner in Philadelphia muni wi-fi


Wi-Fi Networking News
Wi-Fi Networking News reports nearly daily on all the news associated with wireless networking.

Phila. Closes Deal with EarthLink, Releases Terms

By Glennf on Municipal

The AP reports that Philadelphia has signed its contracts with EarthLink: The deal includes 4,000 utility poles and $300,000 in utility payments from EarthLink per year plus $2 million in advance payments against revenue. These funds will be used to purchase 10,000 computers and training for low-income families; Phila. has a huge computer ownership gap as well as broadband and Internet access gap. The non-profit Wireless Philadelphia will receive five percent of EarthLink’s revenue, which is roughly the same as cable franchise fees. EarthLink will also provide $9.95 per month accounts for up to 25,000 low-income households, and 22 free Wi-Fi hotspots around down.  l 

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A Must Read!

Posted on February 21, 2006 | Comments Off
The Wireless Report is a must read if you have any interest at all in Municipal Wi-Fi networks available to all. Michael Sciannamea provides a crisp clear analysis of what is going on. He is an enthusiastic supporter of Municipal Wi-Fi. He understands the Digital Divide and the fact that the divide is getting worse. The only problem I have is a lack of reporting on problems in rural areas. The report is available via RSS.

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