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Campaign Promises; WiFi Internet.
Topic Started: Oct 16 2007, 04:40 PM (596 Views)
Deleted User
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I get the feeling that candidates toss around wireless internet or WiFi (wireless fidelity) like it will be a free service for all of Livonia, or rather that may be peoples perception. My guess is we would be looking at something more like this.....

3/1/2006
Mayor Street Announces Signing of Agreements With Earthlink to Bring Wireless Access to Every Philadelphia Neighborhood

Project Will Make Philadelphia Nation’s Largest WiFi Hotspot with No Cost to Taxpayer

PHILADELPHIA - Mayor John F. Street announced today that four agreements have been signed allowing EarthLink and Wireless Philadelphia to bring wireless Internet service to every City neighborhood. When fully implemented, the initiative will turn Philadelphia into the nation’s largest WiFi hotspot and help to improve education, bridge the digital divide, enhance neighborhood development, and reduce the costs of government.

“When I first announced the plan to bring wireless Internet to every neighborhood, I said we would do so because we must prepare our citizens and businesses to face the challenges of the 21 st Century,” Mayor Street said. “Just as roads and transportation were keys to our past, wireless technology and digital infrastructure are keys to our future. With these agreements signed today, our original vision will be realized and every Philadelphian will benefit. This is a tremendous step forward for our City and our citizens.”

“EarthLink is excited to work with the City and Wireless Philadelphia to begin building the largest municipal wireless broadband network in the United States,” said Donald Berryman, executive vice president of EarthLink and president of its’ municipal networks unit. “This partnership is an important step in shrinking the digital divide and bringing low-cost, high-speed Internet service to the visitors, businesses and residents of Philadelphia.”

Under the agreements, EarthLink will build, manage and maintain a wireless network over the City’s 135 square miles at no cost to taxpayers. EarthLink will install transmittal devices on approximately 4,000 of the City’s street lamp pole arms for which it will pay the City. In addition, EarthLink will provide City residents and visitors with free hotspots in 22 locations around Philadelphia, and provide the City with 3,000 free or discounted WiFi accounts and 700 discounted T-1 accounts to be used at the City’s option.

Wireless agreements signed/Add two

“I’m proud of all the hard work Wireless Philadelphia and our Administration did to achieve these agreements, which will provide a true benefit to our citizens - at no cost to them,” Mayor Street said. “This is an opportunity we have seized as we continue building on all the momentum growing in Philadelphia over the last few years. Creating a citywide wireless network is yet another accomplishment distinguishing our vibrant City as we compete in the national and international marketplace.”

Wireless Philadelphia, a non-profit entity incorporated by Mayor Street last March, will use the revenues it receives from EarthLink (5 percent of access revenue) and other monies raised to invest in educational and social programs to help Philadelphia citizens. $2 million of the amount EarthLink pays to the City also will be used for programs to help bridge the digital divide. Initial plans include purchasing 10,000 discounted computers for children and low-income residents to use and for associated training programs. Wireless Philadelphia will also be responsible for building awareness of the program among audiences across the City.

The costs of the service will be geared to users’ different needs. Economically disadvantaged users will be charged $9.95 a month while other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be charged a wholesale rate that allows them to sell access for $20 a month or less to retail customers.

To implement this transaction, City Council needs to approve two ordinances, a street-light use agreement between the City and PAID and a management agreement between the City and Wireless Philadelphia. Both ordinances will be transmitted shortly to Council.

“We will work closely with City Council as they consider these ordinances necessary to make this exciting program a reality,” Mayor Street said. “Building a wireless network is another major step forward for our world-class City. It’s tremendous news for Philadelphia.”



http://ework.phila.gov/philagov/news/prelease.asp?id=233
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Deleted User
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City, county Wi-Fi plans questioned

Mich. communities move to offer service while other states pull back.

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News


Michigan municipalities are plunging forward on multimillion dollar plans to blanket cities with free Internet access, despite years of delays, complaints about service and high-profile failures nationwide.

St. Louis, Chicago and San Francisco recently scaled back projects because of low demand and problems with providers. In Metro Detroit, Oakland and Washtenaw counties' efforts are at least a year behind schedule, while Macomb's attempt ground to a halt this year when money ran out.

"It's a grand idea, but the implementation is fraught with pitfalls. It's kind of a waste," said Kirk McNeil, a Livonia-based consultant for e-commerce business development.

Municipal wireless, known as Wi-Fi, may have been a smart investment five years ago, but consumers are now far more likely to connect in restaurants, libraries or with their own satellite cards, he said.

Still, the dream of seamless coverage as a way to lure high-paying, high-tech jobs to Michigan is tantalizing. Last month, Livingston County officials announced a four-community pilot program in early 2008, while Livonia may follow suit.

Wi-Fi service providers in Oakland and Washtenaw say they've retooled plans that caused delays and have the services back on track. Both counties were supposed to extend the service countywide by now, but it's confined to small pockets of each.

As a pioneer in the networks, Oakland had no "roadmap to follow" but its 13,000 users far exceed expectations, said Phil Bertolini, Oakland County's deputy executive.

"We'd love the project to be faster, but the reality is we have to do it right the first time," he said. "Hopefully people will be patient."

And even if the networks fail, taxpayers aren't on the hook. Private operators foot the bill in hopes of recouping costs with online ads and upgrades for faster services. So far, though, Oakland has persuaded only a few hundred users to pay $20 for upgrades to the $70 million network.

Oakland's project, which County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced in 2005 and hoped to extend countywide by 2006, was delayed by design problems and difficulty placing access points to extend the network. Some were impeded by trees or buildings.

"We've had to go back several times and make sure we have the right design. It's an evolving process," he said.

The service, operated and funded by MichTel Communications of Pontiac, is now available in 18.5 square miles in pockets of Royal Oak, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Troy, Birmingham, Wixom and Pontiac.

That leaves about 900 square miles.

"It works and it's useful," said James Kumer, 19, of Royal Oak who uses the free service every day.

But others who've tried the service say it's a pain.

Oakland Community College student Claire Balmas said the network repeatedly locked her out and gave her laptop a virus.

"Nobody I know uses it," said Balmas, 19, of Royal Oak.

Businesses are skeptical, too.

"It hangs up when you are trying to connect," said Charlie Wollborg, a partner at Curve Detroit, an advertising, marketing and design firm in Pontiac. "As a company, it's not something we could rely on for business. It's a great idea, but bad execution."

Washtenaw officials still hope to blanket 720 square miles by spring, but the $20 million network now extends over 15 square miles in Ann Arbor, Saline and Manchester. Project manager James McFarlane blamed delays on the merger of project partners.

So far, the county of 344,000 residents has 700 registered users and 80 subscribers who paid for upgrades.

In Macomb, Southfield-based MICA Networks invested about $100,000 for free wireless in downtown Mount Clemens. The company offers unlimited high-speed networks for all users and has yet to develop a profitable plan, acknowledged its president, Norm Estigoy.

The network was built atop rooftops and light poles of private and municipal facilities. The city was supposed to secure rights to them. It didn't, so the company -- and network -- could get "kicked off" anytime, Estigoy said.

Now, the company is reluctant to invest money to extend the network, he said.

Supporters say the delays are inevitable in a competitive, fast-changing industry. But they say the payoff is huge: Wi-Fi will give communities a competitive edge, improve quality of life and lure businesses.

"It'll be beneficial for education, business attraction and all types of things," said Scott Goemmel, a partner of PMV Technologies of Troy. "We're thinking about tomorrow and setting the stage for our kids and grandkids."

Even with the problems, Oakland appears to now have one of the best models of the 400 municipalities nationwide exploring or working on networks, said Joe Panettieri, editor in chief of MuniWireless.com.

In fact, projects proposed in Livingston and Livonia are based on Oakland's model.

Livingston's project should start early next year in Brighton and the townships of Brighton, Hamburg and Green Oak, and extend throughout the county by the end of 2009. Costs aren't yet known.

Livonia mayoral candidate Jack Kirksey has pledged to take the city wireless. He will host a town hall meeting on the topic Oct. 22.


http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...130367/1001/BIZ
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D2ns
Advanced Member
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We had a guest speaker at a Save Our Youth Task Force meeting who discussed wireless Internet. I'm waiting for a reply, I remember him speaking of the downfalls and security risks with Wireless Internet, I believe he said Farmington or Farminton Hills already has the wireless internet and mentioned the risks with it. When I hear back, I'll post his message.
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Queen of Hearts
Advanced Member
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You can find out more information on Jack Kirksey's WiFi plan by attending the Citywide WiFi Initiative meeting:

Click here
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Deleted User
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Queen of Hearts
Oct 16 2007, 05:21 PM
You can find out more information on Jack Kirksey's WiFi plan by attending the Citywide WiFi Initiative meeting:

Click here

There will be questions taken. I don't know who will be answering them, but this would be a good time to find out the negatives and ask the hard questions. Will they wait till the BOE meeting is over before they start?


I am not saying if this is good or bad. I am just providing a different viewpoint. One you will not get Monday.
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jolly rancher
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D2ns
Oct 16 2007, 04:03 PM
We had a guest speaker at a Save Our Youth Task Force meeting who discussed wireless Internet. I'm waiting for a reply, I remember him speaking of the downfalls and security risks with Wireless Internet, I believe he said Farmington or Farminton Hills already has the wireless internet and mentioned the risks with it. When I hear back, I'll post his message.

Most of Oakland County has WiFi.
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municipal broadband digging beneath the surface

http://www.balhoffrowe.com/pdf/Municipal%2...e%20Surface.pdf
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Municipal Broadband Networks

Introduction


http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=80313
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The Municipal Broadband Compact
Limiting the Role of Municipalities in Broadband Services



Preamble

The role of municipalities in the provision of broadband services is a subject of much debate. An increasing number of local governments are proposing either to build and operate broadband networks for residential and business use, or to develop broadband infrastructure for wholesale lease to commercial service providers. But to allow townships, cities, counties and even states to directly compete against the private sector undermines technological progress and violates fundamental principles of American free enterprise.

As scholars and analysts specializing in broadband policy, we recently convened online to examine the issue. Empirical research and economic rationale guided our deliberations, as well as the recommendations that conclude this Compact. (The signatories are listed at the end of this document.)

Findings

Currently, a relatively small number of municipalities and public utility districts provide broadband services via cable modem or telephone lines. Proposals for such systems are pending in a variety locales; hundreds of other communities are actively considering publicly owned and operated wireless Internet systems or some form of "public-private partnership."

Some elected officials seem to believe that government deployment of broadband will attract high-tech jobs and business investment to their region. Ironically, publicly subsidized broadband services actually discourage private investment. To the extent government assumes the role of service provider, there is less opportunity and incentive for a private firm to enter the market. Moreover, municipalities have largely proven to be incapable of keeping pace with technological change.

There is no evidence of the "market failure" that might otherwise excuse government intervention in broadband service. Penetration rates and bandwidth supply are rapidly rising, while broadband prices are falling. Meanwhile, many — if not most — of the municipal systems that provide residential service fail to generate enough revenue to repay the public debt incurred to create them.

Principles

The following principles are necessary elements of sound broadband policy:

Internet-based commerce must be allowed to operate according to consumer demand and market forces, unburdened by price controls, service mandates, access regulations, taxation or censorship.


Rules governing Internet use and electronic commerce should result from private collective action, not government edict.


Protection of private property rights is a necessary condition for the profitability and growth of the digital economy.


Government can best encourage broadband deployment by eliminating tax and regulatory barriers to broadband investment and market competition.


Technological innovation has rendered existing regulations wholly obsolete. Outmoded regulatory regimes threaten to undermine the affordability and availability of new products and services.


Municipal interference in broadband displaces private investment, distorts prices and forces taxpayers to subsidize services they may not use.
Recommendations

To optimize broadband deployment, we recommend the following:

Access to broadband can often be expanded by eliminating unnecessary regulations that delay, raise the cost, or even effectively ban the construction of new network facilities.


Municipalities and other local units of government should be prohibited from investing in, managing or operating broadband infrastructure and services.


Congress should restrict the authority of states to regulate and tax broadband infrastructure and services in the interest of preserving interstate commerce.


Telecom taxes and cable franchise fees should be eliminated to encourage investment in broadband services.
Signed:

Sonia Arrison
Director, Technology Studies
Pacific Research Institute

Joseph L. Bast
President
The Heartland Institute

Bill Becker
Executive Director
The Maine Heritage Policy Center

John Berthoud
President
National Taxpayers Union

Greg Blankenship
Director
Illinois Policy Institute

Steve Buckstein
Senior Policy Analyst and founder
Cascade Policy Institute
Portland, Oregon

Braden Cox
Technology Counsel
Competitive Enterprise Institute

Donn Dears
President
TS August

Tom Giovanetti
President
Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI)

Matthew Hisrich
Policy Analyst
The Buckeye Institute

Drew Johnson
President
Tennessee Center for Policy Research

Diane Katz
Director of Science, Environment & Technology Policy
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Matt Kibbe
President and CEO
FreedomWorks

Kris Alan Mauren
Executive Director
Acton Institute

Jeffrey Mazzella
President
Center for Individual Freedom

Edmund J. McMahon Jr.
Director, Empire Center for New York State Policy
Senior Fellow for Tax and Budget Studies Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

Paul T. Mero
President
Sutherland Institute

Dr. Adrian Moore
Vice President
Reason Foundation

Grover Norquist
President
Americans for Tax Reform

Tom Readmond
Executive Director
Media Freedom Project

Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D.
Director, Urban and Land Use Policy
Reason Foundation

David M Strom
President
Taxpayers League of Minnesota

Daniel Mead Smith
President
Washington Policy Center

Bret Swanson
Senior Fellow
Discovery Institute

Steven Titch
Senior Fellow
The Heartland Institute

Vince Vasquez
Policy Fellow
Pacific Research Institute


http://www.reason.org/telecom/municipalbro...ndcompact.shtml
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Beware of Tech Geeks Bearing Gifts
Former FTC deputy director of policy planning
wary of municipal broadband plans


With hundreds of local governments considering getting into the broadband business, a new report warns that cities shouldn't fool themselves into believing that their experience running water, gas and electricity systems has prepared them for the fast moving Internet world. The Reason Foundation study written by Jerry Ellig, former deputy director and acting director of the Federal Trade Commission's Office of Policy Planning, outlines seven key factors that municipal officials should fully address before moving forward with plans for municipal broadband and Wi-Fi to ensure that the projects are technologically and financially viable. The study also cautions city officials to beware of "geeks bearing gifts," suggesting that companies like EarthLink and Google are interested in providing free Wi-Fi because the deals will give them rights-of-way and valuable access to public infrastructure like light and telephone poles.

http://www.reason.org/telecom/
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Enough to make you dizzy here....

http://www.ipdemocracy.com/archives/municipal_broadband/
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Municipal Report: Bogus Experts, Bogus Concern
Faking interest in broadband deployment to maximize revenue
(old news - 08:31PM Tuesday Oct 31 2006)
tags: competition·business·Op/Ed

Editorial: Outfits such as the Reason Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Heartland Foundation are free-market think tanks that proudly proclaim that eliminating government oversight in the broadband sector will result in broadband utopia. Their editorials and position papers insist they are concerned with "optimizing broadband deployment" in this country. However the real agenda, as always, is maximizing revenue for themselves and their constituents by eliminating all regulation, creating an utterly toothless regulatory authority, and letting the nation's largest corporations run wild.

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/79247
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