Comments on: City-wide WiFi plans reduced to pipe dreams http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2008/03/22/city-wide-wifi-plans-reduced-to-pipe-dreams/ Technology news Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:15:02 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ken http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/03/22/city-wide-wifi-plans-reduced-to-pipe-dreams/comment-page-1/#comment-80460 Ken Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:47:52 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2008/03/22/city-wide-wifi-plans-reduced-to-pipe-dreams/#comment-80460 I don't know how much it sucks. You can already get internet access in most cities for around the same money. If for profit businesses can't make the numbers work, it's pretty doubtful having local government run things isn't going to turn into a black hole money pit. I'm willing to bet most people have an idea of what wireless means. The name isn't exactly esoteric. AT&T has a $10 a month plan with a free modem. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/Jun/20/att-quietly-offers-10-broadband/ Will the city hire tech support staff? DNS Service? Will we be suppling computers to the people that are too poor to currently have wireless? What about security? Proxy servers to filter objectionable material (you know the lawsuits are coming when little Johnny finds porn)? It could probably work ok in a small town or city. In large cities, you'll have government cutting out for profit businesses, and it won't give the private sector any reason to expand and upgrade the infrastructure. I'd rather have more firemen and police officers. Good intentions, bad idea. I don’t know how much it sucks. You can already get internet access in most cities for around the same money. If for profit businesses can’t make the numbers work, it’s pretty doubtful having local government run things isn’t going to turn into a black hole money pit.

I’m willing to bet most people have an idea of what wireless means. The name isn’t exactly esoteric.

AT&T has a $10 a month plan with a free modem.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/Jun/20/att-quietly-offers-10-broadband/

Will the city hire tech support staff? DNS Service? Will we be suppling computers to the people that are too poor to currently have wireless? What about security? Proxy servers to filter objectionable material (you know the lawsuits are coming when little Johnny finds porn)?

It could probably work ok in a small town or city. In large cities, you’ll have government cutting out for profit businesses, and it won’t give the private sector any reason to expand and upgrade the infrastructure.

I’d rather have more firemen and police officers. Good intentions, bad idea.

]]> By: Leslie Poston http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/03/22/city-wide-wifi-plans-reduced-to-pipe-dreams/comment-page-1/#comment-80427 Leslie Poston Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:40:58 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2008/03/22/city-wide-wifi-plans-reduced-to-pipe-dreams/#comment-80427 It sucks, and its really an education problem. A vast majority of the population just doesn't understand what WiFi is, what it means to people, why it would be a good thing,, etc so they don't behind charging for what they see as a frivolous service. Then you get the wackjobs who think WiFi transmissions might cause cancer and birth defects who fight the installation of additional towers and pole. sigh It sucks, and its really an education problem. A vast majority of the population just doesn’t understand what WiFi is, what it means to people, why it would be a good thing,, etc so they don’t behind charging for what they see as a frivolous service. Then you get the wackjobs who think WiFi transmissions might cause cancer and birth defects who fight the installation of additional towers and pole. sigh

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