Minneapolis Wi-Fi: Time to Pull the Contract?
From:
Peter Fleck
Date:
Mar 21 03:12 UTC
Short link
Here is a prototype of the Wi-Fi civic garden (free content).
http://wirelessminneapolis.org/
Peter Fleck
Seward Neighborhood
On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 4:00 PM, Madeline Douglass <<email obscured>> wrote:
> Although it's true that U.S. Internet implementation
> of the Minneapolis Wi-Fi network has been slower than
> we all hoped, and they've encountered problems with
> trees, water, and the mesh beneath the all too pervasive
> stucco.
>
> They seem to be making a effort to resolve
> these issues, at least I've noticed some extra amplifying
hardware...something like square white thingy attached to the mini-keggers and
the double wands...on the telephone poles
>
> We could have gone with the vendor St. Louis
> Park hired...
>
> http://www.startribune.com/local/west/14166576.html
>
> Reports to this list about Wi-Fi service and U.S. Internets customer service
have varied...and the
> extra cost for a Ruckus modem was a surprise...
> the difficulties and dead spots could be the growing
> pains of innovation, or they may be a symptom of the
> unending money pit and frustration that new technology
> or software can cause.
>
> There should be a way to:
>
> Evaluate how the Wi-Fi is working for the police and
> fire depts and any other city depts using it. Are
> we getting our $mil or are they experiencing serious
> problems?
>
> I'm guessing there's an enormous wall map somewhere
> documenting all the "dead spots"...if there isn't
> there should be one.
>
> Seems like even the priviledged can inhabit these as I've heard that the
neighborhood round Lake of the Isles is a dead spot. But maybe the brass at
Qwest or Comcast live
> in Kenwood or Lowry Hills!
>
> Hopefully there is a strategy to make the dead spots "live" without an
expensive shift to
> an entirely different technology.
>
> U.S. Internet set up a Wi-Fi and webcam network so
> quickly and efficiently after the 35W bridge collapse...
> an event that's earned them national acclaim, but they
> still should be accountable for providing residential
> Wi-Fi service.
>
> Another positive is the Community Benefits agreement
> and the opportunity for neighborhoods and citizens to
> create content for and use Wi-Fi internet...but this
> work also needs to happen without extensive delay.
> This too is receiving national attention.
>
> Can anyone who is a subscribe report on the community
> info suppose to be available for free?
>
> U.S. Internet may need more time...but not too much time...and someone needs
to be continuously assessing service availability and quality...
>
>
> Here are some good sources of info:
>
> http://www.pfhyper.com/weblog/blogger.html
>
> http://www.digitalaccess.org/
>
>
> Madeline Douglass
> Kingfield
> Downtown East
>
> Madeline Douglass
> Kingfield, Minneapolis
> Info about Madeline Douglass:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/madelinedouglass
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/6aTAgjFW1HDPCpFjqXrpxt
>
>
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--
Peter Fleck
Blog: http://www.pfhyper.com/blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfhyper
<email obscured>