I'm a Saint Paul resident...would there be any point to me sending my thoughts on the issue to the Minneapolis city leaders? I think they'd listen better to Minneapolis residents. At 12:17 PM 11/18/2003 -0600, you wrote: >This would essentially be a wireless infrastructure system >for the city's networking purposes, with the added 'bonus' >of wireless internet access to those who fall within the >zone of wireless coverage. The assumption now--based on >what the vendors are saying to the city, I take it--is that >there will be a charge for the service to regular joes. The >motivation is appparently--and many cities are trying for >this--to be the 'first' wireless city in the nation. > >It raises issues as to how 'free' internet access should be >if supplied by the government or a government approved >vendor. The best way to think about it is to compare how >cable television monopolies are created through cable >franchise fees. In return for the cable company providing >the infrastructure in the city, the company receives >regulated revenues that are generated from end users. Same >goes for this apparent wireless initiative. But, there are >also public access and community input issues that go with >cable TV and so should there be with wireless internet. > >Once a deal is cut with the vendor, there's little room to >negotiate any free or reduced fee services for the public >(or, for that matter, funds for WUGs in the city). Thus, if >folks want wireless ISP access available to them for free or >for substantially reduced cost, this is the time to pressure >the city to take that into account. > >Gregory Luce > >_______________________________________________ >Twin Cities Wireless Users Group Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota >http://www.tcwug.org >tcwug-list at tcwug.org >https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tcwug-list > > "If you're reading this, read it again." _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Wireless Users Group Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota http://www.tcwug.org tcwug-list at tcwug.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tcwug-list