Wireless Cities Being Abandoned

Posted by Leslie Poston on March 24th, 2008

The utopian ideal of cities blanketed in free WiFi hotspots, with communal access for all as the “great equalizer”, is slowly being abandoned by ISPs and city governments as the cost of implementation hits their bottom lines. Two main proponents of bringing WiFi to municipalities across the United states have been Google and Earthlink, and in fact several projects have been started by both companies in recent years.

The momentum for the projects is failing, even after a year of concerted effort, just as we predicted. Why? Cost, mainly. As Earthlink, Google and other companies try and roll out WiFi hotspots in cities across the nation, they are stymied by the cost of making a seamless WiFi network a viable option.

When they set up the initial hotspots, most cities allow them to put their equipment on telephone poles and other nearby structures. This works great for a single hotspot or a downtown hub. When it comes time to expand the network, problems arise. When it comes time for the process of adding poles and towers to bring the WiFi access to the people who need it most - those in outlying areas and the poor - the cost is prohibitive.

There were high hopes that Google getting the open network clause into the purchase restrictions for the 700mhz spectrum would open it up to the masses for everything from cell phones to internet access. Verizon, the big winner, is planning to open access, but they have placed restrictions on the access to help preserve their bottom line and offset costs. This means that only those able to afford the necessary devices will be able to access the open part of the spectrum. This hardly helps the rural or the disenfranchised.

Other countries have experimented with other means of delivering broadband wireless access to the masses. Most notable of these was Australia's ambitious BPL (broadband over powerline) initiative. This initiative was recently tabled, due to a combination of cost and problems with delivery of broadband interfering with some of the utilities operating on the same lines.

With cost of delivery and implementation such an issue, it is obvious that a new solution must be reached. In order for America to remain competitive in the technology sector and stop the hemorrhaging of jobs to other countries, we need everyone to have access to an affordable and uncensored broadband connection. With the government stretched too thin on military spending and a credit crisis and recession fully under way, government subsidies aren't the answer.

What is the answer? I think we need to find a solution to the problem that takes after the Open Source software model, rising in popularity. Offer discounts to homeowners for sharing connections or acting as a connecting point. Offer free access to homeowners who allow towers to be built on their land, or who sponsor a tower being built. Avoid partnerships with big business - they will want to censor the internet, which would defeat the purpose. But America could be the first country to offer some kid of open, cooperative, low cost broadband plan. We have the technology. We have the infrastructure. Do we have the courage?

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