[Advisors] Re: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: [governance] US: FCC proposes large public WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take sides
James Van Leeuwen
jvl at ventus.ca
Wed, 6 Feb 2013 08:20:09 -0700
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Helpful and timely insights Susan, thank you.=20
WiFi is our strongest leverage, given the number of devices on the =
market today that are WiFi-enabled.
I look forward to reading Alison Powell's thesis, as I expect it will =
add value to the initiative I mentioned to build the argument for the =
public common good.=20
Do you at least know the thesis title?
Also, if anyone else knows of materials that would assist in the effort, =
I would appreciate knowing about them.
James
On 2013-02-06, at 7:48 AM, "Susan O'Donnell" <susanodo@unb.ca> wrote:
> Hi all,
>=20
> James I've been enjoying your last few posts, thank you.=20
>=20
> I wanted to add some info to the situation in Fredericton, since the =
quote from our mayor Brad Woodside:=20
>=20
> "We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you =
for broadband?
>=20
> ... generated some discussion around free public access to wifi. The =
City of Fredericton launched the first municipally-run free-to-users =
public wifi network in Canada (as far as I understand). It WAS developed =
by municipal tax dollars (ie property tax) and became known as the Fred =
eZone. However the city is very business-oriented and the municipal =
fibre network that supports the Fred eZone and many other applications =
was developed primarily to attract and support business development in =
the downtown core (Fred eZone is also available on the university campus =
and the airport). Many other applications on the network are purely =
business-oriented. The fact that the free wifi can be accessed downtown =
by anyone is from the city's perspective a nice bonus to the core =
business. So it is a business and run as a business. I think it is a =
great model that can be replicated elsewhere.
>=20
> BTW, a case study of the Fred e-zone and the municipally-owned =
wireless network will be included in a Journal of Community Informatics =
issue available later this year, special issue on the "First Mile" of =
broadband infrastructure. The Fred e-Zone has also been the subject of =
at least one PhD dissertation by Alison Powell when she was with the =
CRACIN project. I just googled that and found only a few dead links - =
maybe someone else can circulate the publication.
>=20
> Thanks and regards,
> Susan
>=20
> Dr. Susan O'Donnell, Researcher and Adjunct Professor=20
> Department of Sociology, University of New Brunswick=20
> PO Box 1122, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5C2=20
> susanodo@unb.ca
> Office: 506-444-0374=20
> Cell: 506-238-7572=20
> http://videocom.firstnation.ca
> http://firstmile.ca
> From: cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net =
[cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net] on behalf of James Van =
Leeuwen [jvl@ventus.ca]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 4:26 AM
> To: Gary W Kenward
> Cc: michael gurstein; civicaccess discuss; =
cracin-canada@vancouvercommunity.net; advisors@tc.ca
> Subject: Re: [Advisors] Re: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: =
[governance] US: FCC proposes large public WiFi networks; tech, telecom =
giants take sides
>=20
> Gary,
>=20
> we are going to be raising taxes here in Alberta, because the dummies =
who run this place (voters) are finally realizing they can't have their =
cake and eat it too.
>=20
>=20
> And if anyone mentioned the notion of making universal access a right, =
it wasn't me.=20
>=20
> It's a notion fraught with numerous and intractable legal perils, and =
we literally can't afford to go there.=20
>=20
> So, good thing it's irrelevant.=20
>=20
>=20
> We are dealing here with a rather simple matter of collective =
self-interest, or at least, enlightened self-interest.=20
>=20
> Which gets to the very heart of the issue:=20
>=20
> Lack of enlightened self-interest on the part of far too many =
Canadians.
>=20
>=20
> The essential value of our public infrastructure is its utility in =
meeting our collective economic and social needs and interests more =
efficiently and effectively, including all of the needs and interests =
you rattled off in your reply.
>=20
> It has enabled us to achieve far greater security and prosperity than =
we could have otherwise, to the benefit of the great majority of =
Canadians past and present (but not all, and more importantly, what we =
have is not sustainable).=20
>=20
>=20
> This foundational economic knowledge seems desperately lacking in =
Canada today, to our growing detriment.
>=20
> What do our youth consciously understand of the costs and benefits of =
the roads and sidewalks they use?
>=20
> What do their parents and grandparents understand?
>=20
> What do they understand of social responsibility?
>=20
>=20
> The impact of broadband on the efficiency and effectiveness of our =
economy will not be incremental.=20
>=20
> It will be transformative, and it won't take legislation to affect the =
transformation.
>=20
> It will take learning and leadership.=20
>=20
> There is an initiative underway to provide what you've identified as =
the missing piece of the equation for 'universal' free access, namely, a =
compelling "argument for the greater common good".
>=20
> Even with this in hand, it will indeed be challenging to convince many =
Canadians that public interests will do a better job than private =
interests.=20
>=20
> Thankfully, industry makes it easier for us by the day:
>=20
> wordsbynowak.com/2013/02/06/shaw-rogers/
>=20
>=20
> I really wish we didn't need any more convincing than this, but =
apparently, a lot of us do.=20
>=20
> We are no longer the nation that built this amazing legacy of public =
infrastructure that has brought Canada its unprecedented prosperity.
>=20
> Frankly, I don't know what nation we are today.=20
>=20
> I'd just like us to be working on becoming the nation we want to be.=20=
>=20
>=20
> JvL
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> On 2013-02-05, at 11:09 PM, Gary W Kenward <garykenward@eastlink.ca> =
wrote:
>=20
>>=20
>> "We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge =
you for broadband?
>>=20
>> Sidewalks are paid for by taxes. So people are charged, whether the =
want sidewalks or not. Sidewalks are, like all things in life, not free.=20=
>>=20
>> Given current spending cutbacks, which government services would you =
suggest people are willing to give up in order to provide universal free =
access to broadband? Which issue do you feel "boomers and seniors" care =
more about? Health care, unemployment, pensions, public safety, defence, =
the environment, education, or free access to the Internet? Food, =
shelter and safety will always take precedence. Even with younger =
generations.=20
>>=20
>> Free communications via mail, telephony, radio, television and =
carrier pigeon has never been considered a universal right. So there is =
a remarkable precedent to be set.
>>=20
>> What's missing in much of the current dialogue around universal free =
access is an argument for the greater common good that convinces the =
majority that its worth government intervention - and spending. That =
truly convinces the majority that governments can do a better job then =
the private sector. Given recent trends to privatize - with voter =
support - this will be difficult.
>>=20
>> Gary
>>=20
>> Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose
>>=20
>> On 2013-02-05, at 5:16, James Van Leeuwen <jvl@ventus.ca> wrote:
>>=20
>>> "We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge =
you for broadband?
>=20
>=20
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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html =
charset=3Diso-8859-1"><base href=3D"x-msg://1801/"></head><body =
style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Helpful and timely insights =
Susan, thank you. <div><br></div><div>WiFi is our strongest =
leverage, given the number of devices on the market today that are =
WiFi-enabled.</div><div><br></div><div>I look forward to reading Alison =
Powell's thesis, as I expect it will add value to the initiative I =
mentioned to build the argument for the public common =
good. </div><div><br></div><div>Do you at least know the thesis =
title?</div><div><br></div><div>Also, if anyone else knows of materials =
that would assist in the effort, I would appreciate knowing about =
them.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>James</div><div><br></div><d=
iv><br></div><div><br><div><div>On 2013-02-06, at 7:48 AM, "Susan =
O'Donnell" <<a href=3D"mailto:susanodo@unb.ca">susanodo@unb.ca</a>> =
wrote:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div ocsi=3D"0" fpstyle=3D"1" style=3D"font-family: =
Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; =
font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; =
orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: =
none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; =
word-wrap: break-word; "><div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: =
Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; ">Hi all,<br><br>James I've been enjoying your =
last few posts, thank you.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><br>I wanted to add =
some info to the situation in Fredericton, since the quote from our =
mayor Brad Woodside:<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><div><br><b><i>"We =
don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you for =
broadband?</i></b></div><div><br>... generated some discussion around =
free public access to wifi. The City of Fredericton launched the first =
municipally-run free-to-users public wifi network in Canada (as far as I =
understand). It WAS developed by municipal tax dollars (ie property tax) =
and became known as the Fred eZone. However the city is very =
business-oriented and the municipal fibre network that supports the Fred =
eZone and many other applications was developed primarily to attract and =
support business development in the downtown core (Fred eZone is also =
available on the university campus and the airport). Many other =
applications on the network are purely business-oriented. The fact that =
the free wifi can be accessed downtown by anyone is from the city's =
perspective a nice bonus to the core business. So it is a business and =
run as a business. I think it is a great model that can be replicated =
elsewhere.<br><br>BTW, a case study of the Fred e-zone and the =
municipally-owned wireless network will be included in a Journal of =
Community Informatics issue available later this year, special issue on =
the "First Mile" of broadband infrastructure. The Fred e-Zone has also =
been the subject of at least one PhD dissertation by Alison Powell when =
she was with the CRACIN project. I just googled that and found only a =
few dead links - maybe someone else can circulate the =
publication.<br><br>Thanks and regards,<br>Susan<br><br><div =
style=3D"font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; ">Dr. Susan O'Donnell, =
Researcher and Adjunct Professor<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>Department of =
Sociology, University of New Brunswick<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>PO Box 1122, =
Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5C2<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><a =
class=3D"moz-txt-link-abbreviated" =
href=3D"mailto:susanodo@unb.ca">susanodo@unb.ca</a><br>Office: =
506-444-0374<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>Cell: =
506-238-7572<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><a =
class=3D"moz-txt-link-freetext" =
href=3D"http://videocom.firstnation.ca">http://videocom.firstnation.ca</a>=
<br><a class=3D"moz-txt-link-freetext" =
href=3D"http://firstmile.ca">http://firstmile.ca</a><br></div></div><div =
style=3D"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; "><hr =
tabindex=3D"-1"><div id=3D"divRpF733" style=3D"direction: ltr; "><font =
face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"2"><b>From:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"mailto:cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net">cracin-canada-o=
wner@vancouvercommunity.net</a><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>[<a =
href=3D"mailto:cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net">cracin-canada-o=
wner@vancouvercommunity.net</a>] on behalf of James Van Leeuwen [<a =
href=3D"mailto:jvl@ventus.ca">jvl@ventus.ca</a>]<br><b>Sent:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wednesday, February 06, =
2013 4:26 AM<br><b>To:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>Gary W =
Kenward<br><b>Cc:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>michael gurstein; =
civicaccess discuss;<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"mailto:cracin-canada@vancouvercommunity.net">cracin-canada@vancouv=
ercommunity.net</a>;<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"mailto:advisors@tc.ca">advisors@tc.ca</a><br><b>Subject:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [Advisors] Re: =
[CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: [governance] US: FCC proposes large =
public WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take =
sides<br></font><br></div><div></div><div><div>Gary,</div><div><br></div><=
div>we are going to be raising taxes here in Alberta, because the =
dummies who run this place (voters) are finally realizing they can't =
have their cake and eat it =
too.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>And if anyone mentioned the =
notion of making universal access a right, it wasn't =
me. </div><div><br></div><div>It's a notion fraught with numerous =
and intractable legal perils, and we literally can't afford to go =
there. </div><div><br></div><div>So, good thing it's =
irrelevant. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We are dealing =
here with a rather simple matter of collective self-interest, or at =
least,<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>enlightened</i><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>self-interest. </div><di=
v><br></div><div>Which gets to the very heart of the =
issue: </div><div><br></div><div>Lack of enlightened self-interest =
on the part of far too many =
Canadians.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The essential value =
of our public infrastructure is its utility in meeting our collective =
economic and social needs and interests more efficiently and =
effectively, including all of the needs and interests you rattled off in =
your reply.</div><div><br></div><div>It has enabled us to achieve far =
greater security and prosperity than we could have otherwise, to the =
benefit of the great majority of Canadians past and present (but not =
all, and more importantly, what we have is not =
sustainable). </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>This =
foundational economic knowledge seems desperately lacking in Canada =
today, to our growing detriment.</div><div><br></div><div>What do our =
youth consciously understand of the costs and benefits of the roads and =
sidewalks they use?</div><div><br></div><div>What do their parents and =
grandparents understand?</div><div><br></div><div>What do they =
understand of social =
responsibility?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The impact of =
broadband on the efficiency and effectiveness of our economy will not be =
incremental. </div><div><br></div><div>It will be transformative, =
and it won't take legislation to affect the =
transformation.</div><div><br></div><div>It will take learning and =
leadership. </div><div><br></div><div>There is an initiative =
underway to provide what you've identified as the missing piece of the =
equation for 'universal' free access, namely, a compelling =
"argument for the greater common good".</div><div><br></div><div>Even =
with this in hand, it will indeed be challenging to convince many =
Canadians that public interests will do a better job than private =
interests. </div><div><br></div><div>Thankfully, industry makes it =
easier for us by the day:</div><div><br></div><div><a =
href=3D"http://wordsbynowak.com/2013/02/06/shaw-rogers/" =
target=3D"_blank">wordsbynowak.com/2013/02/06/shaw-rogers/</a></div><div><=
br></div><div><br></div><div>I really wish we didn't need any more =
convincing than this, but apparently, a lot of us =
do. </div><div><br></div><div>We are no longer the nation that =
built this amazing legacy of public infrastructure that has brought =
Canada its unprecedented prosperity.</div><div><br></div><div>Frankly, I =
don't know what nation we are today. </div><div><br></div><div>I'd =
just like us to be working on becoming the nation we want to =
be. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>JvL</div><div><br></div>=
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div><div>On =
2013-02-05, at 11:09 PM, Gary W Kenward <<a =
href=3D"mailto:garykenward@eastlink.ca" =
target=3D"_blank">garykenward@eastlink.ca</a>> wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
dir=3D"auto"><div><br><b><i>"We don't charge you to walk on our =
sidewalks. Why would we charge you for =
broadband?</i></b></div><div><span><b><i><br></i></b></span></div><div><sp=
an>Sidewalks are paid for by taxes. So people are charged, whether the =
want sidewalks or not. Sidewalks are, like all things in life, not =
free. </span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Given =
current spending cutbacks, which government services would you suggest =
people are willing to give up in order to provide universal free access =
to broadband? Which issue do you feel "boomers and seniors" care more =
about? Health care, unemployment, pensions, public safety, defence, the =
environment, education, or free access to the Internet? Food, shelter =
and safety will always take precedence. Even with younger =
generations. </span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Free=
communications via mail, telephony, radio, television and carrier =
pigeon has never been considered a universal right. So there is a =
remarkable precedent to be =
set.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>What's missing =
in much of the current dialogue around universal free access is an =
argument for the greater common good that convinces the majority that =
its worth government intervention - and spending. That truly convinces =
the majority that governments can do a better job then the private =
sector. Given recent trends to privatize - with voter support - this =
will be =
difficult.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Gary</span><=
/div><div><span><b><i><br></i></b>Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme =
chose</span></div><div><br>On 2013-02-05, at 5:16, James Van Leeuwen =
<<a href=3D"mailto:jvl@ventus.ca" =
target=3D"_blank">jvl@ventus.ca</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote =
type=3D"cite">"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would =
we charge you for =
broadband?</blockquote></div></blockquote></div><br></div></div></div></di=
v><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></blockquote></div><br></div></body></=
html>=
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