[Advisors] Re: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: [governance] US:
FCC proposes large public WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take sides
adam fiser
adam.fiser at gmail.com
Wed, 6 Feb 2013 10:43:54 -0500
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi all. Alison's work on the Fred eZone began under a project called CWIRP
(Community Wireless Infrastructure Research Project) circa 2006-2008,
co-lead by Catherine Middleton (Ryerson), and colleagues. CWIRP's final
report from 2008 could be useful to you, as it compares Fred to several
other community wireless projects across the country. Links:
http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=trsitm(final
report)
http://www.cwirp.org/ (research site archive)
regards,
Adam Fiser
On 6 February 2013 09:48, Susan O'Donnell <susanodo@unb.ca> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> James I've been enjoying your last few posts, thank you.
>
> I wanted to add some info to the situation in Fredericton, since the quote
> from our mayor Brad Woodside:
>
> *"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you
> for broadband?*
>
> ... 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Thanks and regards,
> Susan
>
> Dr. Susan O'Donnell, Researcher and Adjunct Professor
> Department of Sociology, University of New Brunswick
> PO Box 1122, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5C2
> susanodo@unb.ca
> Office: 506-444-0374
> Cell: 506-238-7572
> 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
>
> Gary,
>
> 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.
>
>
> And if anyone mentioned the notion of making universal access a right,
> it wasn't me.
>
> It's a notion fraught with numerous and intractable legal perils, and we
> literally can't afford to go there.
>
> So, good thing it's irrelevant.
>
>
> We are dealing here with a rather simple matter of collective
> self-interest, or at least, *enlightened* self-interest.
>
> Which gets to the very heart of the issue:
>
> Lack of enlightened self-interest on the part of far too many Canadians.
>
>
> 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.
>
> 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).
>
>
> This foundational economic knowledge seems desperately lacking in Canada
> today, to our growing detriment.
>
> What do our youth consciously understand of the costs and benefits of
> the roads and sidewalks they use?
>
> What do their parents and grandparents understand?
>
> What do they understand of social responsibility?
>
>
> The impact of broadband on the efficiency and effectiveness of our
> economy will not be incremental.
>
> It will be transformative, and it won't take legislation to affect the
> transformation.
>
> It will take learning and leadership.
>
> 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".
>
> 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.
>
> Thankfully, industry makes it easier for us by the day:
>
> wordsbynowak.com/2013/02/06/shaw-rogers/
>
>
> I really wish we didn't need any more convincing than this, but
> apparently, a lot of us do.
>
> We are no longer the nation that built this amazing legacy of public
> infrastructure that has brought Canada its unprecedented prosperity.
>
> Frankly, I don't know what nation we are today.
>
> I'd just like us to be working on becoming the nation we want to be.
>
>
> JvL
>
>
>
>
>
> On 2013-02-05, at 11:09 PM, Gary W Kenward <garykenward@eastlink.ca>
> wrote:
>
>
> *"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you
> for broadband?*
> *
> *
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Gary
> *
> *Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose
>
> On 2013-02-05, at 5:16, James Van Leeuwen <jvl@ventus.ca> wrote:
>
> "We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you
> for broadband?
>
>
>
--
--------------------------------------------------------
Adam Fiser
tel: +1-416-799-0052
http://adamfiser.com
--------------------------------------------------------
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Hi all. =A0Alison's work on the Fred eZone began under a project called=
CWIRP (Community Wireless Infrastructure Research Project) circa 2006-2008=
, co-lead by Catherine Middleton (Ryerson), and colleagues. =A0CWIRP's =
final report from 2008 could be useful to you, as it compares Fred to sever=
al other community wireless projects across the country. =A0Links:<div>
<a href=3D"http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3D1=
025&context=3Dtrsitm">http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/cgi/viewcontent.=
cgi?article=3D1025&context=3Dtrsitm</a> (final report)</div><div><a hre=
f=3D"http://www.cwirp.org/">http://www.cwirp.org/</a> (research site archiv=
e)<br>
<div><br></div><div>regards,</div><div><br></div><div>Adam Fiser</div><div>=
=A0=A0<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On 6 February 2013 09:48, Susan O&=
#39;Donnell <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:susanodo@unb.ca" target=
=3D"_blank">susanodo@unb.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div style=3D"word-wrap:break-word">
<div style=3D"direction:ltr;font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma">Hi all,<br>
<br>
James I've been enjoying your last few posts, thank you. <br>
<br>
I wanted to add some info to the situation in Fredericton, since the quote =
from our mayor Brad Woodside:
<br><div class=3D"im">
<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><div><br>
... generated some discussion around free public access to wifi. The City o=
f Fredericton launched the first municipally-run free-to-users public wifi =
network in Canada (as far as I understand). It WAS developed by municipal t=
ax 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 othe=
r applications was developed primarily to attract and support business deve=
lopment in the downtown core (Fred
eZone is also available on the university campus and the airport). Many ot=
her 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 pe=
rspective a nice bonus to the core business.
So it is a business and run as a business. I think it is a great model tha=
t can be replicated elsewhere.<br>
<br>
BTW, a case study of the Fred e-zone and the municipally-owned wireless net=
work 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 lin=
ks - 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, R=
esearcher and Adjunct Professor
<br>
Department of Sociology, University of New Brunswick <br>
PO Box 1122, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5C2 <br>
<a href=3D"mailto:susanodo@unb.ca" target=3D"_blank">susanodo@unb.ca</a><br=
>
Office: <a href=3D"tel:506-444-0374" value=3D"+15064440374" target=3D"_blan=
k">506-444-0374</a> <br>
Cell: <a href=3D"tel:506-238-7572" value=3D"+15062387572" target=3D"_blank"=
>506-238-7572</a> <br>
<a href=3D"http://videocom.firstnation.ca" target=3D"_blank">http://videoco=
m.firstnation.ca</a><br>
<a href=3D"http://firstmile.ca" target=3D"_blank">http://firstmile.ca</a><b=
r>
</div>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-size:16px;font-family:Times New Roman">
<hr>
<div style=3D"direction:ltr"><font face=3D"Tahoma" color=3D"#000000"><b>Fro=
m:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net" target=
=3D"_blank">cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net</a> [<a href=3D"mail=
to:cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net" target=3D"_blank">cracin-can=
ada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net</a>] on behalf of James Van Leeuwen [<a hr=
ef=3D"mailto:jvl@ventus.ca" target=3D"_blank">jvl@ventus.ca</a>]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 06, 2013 4:26 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Gary W Kenward<br>
<b>Cc:</b> michael gurstein; civicaccess discuss; <a href=3D"mailto:cracin-=
canada@vancouvercommunity.net" target=3D"_blank">cracin-canada@vancouvercom=
munity.net</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:advisors@tc.ca" target=3D"_blank">advisor=
s@tc.ca</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Advisors] Re: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: [govern=
ance] US: FCC proposes large public WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants tak=
e sides<br>
</font><br>
</div><div><div class=3D"h5">
<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.=A0</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.=A0</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>So, good thing it's irrelevant.=A0</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>We are dealing here with a rather simple matter of collective self-int=
erest, or at least,
<i>enlightened</i> self-interest.=A0</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Which gets to the very heart of the issue:=A0</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Lack of enlightened self-interest on the part of far too many Canadian=
s.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The essential value of our public infrastructure is its utility in mee=
ting our collective economic and social needs and interests more efficientl=
y 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 su=
stainable).=A0</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>This foundational economic knowledge seems desperately lacking in Cana=
da 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 eco=
nomy will not be incremental.=A0</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.=A0</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, n=
amely, a=A0compelling "argument for the greater common good".</di=
v>
<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 interest=
s.=A0</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 ap=
parently, a lot of us do.=A0</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>We are no longer the nation that built this amazing legacy of public i=
nfrastructure that has brought Canada its unprecedented prosperity.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Frankly, I don't know what nation we are today.=A0</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I'd just like us to be working on becoming the nation we want to b=
e.=A0</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:garyk=
enward@eastlink.ca" target=3D"_blank">garykenward@eastlink.ca</a>> wrote=
:</div>
<br>
<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><span>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=
.=A0</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 fr=
ee access to broadband? Which issue do you feel "boomers and seniors&q=
uot; 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.=A0</span></div>
<div><span><br>
</span></div>
<div><span>Free communications via mail, telephony, radio, television and c=
arrier pigeon has never been considered a universal right. So there is a re=
markable precedent to be set.</span></div>
<div><span><br>
</span></div>
<div><span>What's missing in much of the current dialogue around univer=
sal free access is an argument for the greater common good that convinces t=
he majority that its worth government intervention - and spending. That tru=
ly convinces the majority that
governments can do a better job then the private sector. Given recent tren=
ds 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 side=
walks. Why would we charge you for broadband?</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br>------------=
--------------------------------------------<br>Adam Fiser<br>tel: +1-416-7=
99-0052<br><a href=3D"http://adamfiser.com" target=3D"_blank">http://adamfi=
ser.com</a> <br>
--------------------------------------------------------<br>
</div></div>
--14dae9cfceb4c280fb04d5103264--