[Advisors] Re: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: [governance]
US: FCC proposes large public WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take sides
Susan O'Donnell
susanodo at unb.ca
Wed, 6 Feb 2013 14:48:38 +0000
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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 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 th=
e city is very business-oriented and the municipal fibre network that suppo=
rts the Fred eZone and many other applications was developed primarily to a=
ttract and support business development in the downtown core (Fred eZone is=
also available on the university campus and the airport). Many other appli=
cations 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 n=
ice 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 net=
work will be included in a Journal of Community Informatics issue available=
later this year, special issue on the "First Mile" of broadband infrastruc=
ture. The Fred e-Zone has also been the subject of at least one PhD dissert=
ation 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 th=
e 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<mailto: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@vanco=
uvercommunity.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] U=
S: 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 r=
un 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 w=
asn't me.
It's a notion fraught with numerous and intractable legal perils, and we li=
terally 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 y=
our reply.
It has enabled us to achieve far greater security and prosperity than we co=
uld 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 sustain=
able).
This foundational economic knowledge seems desperately lacking in Canada to=
day, to our growing detriment.
What do our youth consciously understand of the costs and benefits of the r=
oads 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 tran=
sformation.
It will take learning and leadership.
There is an initiative underway to provide what you've identified as the mi=
ssing piece of the equation for 'universal' free access, namely, a compelli=
ng "argument for the greater common good".
Even with this in hand, it will indeed be challenging to convince many Cana=
dians 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/<http://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 infras=
tructure 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<mailto:=
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 si=
dewalks or not. Sidewalks are, like all things in life, not free.
Given current spending cutbacks, which government services would you sugges=
t people are willing to give up in order to provide universal free access t=
o broadband? Which issue do you feel "boomers and seniors" care more about?=
Health care, unemployment, pensions, public safety, defence, the environme=
nt, education, or free access to the Internet? Food, shelter and safety wil=
l always take precedence. Even with younger generations.
Free communications via mail, telephony, radio, television and carrier pige=
on has never been considered a universal right. So there is a remarkable pr=
ecedent 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 tha=
t its worth government intervention - and spending. That truly convinces th=
e majority that governments can do a better job then the private sector. Gi=
ven recent trends to privatize - with voter support - this will be difficul=
t.
Gary
Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose
On 2013-02-05, at 5:16, James Van Leeuwen <jvl@ventus.ca<mailto:jvl@ventus.=
ca>> wrote:
"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you for =
broadband?
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<div style=3D"direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: =
10pt;">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><br>
<b><i style=3D"">"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why wo=
uld we charge you for broadband?</i></b></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 perspe=
ctive 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, Rese=
archer and Adjunct Professor
<br>
Department of Sociology, University of New Brunswick <br>
PO Box 1122, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5C2 <br>
<a class=3D"moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href=3D"mailto:susanodo@unb.ca">susan=
odo@unb.ca</a><br>
Office: 506-444-0374 <br>
Cell: 506-238-7572 <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://firs=
tmile.ca</a><br>
</div>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Times New Roman; color: #000000; font-size: 16px=
">
<hr tabindex=3D"-1">
<div style=3D"direction: ltr;" id=3D"divRpF733"><font face=3D"Tahoma" color=
=3D"#000000" size=3D"2"><b>From:</b> cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity=
.net [cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net] on behalf of James Van Le=
euwen [jvl@ventus.ca]<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; cracin-canada@vancouverco=
mmunity.net; advisors@tc.ca<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>
<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 cak=
e 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-int=
erest, or at least,
<i>enlightened</i> self-interest. </div>
<div><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 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). </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. </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 t=
he missing piece of the equation for 'universal' free access, namely, a&nbs=
p;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 interest=
s. </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 appare=
ntly, a lot of us do. </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. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I'd just like us to be working on becoming the nation we want to be.&n=
bsp;</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 class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline">
<blockquote type=3D"cite">
<div dir=3D"auto">
<div><br>
<b><i style=3D"">"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why wo=
uld we charge you for broadband?</i></b></div>
<div><span style=3D""><b><i><br>
</i></b></span></div>
<div><span style=3D"">Sidewalks are paid for by taxes. So people are charge=
d, whether the want sidewalks or not. Sidewalks are, like all things in lif=
e, not free. </span></div>
<div><span style=3D""><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style=3D"">Given current spending cutbacks, which government ser=
vices would you suggest people are willing to give up in order to provide u=
niversal free access to broadband? Which issue do you feel "boomers an=
d 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 style=3D""><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style=3D"">Free communications via mail, telephony, radio, telev=
ision and carrier pigeon has never been considered a universal right. So th=
ere is a remarkable precedent to be set.</span></div>
<div><span style=3D""><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style=3D"">What's missing in much of the current dialogue around=
universal free access is an argument for the greater common good that conv=
inces the majority that its worth government intervention - and spending. T=
hat truly 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 style=3D""><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style=3D"">Gary</span></div>
<div><span style=3D""><b><i><br>
</i></b>Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose</span></div>
<div style=3D""><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" style=3D"">"We don't charge you to walk on o=
ur sidewalks. Why would we charge you for broadband?</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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