Re: [CUWiN] Slate on community wireless networks
Sascha Meinrath <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups | gmane.network.wireless.cu-wireless |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
On Tue, 14 Sep 2004, Paul Smith wrote: > http://slate.msn.com/id/2106657/ > > I'm composing a response to Paul emphasizing emerging spectrum > management methods that mitigate interference. This is a pretty shoddy piece of work. I wonder how much of it was written in consultation with Ron Resnick of the WiMax Forum and where they're getting their information on Wi-Fi capabilities (since they are clearly incorrect -- CUWiN has multiple links that are way over 300 feet and can make solid links through trees of several hundred meters before things become marginal). I do agree that city-wide WiFi systems won't be "free", but they'll be "free to the end-users" if they're municipally supported (thus helping to eliminate the digital divide and allowing _all_ users to get online, not just the priviledged few who can afford it). More importantly, the cost of municipally-funded networks are an order of magnitude less than the profit-driven business models that Paul Boutin supports. In addition, drawing up a false dichotomy, "there will soon be two options for wireless -- spotty coverage that's free or a strong signal that could cost as much as your cell phone plan" completely ignores the fact (which we've all seen or personally experienced) that cell phone signals are themselves quite spotty -- the real breakdown is between low-cost wireless networks and high-cost wireless networks, both of which can be spotty or good depending on how well they're built. Finally, Paul Boutin completely ignores the possibility that parts of the Public Airwaves should be made available by the FCC to provide a leve playing field between major telecomm companies and Community Wireless Networks. Given that the Public Airwaves exist to serve _the public_ -- it is logical that municipally-supported networks have access to them in order to build networks that serve the public. --Sascha -- Sascha Meinrath Project Manager & Pres. * Project Coordinator * Project Manager Acorn Worker Collective *** CU Wireless Network *** Eggplant Active Media www.acorncollective.com * www.cuwireless.net * www.eggplantmedia.com _______________________________________________ CU-Wireless mailing list [email protected] http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/cu-wireless Project Page: http://cuwireless.ucimc.org