Re: SF WiFi: Mayor looses 1st Full vote on EarthLink Google WiFi initiative, Supervisor Daly asks for $10M for a City owned WiFi solution

Hey, Bruce from SF here.

I understand your concerns Michael but it is far more political and rife 
with corruption than just the topology and hardware alone.

First off, we have 50 miles of over 150 strands of fiber installed 
already in the city.  That was not even considered as WiFi is technology 
looking for a wire.

Second, the $10m figure is a starting point and message from the Supes 
saying it is time to stop talking about it, let's get something going.

Third, a government created non-profit is just that, no profit motive.  
It then just acts like a municipal utility serving the public at the 
cost it takes to run it or free with alternative revenue streams.

Fourth, this whole this started as being hinged on Digital Inclusion.  
Now, the discussion is that Digital Inclusion will not exist without 
G/E.  They are God now.  Give me a break.

Fifth, SF is a dog with terrain.  This plan will not work here.  Also, 
it is completely an outdoor system looking to work indoors.  It won't 
work for the majority of the public (except if you are outdoors).  Also, 
many, many, many urban forests.  RF hates that water and the heavy fog 
definitely has an effect.

Lastly, cities these days are tired of exorbitant rates and costs to 
residents.  Mobil/Exxon made over $100 billion last year and we are in a 
supposed oil crisis.  Cities want control, self-determination and 
governance over their destinies back and any cost.  Others just keep on 
giving it away and fleecing their residents.

Don't pay attention to the SF press.  It is all red meat and fodder with 
absolutely no tech expertise whatsoever.  Not one of the reporters in 
the major headline media really cares.  They are just looking to either 
kill the thing or to prop up the Mayor for re-election.  Read the tech 
info and blogs instead.

Have a great weekend!!!!
Bruce


Michael Weinberg wrote:
> On Feb 14, 2007, at 12:29 AM, Kimo Crossman wrote:
>
>   
>> During the debate, Supervisor Daly, Chair of the Budget and Finance  
>> committee, asked the Budget Analyst to prepare a $10M budget  
>> supplemental for a City WiFi solution.
>>     
>
> What's the $10M figure based on? I'm starting to feel like this is  
> some magic Muni WiFi number as it keep cropping up in things I read  
> and hear about many highly different proposals.
>
>   
>> With Community Choice Aggregation (Public Power) in the air, the  
>> recently released draft municipal fiber study and the continued bad  
>> feelings over the extension of the Comcast Franchise,  voices  
>> concerned about ongoing privatization of city functions and assets  
>> have been given a loudspeaker.
>>     
>
> I'm not sure why a non-profit or the city would really want to take  
> this on. Based on the press I've seen coming out of San Francisco,  
> the current system is fairly well loathed by many residents (and not  
> just the tinfoil-hatters). I imagine any Muni WiFi that comes after  
> it will be seen as an extension of the system, whether it's Google,  
> Earthlink, City Hall or RadioFree SF. I'm not saying there aren't  
> better systems (and by many accounts, almost anything would work  
> better), just that trying to derail the G/E initiative so that  
> something else can take it's place may only cause inheritance of the  
> poison pill.
>
> Michael
>
>   
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