Native American Wireless ISP Launched

babynerd writes "On Tuesday June 1st the Coeur dAlene tribe unveiled the Turbocharged Broadband Geek Project. The scheme, organized by project head Valerie Fast Horse and funded by a $2.8 million dollar grant from the USDA Rural Utilities Service and a 15% in kind match from the tribe itself, will help build a community technology center (CTC) with 40 computers, and a wireless broadband ISP that will provide high-speed wireless access to anyone living on and near the reservation at a price comparable to that of any other DSL or Cable Internet providers - there's currently no broadband Internet access of any kind available."

Comments

Wi-Fi Power

[cgrayson]

If there's ever a sequel to Smoke Signals:

"Hey Victor! Your mother makes the best wi-fi!"

Seriously - great movie, set on the Coeur d'Alene reservation in present day (well, present day six years ago). You'll laugh, you'll cry, it'll become a part of you.

Re:what are those mini-Vegas' for?

[themaddone]

Oh, gee, you know, trivial things like roads and schools, stuff the Gov't doesn't really fund.

$2.8 Million?

[tmasssey]

Doesn't that seem like an awful lot of money for 40-computer technology center and a wireless ISP contained for a community?

That seems like enough for a *heck* of a buildout and, what? 10 years of expenses? How can I get a piece? :)

Re:$2.8 Million?

[Saeed al-Sahaf]

Doesn't that seem like an awful lot of money for...

2.8 Mill may seem like a lot of cash to you and me, but realistically, it doesn't buy a lot of IT these days. My guess is that building the facility and purchasing the 40 computers and associated equipment don't actually leave a whole lot for the wireless ISP end of the deal, which itself could consume 2.8 mill, easy. It's sad, but that kind of money is relativly minor for an IT investment of this type.

Re:what are those mini-Vegas' for?

[FreeLinux]

Why doesn't their own tribe fund this effort?

Because the tribe, as are most casino operators, are good business men. They know a good investment when they see one and they know how to take advantage of an opportunity to make more money.

Looking at it from a business perspective, it isn't very attractive at all. However, looking at it from the perspective of using someone else's money to provide yourselve's with services is quite attractive. Hence, the casino avoids such investments and the tribe benefits. It's sort of the same way that government grants support crappy research projects that the private sector wouldn't touch.

Re:what are those mini-Vegas' for?

[Saxton]

Have you ever driven through a Native American reservation? If we're compensating them, where did we go wrong? Seems like we sent some people into the top 5% tax bracket and left the rest of the tribes in the lowest levels of poverty. Not as nasty as killing their ancestors and forcing them into the worst parts of the country, but it's still pretty bad.

-Aaron

Re:what are those mini-Vegas' for?

[The One and Only]

Given that they're living under a Soviet-style planned economy, they aren't free to shape their own lives.

Re:All right, this will get me flamed, I'm sure.

[jjjefff]

Maybe the idea here is that by giving them a handout with potentially limitless educational value, we increase the odds that at least a few more of them will be motivated and have the resources to get out there and make it on their own.

I suppose you think fertilizer encourages laziness in plants...

Re:i smell a jealous white boy

[el-spectre]

Wow, I didn't realize that we had posters that were around in the 1800's. They should really be ashamed of themselves.

The natives got screwed royally. No one denies that. This does not mean that white people are evil for the rest of time. Funny how people decry racism until it fits their needs...

Angry Geeks

[broadzilla]

I am shocked to read the number of angry responses to this story. I always thought that technology was neutral in the racial game, and was quite surprised at the number of angry, racial geeks out there. I guess I should be glad that your remarks are based on ignorance rather than truth or honesty. The good news: you angry guys are not the majority.

Re:Angry Geeks

[pyrrhonist]

Hard to get further in my career because of the color of my skin.

Have you ever actually been turned down for a job, because of your skin color? I have, and I'm caucasian.

I interviewed at a govenment agency in the 90's, and the director flat out told me, "You're more qualified for the job, but we have to hire the other candidate, because he is in a minority."

The other candidate ended up not taking the job. I took it, because I needed the money.

Re:what are those mini-Vegas' for?

[ePhil_One]

Doesn't matter when they arrived, they are now living on land that belong to the Native American people. If a friend gives you a stlen car, you are benefiting from that crime, it doesn't matter that you aren't the one that stole car. If you buy a car from someone who's friend stole the car for him, you are stil benefiting from that crime.

If big evil corporation employees slave labor to make your shoes, you are benefiting from that crime. If your immigrant father worked as a piss boy for a tycoon whose father got rich building railroads accross the nation that forced native americans off the railroads right of way, you have benefited from that act. If you eat the bread that is produced from the huge American corn and wheat fields you are benefiting from the abuse the native americans suffered. If your Chinese father wasn't slaughtered at the fans of savage Japanese soldiers during World War II its very likely you benefited by the existance of the United States of America, which had the industrial power it did because of the callous way it forced the native peoples of the land it occupied out of its way.

I'm not suggesting that we return North American to the Native Americans and go home, just pointing out that everybody who is enjoying the freedoms and rights of the United States or has been aided by this nation has benefited by the oppression of the native american people. Unless you have had all your belongs that you couldn't carry 500 miles stolen and forced to live on the least desirable chunk of property the theives could find, you aren't THEY.