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New Orleans to Deploy Free Wi-Fi City Wide
Lawrence_Bird writes "The Washington Post is reporting that New Orleans will deploy a city wide wi-fi network with free public access. Much of the equipment has been donated, but New Orleans will own and operate the network. Interestingly, they are only able to do this while a state of emergency remains in place as technically their planned 512Kbps service violates state law prohibiting municipalities from offering access at speeds in excess of 144Kbps, a restriction the city plans on fighting even though they will eventually outsource the whole operation."
I honestly hope this isn't their only solution for hurricanes / floods in the future.
...for all five residents.
Cool! Now New Orleans residents will have the connectivity they need in order to email an SOS to FEMA, so they can come rescue them!
This is much a better solution than spending that money on something as trivial as a safe levee system or housing for homeless people. This free wi-fi is actually working out quite well for them.
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
They've obviously already started taking tips from Mike Brown's disaster consulting company.
to withstand CAT 5 storms
With the wireless tech you could alleviate the need to run Cat5. And what do you mean by storms - does it tangle and you get mad?
Y'know, if the same mentality were applied to some existing government services . . .
(Caller): Help! My house is on fire!
(Phone voice): Do you have a FlameOut (tm) customer ID number?
(Caller): No, but my house is burning! My children are in there--Please help me!
(Phone voice): I'm sorry, but since you're not a FlameOut (tm) customer, I can't help you. However, we will be rolling our FlameOut (tm) Wagons to protect your neighbor, who I see is a subscriber in good standing. Thank you for notifying us of this condition and have a nice day.
{CLICK}
Sweet, now I'll be able to play mario Kart when I go back to NO on christmas.
Wonderful. Now there will live streaming web cams from every balcony, every window, and probably every bathroom. It's just what the internet needed more of...on the government dollar.
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the government is composed of -- gasp -- citizens, not space aliens from Uranus.
having dealt with some of the local govt employees, I wouldn't be sure of that.the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
umm, yes they do! and sneakers and tvs and beer and......