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Non-Profit to Run Boston Wi-Fi?
isabotage3 writes to tell us that Boston, MA is toying with a somewhat unique approach to their version of the city-wide low-cost wireless network. Rather than put the network in the hands of a private organization under contract the city may allow a non-profit group to run the show. From the article: "Although Boston's strategy depends on the willingness of foundations and businesses to come forward with cash donations, officials believe having an existing or newly formed nonprofit in charge is the best way to ensure the project meets its civic goals and steers clear of special interests."
But unless someone actually tries to make it work, we won't have any stories at all. I live in Boston, and would be affected by the program, and am strongly in favor of it. I also work in IT for a university in the area, so getting broadband access isn't much of an issue for me.
As I understand it (I've got the task force report in front of me, but have not yet read it), they plan to use much of the dark fiber capacity as the backbone, and are looking for about $20M for the equipment buildout. The city will provide open access to their infrastructure (subway tunnels, buildings, lampposts, etc.) for equipment placement. This would provide the wireless infrastructure; from there, private company can offer Internet access to users of the wireless network on a competitive basis.
I see this as a worthy pilot program for relatively short money. Boston is a geographically small city (easy to walk from the Fenway to the harbor in a couple of hours), so it can be covered for service easier than a more dispersed city. And let's face it, you're arguments have a ring of truth to them, but if Boston shows it can be done, and it has any benefits at all (better education for the kids, more attractive place to live for high tech workers), it seems worthwhile. And the APs are small, so if they fall on someone, they're less likely to be killed.