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Municipal WiFi Moves Ahead In Houston
Highlander404 sends word of one city that is bucking the trend of failing city Wi-Fi projects: Houston is investing most of the $5 million Earthlink paid to get out of its muni Wi-Fi contract to build out 10 free wireless network "bubbles" in low-income parts of the city. Access points will be in city-owned facilities to keep costs down. Houston's mayor said that over the long term the bubbles could be connected and the areas between them added to the network. The activation of the first of these zones was announced Monday. Upload and download speeds are said to be 3 Mbps.
zomg
We have it in Minneapolis. I'm not a subscriber but there is presence pretty much anywhere?
This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
From TFA: "Each bubble will include about 15 public access points at schools, city facilities and community organizations within the area."
Also, it's not $5 million, it's $3.5 million: "The company had to pay the city $5 million after defaulting on a contract to build a citywide wireless Internet network last year. On Monday, Mayor Bill White announced the city will use about $3.5 million of that money to build 10 free wireless network "bubbles" in low-income parts of Houston to give residents access they otherwise might do without." And I'm sure that money includes more than just the access point: think all the infrastructure, etc. to support them.
"Anyone who [rips a CD] is probably engaging in copyright infringement." - David O. Carson
I think somebody in Texas is pulling a prank with acronyms.
I hope this works better than Houston's attempt to create their own office suite, the only notable result of which was a full week of Daily WTF stories on its creation.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
What happens when, just like the .com and housing ones, this bubble bursts? $3.5 million down the drain, that's what.
someone is paying for it, be it other earthnet customers or the taxpayers
Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
racism != cool....or funny.
Orbis terrarum est non altus satis
...and it shouldn't have to be. I think it's a great idea to build out some of that infrastructure, but anyone who thinks it's going to bring full bandwidth to the masses has another think coming. But I have an idea to get businesses to provide this sort of service for "free". Feel free to implement, sell, and tell me your success stories. First, you'd need an easy-to-administrate wireless access point which allows businesses to customize the "Welcome" page, but has few other configurable options. Then you'd need to convince businesses that it's worthwhile for them to get DSL/Cable and run one of your wireless access points in their front window. The customizable "Welcome" page could just be a "digital billboard", saying, "This Internet session courtesy of Blah Blah, incorporated. Come in for a free home loan analysis." Or $0.50 off a mocha. Or something. Then let the user roam free on the net, maybe asking for their contact info first for later mailers if they want to get coupons. This could be extended to almost any fixed structure. Make the system weather-proof, and you could sell the idea to the businesses that advertise on billboards, so that anyone near such a billboard would get free Internet access after being notified of the advertiser's presence, maybe offered something special for calling the number on the billboard. Even newspaper kiosks could offer web access, if they're nailed down and wired appropriately. That way, people who are pulling out their iPhones to check movie listings or look up the weather could get that information from LocalPaper.com's site before moving on to the full-blown Internet. Just an idea, but I think it'd be a good way to profitably get Internet access points freely available, at least to high-traffic business districts. Then let the city build out to other areas; maybe start in less affluent areas where even slow access to the Internet for free would be a great benefit for those who can't afford $25.00/month for DSL.
The CB App. What's your 20?
holy crap, did you come up with that yourself? quick, give me a link to your website so I can see more of your clever witticisms
Does anyone know where I can find a projected coverage area map of "bubbles"? Thanks
Families are dependent on the food bank, minimum wage jobs, welfare and SSI benefits . The Medicaid co-pay on a prescription drug is $3.00. Who among them can afford a computer?
As a native Houstonian, so I think I can speak knowledgeably about this. The fact that Earthlink was willing to cough up $5 million to get out of a contract should tell you something. Obviously they realized this would be money losing proposition. Unfortunately, trust Houston to ignore the problems in other cities and plow ahead anyway. And yes, Earthlink defaulted, but that money now belongs to the taxpayers. It could be MUCH better used--such as hiring more police and fire personnel--than handing out "free" access at taxpayer expense.
Putting these bubbles in "low income" areas makes absolutely no sense, unless they plan to also put in computers or some sort of cybercafe. Most of the people living there are not going to be sporting lap tops. And if they have a computer they're unlikely to have a wireless modem. They'll expect to be given one for free though. These are not nice parts of town. I used to live (briefly) not far from area highlighted on the map in the story. If you stand outside at night (not advisable), you very often hear gunfire. A murdered prostitute was found in the field across from the condos I lived in. Lots of drug dealing. This is not indicative of Houston--it has plenty good areas. I make this point in that if they do set up any sort of computer kiosk places in areas like this, it's going to have to have 24 hour security.
Most of the people taking advantage of this are going to be small-medium businesses who will be milking the free bandwidth, not lower income families. Houston libraries already have computers and internet access, this will give others the ability to bring their own computer--but again, I wouldn't in these areas of town. I think this is going to be a colossal waste of tax payer money.
If you've never been modded as "flamebait" or "troll," you've never tried to argue a minority viewpoint here!
why isn't anyone wondering where all the laptops are coming from that will connect to all this metro-wifi? If I live in low-income housing, and I haven't stolen a laptop off somebody more well to do (yes, a cheap shot), then I've somehow managed to to come up with $400 or rather more for the hardware alone.
Then I take my laptop to a nearby civic center / school / library and instead of using the computers they already have onsite, I surf via the airwaves.
What's the chance I can't afford DSL or dialup at my inner-city home if I have enough disposable income to buy a laptop in the first place? Probably not very high. Ok, maybe the telcos don't have infrastructure to offer DSL in "poor" parts of town. Except that isn't true. Block after block of Section 8 or other low-income housing have phones, COs nearby, and the number of houses without cable is pretty darn few. So service is actually quite available.
If I live in the inner city and I chose not to buy land-line access, what kind of service could I expect while sitting in my concrete and re-bar apartment complex? Signal degredation thru wooden structures is bad enough. I'd have to go sit outside (on my balcony if fortunate) or outside one of these civic hosting facilities. With a >$400 laptop in my hand, would I be comfortable hanging out at these locations? Would the cops leave me alone if I was loitering? Would my fellow residents?
Yes, I've lived in rough areas of Chicago and DC. The premise of metro-WIFI doesn't make a lot of sense because it requires PORTABLE personal computer ownership and that ain't cheap. While some schools may be handing out free laptops to kids just because they can, most aren't. The only benefit and it's really minor is that it allows more people to use the 'net at a facility that only has say 6 computers for all it's patrons to use and is thus greatly oversubscribed. But I could have done that with a $100 AP dropped at each of the community libraries.
The cost of getting a computer is fixed. As a one time expense, it is something even a poor family can save up for. Sure, $200 for a crappy laptop and wifi card make take some saving up, but that is something that can be managed. A monthly cost of $35 (if they're very lucky) for broadband that only works at home is not an appealing proposition if you're barely scraping by. If you look at it as a two year investment, that is $8.50/month vs. $43.50/month.
The laptop also has the benefits of being able to help with self-education. This means that kids who need access the most, to help climb out of poverty through education and experience, get a better chance to do it. It won't help everyone and it will be abused, but it will help a lot of kids get out of the destructive cycle and that will pay off in less young adults needing public assistance and more paying taxes. It is a long term investment, but isn't that what we want city governments doing?
In the short term it might help more people prepare for a better job and encourage more business than the alternative ways of spending the same money. At the heart of every slum is a basic problem, there are lazy, greedy individuals out to get what the world "owes" them who at the same time harm those who might make a better life for themselves given the opportunity. I'm not sure if there is a way to change the behavior of those who are there because they are unwilling to make different choices, but it is possible to help those that are there because they are unable to find better opportunities.
Every young adult that gets a better job out of this is a double-payoff, first in the lack of cost to other tax payers, and second in the taxes that they will pay. I feels naive, but I believe that enough people will improve their lives that the long term cost to benefit ratio will come out positive for the tax payers.
B) Eliminate all the stupid users. This is frowned upon by society.
As a fellow Houstonian, I concur. We don' need municipal wi-fi anymore than we need another freakin' light rail train (er, I mean "trolly").
The bandwidth costs and maintenance overtime will far exceed the $5M "windfall" from the default fine against Earthlink. Yet another money pit.
I might know what I'm talkin' about, but then again, this is Slashdot...
Better uses for $5 million:
- build a new freeway - there hasn't been a new freeway built in Houston for 25+ years and the local for profit county government toll road committee has used its right of way and eminent domain to take prime land that could be new freeways for for profit roads. At what point does a city get the new freeway that they have paid for in fuel taxes for the last 25+ years?
- Build one or more critical overpasses on major surface street intersections
- Extend the light rail to go to Hobby Airport, extend it to go to the inner loop 610 on the north, east and west sides. Extend it west to the geographic center of Houston (near beltway 8 and westheimer)
- Buy out 5% or more of the city workers near retirement and put their salaries to much more benefical uses (e.g., roads, fire, police, sewer, etc.)
- Tow and impound cars driven without insurance or by someone without a drivers license
Houston is on the edge of going from a low cost city to a high cost city because of the high fuel prices, high property taxes (2.25% per year), high water rates, etc. This high cost of living will drive enough people into low income neighborhoods living paycheck to paycheck and having a huge cost to the city and local schools in services used.
Not cool, but very funny!
Now if you don't mind, I've got some hoe searchin to do. Think she'll like my ride and new set of bling-blings? Hey, maybe we can stream video porn to my car LCD screen while driving through the WiFi...beotch!
Most of the people taking advantage of this are going to be small-medium businesses who will be milking the free bandwidth, not lower income families.
I'm not sure about this particular area, but other low-income areas in Houston just happen to have high-priced lofts right next door. Those people will be using the free wifi, too.
By the way, this is a project from the same mayor who wanted to evict a facility for the mentally retarded.
-metric
Because tax payer money will be used to maintain this setup. I am quite sure the residents in these lower income areas could be better served by improving existing city services in their area, health clinics, and job training. Instead some politician gets to feel good and get face time by wasting tax payer dollars. I bet when challenged they will throw back "its for the children".
Yet sure as rain the next budget rolls along and they will have to get more money for the programs they should have done.
Tax payer money really isn't in endless supply. Go ask Detroit just how well that works
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
Anyone else work/live within the first bubble (supposedly active currently)?
I am trying to find a signal but having no luck.
Yeah, it will be great. I've been having to pay for wireless with the change I stole from your ashtray.
As a fellow Houstonian who lived in the Gulfton area before it backslid into such a high crime area,
I think you are assuming way too much. There are plenty of devices that can be had free or cheap
to get on the net, and that are certainly in the reach of low-income family. I've seen plenty
of PSPs ($169) and Nintendo DS ($129) floating around low income neighborhoods just to start, so people are willing
to drop even "small" (by your standard or mine) amounts of disposable income on entertainment. And both
those devices have 802.11b wireless access. Even so a linux PC from Fry's ($199) or Walmart isn't much more if
someone is forced to buy new. You can bet Fry's or someone savvy will start bundling a high-gain antenna
and wireless card / usb stick for this market.
In terms of free or cheap, I personally supervised the disposal of hundreds of computers after a major downsizing
and was able to redirect some of them to a personal favorite charity. If there had been demand for the balance
of the devices I think I could have gotten them all, frankly. But even without a downsizing the City of Houston's Harwin recycling
center accepts old computers for recycling, nothing stopping COH from sending them though a volunteer organization
to see what's reusable and donating devices. They give away toys and bikes every year at Christmas at the George R. Brown,
heck I was there myself last year. But hey just ask your city council members if you don't believe me.
So before you start to poo poo the idea of folks getting access, let me assure you that again I personal experience getting people to volunteer
time and equipment for low-income folks who needed laptops or desktops for college.
Having said that, unless it is very dense I think this infrastructure is going to be oversubscribed very, very quickly.
Good luck to COH keeping the mesh up once its established! And of course I cringe at the first 911 call because someone's
kid can't get on the net and needs to do their homework. You know its going to happen. LOL.
(Read fark.com for plenty of examples of that behavior if you don't believe me there either.)
We don' need municipal wi-fi anymore than we need another freakin' light rail train (er, I mean "trolly").
AKA: The DANGER TRAIN! LOL! (or less familiar, the Wham Bam Tram)
(Houston Rail has a bad reputation of accidents considering the small distance it goes downtown to the medical center and on to the Reliant Center. I think they quit counting after they reached 100 in 2005. And not all are the auto drivers' fault. When you see where the rails go it's no wonder--at one point in the medical center, a left turn lane for cars is ON THE TRACKS. Good thing there's so many hospitals nearby!)
If you've never been modded as "flamebait" or "troll," you've never tried to argue a minority viewpoint here!
I'm not so much worried about them getting the computers, I'm sure there will be groups set up to donate equipment. But will it be used or just resold? How many of these families will actually use the equipment? There's money, even in the poorer communities. But will it be spent on educational items or the latest footwear?
These are the communities who, when the weather is extrodinarily hot, will get free window unit ACs donated to them, then turn around and sell them when the weather cools down. Because they know someone will hand more out when the weather gets hot again.
Also...and I have to give credit that this came from elsewhere, are they going to FILTER the internet? What happens when mom comes home and finds junior checking out the porn on the free internet? They'll have the civil libertarians on them if they try to censor things. The concern I have always when the government hands you a tasty "free" carrot, is that there will always be the ability to control what they want you to see.
If you've never been modded as "flamebait" or "troll," you've never tried to argue a minority viewpoint here!
Penguin,
You may be right -- I'm sure there are people savvy enough to think if I can get something
for free and sell it for a profit, they'll do exactly that. Hell that's just efficient
market making in the Adam Smith invisible hand sort of way.
On the other hand you have people with children who sincerely want the tools to help those
children succeed, and will gladly use a free or cheap computer qualifies if it means free internet access
for junior. People in that category value the computer more than the short term gain
from selling the device.
You raise a valid point and it means there needs to be some sort of gate or control to keep
people from just profiting by reselling the gear.
Perhaps Houston got this right?
When I more there to get away
from the Internet Monopoly that
does not provide where I live, the
Income in that block will go up.
And I bet I am not the only one
that cant stand the Internet Monopoly
most of live in.
Plug in your coonputer today!