Great Article, "Let There Be Wi-Fi"
Everyone talks a big game about public wi-fi...But where is the walk, people?
Yes, community projects are sprouting across the U.S. And yes, we have seen action in cities such as Austin, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Minneapolis. However, where is the rest of the country? What are we doing with public and affordable broadband services?
Robert McChesney and John Podesta addresses these questions and more in their article "Let There Be Wi-Fi" in the Washington Monthly. They provide a clear snapshot of the challenges that public municipalities are facing with the advance of technology and our lackadaisical efforts at decreasing the 'digital divide.' Be sure to check this out...
While you do, keep in mind the Friedman 'World Is Flat' warnings that have been discussed here.
McChesney and Podesta discovered about 60 percent of U.S. households do not subscribe to broadband because it is either unavailable where they live or they cannot afford it while most Japanese citizens can access a high-speed connection that's more than 10 times faster than what's available here for just $22 a month. They also point to a fact that Japan is now rolling out ultra-high speed access at more than 500 times what the Federal Communications Commission considers to be “broadband” in this country.
Is that a way to prepare people for a service economy? In my sight, with the blend of public and private entities mixing to install public broadband access in other countries, we're not only falling furthering the chasm of the 'digital divide', but we're also losing several steps in the race for innovation that will arrive with new forms of media.
Why are we not taking more of a progressive stance to create open and public information access for communities?
McChesney and Podesta use a great anaolgy of public wi-fi to the birth of electricity by stating that communities who didn't have electricity couldn't produce as much, and couldn't keep up with urban competitors. It's not a stretch to compare the necessity of the two technologies as a public service in today's world.
Wi-Fi and free information is that important in the new economy and new world...Support your local Wi-Fi advocacy groups and donate, promote, and utilize wirless access.
More than just surfing,
IronDog
Yes, community projects are sprouting across the U.S. And yes, we have seen action in cities such as Austin, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Minneapolis. However, where is the rest of the country? What are we doing with public and affordable broadband services?
Robert McChesney and John Podesta addresses these questions and more in their article "Let There Be Wi-Fi" in the Washington Monthly. They provide a clear snapshot of the challenges that public municipalities are facing with the advance of technology and our lackadaisical efforts at decreasing the 'digital divide.' Be sure to check this out...
While you do, keep in mind the Friedman 'World Is Flat' warnings that have been discussed here.
McChesney and Podesta discovered about 60 percent of U.S. households do not subscribe to broadband because it is either unavailable where they live or they cannot afford it while most Japanese citizens can access a high-speed connection that's more than 10 times faster than what's available here for just $22 a month. They also point to a fact that Japan is now rolling out ultra-high speed access at more than 500 times what the Federal Communications Commission considers to be “broadband” in this country.
Is that a way to prepare people for a service economy? In my sight, with the blend of public and private entities mixing to install public broadband access in other countries, we're not only falling furthering the chasm of the 'digital divide', but we're also losing several steps in the race for innovation that will arrive with new forms of media.
Why are we not taking more of a progressive stance to create open and public information access for communities?
McChesney and Podesta use a great anaolgy of public wi-fi to the birth of electricity by stating that communities who didn't have electricity couldn't produce as much, and couldn't keep up with urban competitors. It's not a stretch to compare the necessity of the two technologies as a public service in today's world.
Wi-Fi and free information is that important in the new economy and new world...Support your local Wi-Fi advocacy groups and donate, promote, and utilize wirless access.
More than just surfing,
IronDog
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home