-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 I am forwarding on some interesting info I got about St. Paul-wide WiFi - -ben "Unix is user friendly, Its just picky about its friends." - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:33:17 -0600 From: Jon Kerr <jon at oldmanriver.com> Hi everyone! I wanted to send a quick update to everyone who has expressed interest on the City of Saint Paul's wifi initiative. I welcome any and all feedback on these items: 1. The Saint Paul Broadband Access Project was part of a February 22 meeting at City Hall to begin mapping out a look at the city's alternatives, per the Council's resolution in December, 2004 with a report back called for on April 1, 2005. Participants also included representatives from the Saint Paul Chamber, the city's Tech and Council Research departments, and Council Member Lee Helgen's office. Discussion centered around general goals or issues involved in potential citywide wifi or other broadband development. Included in benefits of a citywide approach were possibilities of lower cost broadband services to small businesses, low-income and minority neighborhoods - with related educational, employment and other opportunities to address "digital divide" issues. Other forms of potential economic and civic development included tourism or promotion for the city, and opportunities to offer better and more cost-efficient city services such as public safety, health etc. Council Member Helgen also noted the advantages of a cohesive citywide system over a piecemeal wifi system based upon "hotspots" such as those at coffeeshops etc. for business travelers. The Chamber representative noted concerns about the City's involvement and what might be seen as potential competition with some private telecommunications providers such as Comcast. We noted that many Saint Paul businesses, including telecommunications firms, could be expected to benefit from lower-cost wifi. Other participants noted that the city is primarily interested in acting as a catalyst to achieve wifi's potentials, with a public-private partnership a very possible option. Minneapolis RFP, which seeks out bids from private telecommunications firms for a citywide wifi system, was generally discussed as a possible model - among others. Research on these and other related subjects, including the city's current telecommunications infrastructure (fiber optic lines etc.) was divided up among participants with reports expected back at the next meeting on March 8. It was also agreed that attempts would be made to broaden the group including Saint Paul school officials, the University of Minnesota, Convention and Visitors Bureau, City Attorneys office and others. 2. We are distributing the following general wifi resolution for precinct caucuses on March 1. We'd appreciate any presenters or other support you are willing to give: RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE EXPANSION OF WIRELESS AND OTHER HIGH SPEED, BROADBAND INTERNET AND OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES, INSTITUTIONS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF SAINT PAUL * WHEREAS, recent technological changes including the introduction of wi-fi networking, internet telephony (VOIP), high definition video and further expected breakthroughs have greatly improved options for transmission and receival of high speed broadband internet and other telecommunications signals; and * WHEREAS, while an estimated 25 million Americans currently use some form of high speed broadband, the lack of cable and DSL connection access in some geographic areas including Saint Paul and prices that have remained largely constant over the past five years has now seen us nationally drop from first to 13th in the world in proportion of access; and * WHEREAS, the role of high speed broadband access for business, educational, health, tourist, governmental, recreational and other informational or communication purposes has become increasingly important with the resulting lack of access for those unable to share its benefits for economic, geographic or educational reasons creating what is known as a "digital divide"; and * WHEREAS, numerous cities, municipalities and communities across the nation, including our neighbor the City of Minneapolis, have recently undertaken or completed projects to promote reduced cost wireless (wi-fi) networking covering broad geographic areas; and * WHEREAS, included in the potential benefits is cost savings and improved service opportunities for public safety, schools, inspectors, parks, public works, and other governmental departments; and * WHEREAS, we have similar needs and opportunities that require all Saint Paul businesses, governmental institutions and residents to have full access to state-of-the-art broadband internet and other communications facilities at affordable prices, and other groups such as the Saint Paul Broadband Access Project and the Twin Cities Wireless Users Groups have emerged as potential allies in such efforts; and *NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul immediately research and pursue any and all readily identifiable options in conjunction with these groups or others interested in creating affordable broadband access for all in the city who desire it. 3. We are tentatively scheduled to be part of an April 19 telecommunications conference hosted by the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits that would include a panel focusing on broadband (wifi) opportunitities. We have also been talking with other groups about potential public events that would highlight and hopefully focus the discussion about wifi pros and cons in the Twin Cities. More on that as it develops. Again, thanks for your interest and we welcome any feedback. Jon Kerr Saint Paul Broadband Access Project 651-457-9254 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.5 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFCHQkLfYg2asD844oRAtQ9AJ4mkyu4Cq91VmbIQpeQQuZ+lHkqawCgsyuW Sx4bS3Tyv5G1AQrOFU9zbws= =JWj9 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----