ROM-DOS Posted June 1, 2006 CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 Chicago seeks city-wide wireless Internet access Chicago could soon become the world's largest Internet cafe now that the city hall has put out a request for bids to build a city-wide wireless Internet system. The goal is to provide inexpensive -- or even free -- Internet access to all residents in order to help Chicago bridge the digital divide, Mayor Richard Daley said in a statement Tuesday. "In technology, as in too many other areas of our society, there's a wide gap between the haves and have-nots," Daley said. "It's known as the digital divide - and the people on the wrong side of the divide generally have lower incomes and less education." According to one estimate the city cited, even though Internet use has been on the rise among most Americans, 80 percent of households with incomes below 50,000 dollars a year remain unconnected. The city of Chicago will offer the long-term use of its infrastructure, such as street lights and lamp poles to a private firm or consortium to use to set up the antennas used to broadcast a high-speed wireless network. The provider would have to: commit to keep rates low; provide access even in the city's poorest neighborhoods; offer free access in schools, public parks and other destination "hot spots"; and support digital inclusion projects to make computers more widely available to low-income residents. Chicago was the first big American city to have free wireless Internet access throughout its public library system. Other public "hot spots" currently include Millennium Park, the Cultural Center and Daley Plaza. "When we make modern computer and Internet technology available across Chicago, we are giving every person in Chicago the same chance for a good life," Daley said. "We're improving our children's education. We're working to end poverty. We're creating a more modern, sophisticated workforce. And, most important, we're creating hope and opportunity." Copyright AFP 2005, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommie gorman Posted June 1, 2006 CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 That is very good news ROM-DOS. My only other question would be where would they get their computers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PeePs Posted June 1, 2006 CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 Won't the poor people still be paying for their internet through taxes that are required in order to build and maintain such a system? Nothing is ever free. Think of how many people would be using the wireless network and the amount of bandwidth they would need! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommie gorman Posted June 1, 2006 CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 Yes the poor people will be paying for it if they own anything! The poor people usually rent, own beaters, and seldom have a job. They are on Gov't assistance all the way uaually. So basically the more money you make, the more your portion is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just- Posted June 1, 2006 CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 so this time is chicago can some one please update me in SanFrancisco and loads of other cities that wanted to deploy free or paid city wide wireless has any city at the moment have wifi deployed in a scale of a city? yes or no ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROM-DOS Posted June 1, 2006 Author CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 so this time is chicago can some one please update me in SanFrancisco and loads of other cities that wanted to deploy free or paid city wide wireless has any city at the moment have wifi deployed in a scale of a city? yes or no ? http://www.testmy.net/forum/t-14368 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just- Posted June 1, 2006 CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 Rom dude you know all the NUZE around the block from what i read in that link it does not convince me that there is yet a city with wifi ready all over the city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROM-DOS Posted June 1, 2006 Author CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 Skyhook Wireless Wi-Fi Database Now Includes Coverage In Top 100 U.S. Cities, Totaling More Than 8 Million Access Points May 31, 2006 http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/?duty=Show&id=14432&trv=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just- Posted June 1, 2006 CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 Doesn't give u the list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROM-DOS Posted June 1, 2006 Author CID Share Posted June 1, 2006 Doesn't give u the list . . .that'll cost ya! nothing is free. ~ lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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