Comments on: Boston WiFi: Non-profit or Non-funded? http://gigaom.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/ Trusted Insights and Conversations on the Next Wave of Technology Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:36:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Eastie Boy http://gigaom.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59088 Eastie Boy Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:34:13 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59088 <p>http://www.masstech.org/institute/broadband5-06/index.htm </p> <p>check this out, the report was effectively written 3 months before it was issued and before any public forums or briefings. looks like the group that paid for the report got what it paid for, could they be the non-profit that runs it?</p> http://www.masstech.org/institute/broadband5-06/index.htm

check this out, the report was effectively written 3 months before it was issued and before any public forums or briefings. looks like the group that paid for the report got what it paid for, could they be the non-profit that runs it?

]]> By: Jesse Kopelman http://gigaom.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59087 Jesse Kopelman Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:24:06 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59087 <p>The thing that people, especially outside of Boston, don't understand is that the Big Dig was actually a great idea. When not collapsing on people, those tunnels save 30 minutes or more over the time it used to take to get to some places in the city. The problem, like it usually is, was execution -- not lack of a good idea. Harvard and MIT don't dick around. If they stay involved in this wireless project, it will succeed. The funny thing to me is who needs Google or Earthlink? If you want privately funded, any of the big Boston schools, Harvard, MIT, BU, Northeastern, could cover the cost of this project with the change in their sofa cushions.</p> The thing that people, especially outside of Boston, don’t understand is that the Big Dig was actually a great idea. When not collapsing on people, those tunnels save 30 minutes or more over the time it used to take to get to some places in the city. The problem, like it usually is, was execution — not lack of a good idea. Harvard and MIT don’t dick around. If they stay involved in this wireless project, it will succeed. The funny thing to me is who needs Google or Earthlink? If you want privately funded, any of the big Boston schools, Harvard, MIT, BU, Northeastern, could cover the cost of this project with the change in their sofa cushions.

]]> By: Haggie http://gigaom.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59086 Haggie Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:03:01 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59086 <p>Google has infrastructure and doesn't cost the city anything. Earthlink has infrastructure and doesn't cost the city anything. Why would you want a non-profit to spend years and millions of dollars to replicate the same infrastructure and services two world-class companies are already able to provide? Call this BigDig 2.0.</p> Google has infrastructure and doesn’t cost the city anything. Earthlink has infrastructure and doesn’t cost the city anything. Why would you want a non-profit to spend years and millions of dollars to replicate the same infrastructure and services two world-class companies are already able to provide? Call this BigDig 2.0.

]]> By: David Blaylock http://gigaom.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59085 David Blaylock Tue, 01 Aug 2006 02:35:12 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/31/boston-wifi-non-profit-or-non-funded/#comment-59085 <p>I think Boston has the best model to date. A non-profit is a perfect fit for this type of project. All the key elements are there. The city opens rights of way, but doesn't own or operate infrastructure. No public money is used. The political red tape is minimized.</p> <p>Citizens in Boston will have the one thing most of us don't have. Choice. If successful, others will follow. I just hope it can survive any litigation from the telco and cable companies.</p> <p><a href="http://www.speakingip.com/wp/2006/07/31/boston-wi-fi-network-plan-strikes-a-blow-for-net-neutrality/" rel="nofollow">Boston Wi-Fi project</a></p> I think Boston has the best model to date. A non-profit is a perfect fit for this type of project. All the key elements are there. The city opens rights of way, but doesn’t own or operate infrastructure. No public money is used. The political red tape is minimized.

Citizens in Boston will have the one thing most of us don’t have. Choice. If successful, others will follow. I just hope it can survive any litigation from the telco and cable companies.

Boston Wi-Fi project

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