email: tompoe [ at ] fngi dot net

Ypsilanti, Michigan continues to build out its broadband infrastructure. Two fellows monitor, operate and maintain the community wireless mesh network that constitutes the community's broadband infrastructure. Computers that can "see" each other, enjoy broadband speeds that are ten-fold or more higher than anything any telco/cableco monopoly offers.
San Francisco continues to build out its broadband infrastructure. When completed, San Francisco will put out a requrest for proposal for Internet access provision. Unlike others, though, this RFP will call for bids to pay the city to participate and offer Internet access services. You see, San Francisco is creating an indigenous resource. Instead of paying someone to provide one, they already have theirs. It cost them a measly $50 to set up the broadband infrastructure, and from that point on, this broadband infrastructure is on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs each house a one-time fee of $50 to participate. Everyone chips in to help build out the broadband infrastructure, and once all houses have a Meraki unit plugged in, the entire community benefits from everyone who participates. There will be literally thousands of subnetworks operating on the infrastructure.
Without Internet access, virtual town hall meetings will take place, hospitals will implement their "branded networks" and provide the community with needed telemedicine programs. Every child will be able to start their multimedia assignments in school computer labs, and complete their homework assignments from home in the evenings and weekends, by making connection with their school network. The police, fire, and rescue will be able to utilize the broadband infrastructure to provide improved services for the community. City departments that operate on a work-order basis will be able to save significant monies by utilizing the broadband infrastructure. Those that install VoIP software on their computers and cell phones, will be able to communicate with each other without connecting to the phone company. Those that install affordable webcams on their computers and laptops, will join those with cell phones and participate in live, interactive tv and radio talk shows that will be broadcast across the broadband infrastructure, and not have to rely on major tv and radio networks for local news and information.
Broadband infrastructure represents an indigenous resource for any community. Since it is built by the people, this resource can be used to gain revenues from the telco/cableco monopolies that used to charge for telecommunications and media access. Now, they will have to pay for the privilege to participate, or the community will just do what they do, without Internet access, and still gain literally millions, if not billions in revenues that weren't possible, before. And, that money stays in the community.
ConnectedNations.org reports that the United States lost $137 billion dollars last year by failing to provide a broadband infrastructure in every community. City and state leaders are now on notice that each year that goes by without providing citizens with an affordable broadband infrastructure, their liability exposure increases. There is no excuse for not just doing the right thing. After all, where can you go, and find a more reasonable cost for a national broadband infrastructure? Buy one Meraki unit, today, and give it to your mayor, and instruct her to get to work.