Dianah Neff, former CIO of Philadelphia, has joined Civitium, the consulting firm that advises many cities and regions on their wireless broadband projects. Dianah will head up the firm’s international practice.Dianah Neff, former CIO of Philadelphia, has joined Civitium, the consulting firm that advises many cities and regions on their wireless broadband projects. Dianah will head up the firm’s international practice.
Dianah led Philadelphia’s citywide wireless broadband project (the city chose EarthLink to deploy and run the network). While CIO of Philadelphia, Dianah fought for the city’s right to deploy a wireless network, whose primary goal is to lower the cost of broadband for residents and businesses. She has been an outspoken critic of the incumbents’ efforts to stop municipal broadband projects (notably in Pennsylvania, where the legislature passed a law that requires municipalities to ask Verizon for permission before deploying their own networks).
In addition to leading Civitium’s international practice, Dianah will advise the firm’s strategic US clients on strategy, policy and communications planning matters. She starts in September.
[...] Philadelphia’s former WiFi and technology guru, Dianah Neff, will land at the private consulting firm Civitium, points out Muni Wireless and a release from Civitium. Looks like the public face of Philly’s metro WiFi got smart and will use her high profile to follow the dollars being spent on the city-wide WiFi deployments from the side of the lucrative private sector. [...]
So what do you suppose is wrong with this picture? She brings in the “good old boys network” of Civitium, Earthlink, Tropos, etc. to build Philadelphia. The heat in the kitchen got too hot, so she leaves with everyone else holding the bag.
And doesn’t this smack of collusion on her part. I can only wonder what her counterparts at the City of Philadelphia are thinking now.
We should stop making icons of soap.
Besides, here are too many people drinking the wireless “Cool-Aid” pitch from these guys.
Some day, and I hope it won’t be long, reality will set in before this segment of the industry is completely destroyed by incompetence. Sure, they’ll have their profit from it all, leaving all of the remaining pieces for the rest to clean up.
I saw this happen in the 10 Gigabit SONET industry segment a few years back. Looks like we’re destined for the same future here.
First there is all the consulting being done by a company that has close ties and financial investment from the other “good old boys”. Then they all invest in this site as a vehicle for their “Cool-Aid”. They continually pitch mesh networks for “free” and taint the reality of how radio systems really work, and that business models for “free” are anything but that.
I can tell you that they (Civitium) won the bid in Las Vegas to do industry research for them. It’s such a shame because they will continue with more of the same and the City will be drinking the same old “Cool-Aid”. It’s all too similar to the “Emperor’s New Clothes” saga.
If this makes it through editing and to post I’ll be surprised.
Regards.
AP is reporting this morning that Philly Mayor Street has asked the city’s ethics board to review the circumstances around the Civitium consulting contract and Ms. Neff going there.
I would be surprised if they find anything but she sure does know how to get attention.
Nothing wrong with that.
I make this post to correct my post of August 18th. I in no way meant to imply or state that Civitium conducts its business in an unethical or criminal manner. My post was about Ms. Neff and her actions which are in the public eye and are subject to review by her current employer, the City of Phildelphia.
In my post of August 18 I did not mean to imply that Civitium was receiving direct monies as an investment from any supplier or wireless operator. To my knowledge there has never been an investment in Civitium by any other company. If you examine their website you will not find affiliation with any other company.
Civitium’s winning of the bid in Las Vegas was accomplished by free and open bid/award process by the City. The Market Research that they will conduct for the City will benefit the City directly. Civitium will be compensated for their professional services of course. However I did not mean or imply that Civitium was conducting their work for Civitium’s exclusive benefit. It’s obvious that they are performing the work for the benefit of the City.
RITE Brain does have business relationships with numerous suppliers, consultants and service provider companies. Those relationships are necessary and appropriate in the consulting arena to stay abreast of technology innovation, processes, procedures and other intangibles. All of those are fully disclosed on our website for all to see.
I sincerely apologize if this post caused any negative interpretation of Civitium, its employees or associates.