MuniWireless

Clarity replaced confusion today in the municipal broadband market, as dozens of public safety officials and broadband experts gathered in Santa Clara to discuss mobile applications that can enhance public safety.

Instead of talking theory, public safety gurus from across the country described fully functional applications during a MuniWireless 2007: Silicon Valley pre-conference workshop.

What a difference a year makes. Back in October 2006, many industry watchers — MuniWireless included — focused on digital inclusion as a driving force for municipal broadband.…

Stephen H. Wildstrom, a columnist for BusinessWeek Online, has changed his mind about keeping government from governing the Internet. Why? Because, he believes, governance by the private operators who now call the shots is not serving the public interest.Stephen H. Wildstrom, a columnist for BusinessWeek Online, has changed his mind about keeping government from governing the Internet. Why? Because, he believes, governance by the private operators who now call the shots is not serving the public interest.

Big telcos, he says,…

A bill that would reduce state prohibitions on muni broadband deployments has moved out of committee and is headed for a vote by the U.S. SenateA bill that would reduce state prohibitions on muni broadband deployments has moved out of committee and is headed for a vote by the U.S. Senate.

The Community Broadband Act of 2007, which has broad bi-partisan support, aims to promote universal and affordable broadband access in the U.S. by prohibiting state legislatures from denying local governments…

Geneva, Switzerland is giving away 500 FON routers for free in a project designed to increase the number of areas where people can get Wi-Fi access. FON recently entered into a partnership with BT in the UK to provide FON routers to BT customers. Geneva, Switzerland is giving away 500 FON routers for free to increase the number of areas where people can get Wi-Fi access. FON recently entered into a partnership with BT in the UK to provide FON…

Three Vermont communities–Jericho, Underhill and Westford–are weighing the merits of partnering with a local telecom to bring broadband to residents in the rural towns.Three Vermont communities–Jericho, Underhill and Westford–are weighing the merits of partnering with a local telecom to bring broadband to residents in the rural towns.

The towns have created a Fiber Optic Working Group to investigate options. A plan to lease network capacity from Burlington Telecom stalled following the resignation of the company’s general manager.

Selectboard members now want to…

News of the demise of the proposed muni wireless network in St. Louis, like that of muni wireless in general, has been greatly exaggerated. AT&T has not abandoned the city or its faith in the municipal market. It is focusing on a downtown hot spot pilot. AT&T’s announcement last week that it would not deploy city-wide Wi-Fi in St. Louis came as no surprise. But this was not a case of an incumbent stonewalling muni service. The city and its…