MuniWireless

If we want broadband access everywhere, safer highways and smart grid energy management, the solution is a local, wireless “intelligent” Internet.  When I say “intelligent”, I mean the intelligence is at the edges (on the user side), not at the center (command and control at the provider’s side).

In many municipal wireless network deployments today (March 2009 Muniwireless list of cities and counties ), cities and counties are using applications that go beyond Internet access. Whether the networks are used to…

This week the Federal Communications Commission’s staff will hold workshops for the development of a National Broadband Plan. They will explore the following topics:

· State and local governments that have proactively addressed broadband deployment and adoption (Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.)

· Benchmarks for evaluating the dimensions of broadband across geographic areas and across time (Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.)

· Big ideas with the potential to change the Internet (Thursday at 9:30 a.m.)

LOCATION: FCC Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St. SW, Washington D.C.…

A recent report published by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), in association with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), revealed that Africa’s total population passed the 1 billion mark in 2009, growing by 24 million per year. By 2050, Africa’s youth population is expected to reach 349 million, capturing 29% of the global youth population, against 12% today.

These statistics point to the tremendous growth potential of the African wireless market, which currently has 300 million wireless subscribers. That…

The NTIA and RUS have received over 2000 applications under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP).  Applicants requested in total $28 billion for grants and loans. Unfortunately, the two programs can disburse only $7.2 billion. According to the agencies, for infrastructure projects:

Monrovia, California (pop. 38,000) is partnering with Champion Broadband to deploy a municipal wireless network running on the 2.4 and 4.9 GHz frequencies and they’re applying for a grant in the amount of $2.7 million from the NTIA under the BTOP program. Champion is putting up a percentage of the deployment costs if the grant comes through. Many cities and counties have put in applications for grant money from the federal government to improve broadband service in their areas. Read…