Interesting e-mail I received today tries to put public pressure on cities to not provide WiFi access. You think the ILECs might have something to do with this? Hopefully I will have time to catch some of it... Should be interesting.
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This is a quick reminder about a phone-based national news event at 1:30 P.M. EST TODAY (Thursday, February 3, 2005).
The New Millennium Research Council (NMRC) will release a major new report outlining the “grave flaws” likely to lead to the failure of city-run Wi-Fi wireless broadband schemes, which are now being contemplated in Chicago, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, New York City, San Francisco and other municipalities.
Telecom and Internet experts will outline their views on such key topics as the failure of recent city-run Internet/telecommunication access initiatives, unrealistic front-end financial projections used to sell projects, the likelihood of major long-term cost overruns that would leave taxpayers holding the bag, the absence of any evidence to support claims of economic-development booms that supposedly would result from city wi-fi programs, and the damage to commercial broadband firms that would be undercut by city-subsidized services.
The distinguished group of news event speakers will include U.S. Internet Industry Association president and CEO David P. McClure and The Heartland Institute senior fellow for IT and telecom policy Steven Titch.
In order to join the live two-way, telephone-based news conference (with full Q&A), dial 1 (800) 860-2442 by 1:30 p.m. EST today (February 3, 2005). Ask for the “”Municipal Wi-Fi Report" news event.
If you have any questions, contact me – Patrick Mitchell - at (703) 276-3266 or pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com.
I hope that you can join us for this important news event!
-- Patrick
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While the general economic theory discussed is true, the lack of any opposing view point and the obvious omission of the benefits of newer Muni Wi-Fi business models makes it obvious that this was a ploy by Big Wireless to sabotage the grass roots movement to provide wireless Internet where it's needed at an appropriate price. I appreciate the NMRC's legitimate concerns, but this was a wholesale denouncement of the application of a technology that is both desired and needed.