Sascha is the Director of the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative and Research Director of the Foundation's Wireless Future Program. Below are two short videos very much to the point on the reasons for creating community-owned networks, and why government should insist on greater openness and interoperability of communications products.
Clearwire Launches 4G Service in Rochester & Syracuse
Submitted by Carlo Moneti on July 1, 2010Clearwire today announced the launch of its 4G mobile broadband service for businesses and consumers in Rochester and Syracuse, New York. Designed to deliver the Internet at speeds four times faster than 3G, CLEAR is priced comparably to many wireless broadband plans, but has no usage caps.
A Message From FreePress.org to the FCC
The FCC has been holding closed-door meetings with telecom lobbyists on Internet policy. Why public interest groups were not invited is unclear. To alert the public, FreePress.org, a pro-consumer advocacy group, placed a full-page ad in the Washington Post.
Santa Monica, CA Launches 10Gb/s Fiber-Optic Network
The network currently serves government, institutional, and business customers. It was built by the city, over time, in parallel with public works projects. As the network grew, the city canceled more and more of it's leased services and switched to the new network. There is no residential service, yet. But the city is looking for retail service providers. Who will build the last mile (FTTH)? The city or the operator?
Telcos Begin Monetizing Your Wireless Location Data
Well, actually, they have been doing it for many years. But with cell phones, the call record includes the cell tower you are using, so your whereabouts can be easily tracked by time and location (within a mile, roughly). If telcos can access your phone's GPS location, your location can be recorded precisely.
Clearwire to Offer WIMAX Service in Syracuse
Submitted by Carlo Moneti on May 6, 2010According to The Syracuse Post-Standard, Clearwire, in partnership with Sprint and Time Warner Cable, will begin offering 4G (WIMAX) mobile broadband service in Syracuse later this summer. Judging from Clearwire's website, www.clear.com, the service is expected to provide 1.5Mbps download and 0.5Mbps upload speeds starting at around $30/mo.
Hong Kong Broadband: 1/1Gbps for $26/Month
Last week Hong Kong introduced symmetrical 1Gb/s broadband service for just $26/mo. They offer symmetrical 100Mb/s service for just $13/mo. These prices are based on current exchange rates between US and HK dollars, which may not reflect the living standards and comparable cost of doing business in the US. In fact, if we adjust for what is called purchasing power parity, those prices would be roughly 25% higher. So $33/mo and $16.50/mo are arguably more accurate prices. Still, very low prices.
Verizon FiOS Says No To Syracuse
Submitted by Carlo Moneti on April 6, 2010Today, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported that Syracuse will not get Verizon FiOS service. Verizon may provide FiOS Internet service to parts of Syracuse's eastside where the buildout is apparently more complete. But it won't pursue a Video Franchise with the city, so TV service will not be available.
Broadband: The 21st Century Equivalent of Electricity
The website http://stopthecap.com has a 3-part article on the history of electrification in the U.S., and notes the political and economics similarities the current development of broadband networks. A very good read. Of particular interest, in Pt. 3, there is a little history of Niagara Mohawk:
Rochester Could Benefit From Their Own Public Broadband Initiative
Rochester won't be getting Verizon FiOS service anytime soon. Nor will it get an upgraded network from Time Warner Cable—precisely because Time Warner Cable isn't feeling or expecting any competition. And yet, Rochester would gain substantial economic development benefits if it could offer high-speed communications services to businesses and residents. Instead, Rochester will be put at a downright disadvantage as nearby communities get wired for fiber.
