http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/ Engadget Comments for Akron, Ohio to provide free citywide WiFi, inevitably fail within a few years http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/]]>Jul 1st 2008 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
From a logistical standpoint (not sure of the behind the scenes finance issues) the whole thing fell apart because they never were able to get a consistent signal through walls -- which kinda undermined the whole mission statement. The new vision (there's still a vision, apparently), is to provide actual free outside service to the whole city.]]>Jul 1st 2008 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
Until then, the goal is free. With the other projects I imagine that too was their goal, until reality hit them in the back of the head with a louisville slugger.

So regardless of how you chalk it, the question's still stupid. Engadget's not clairvoyant.


--

"Albanese said Akron will be a model of how a city can offer universal free access to the World Wide Web for its residents as well as provide the latest digital infrastructure for business and residents."]]>Jul 1st 2008 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
Free does not mean better. Like socialist healthcare, that is of poor quality; socialist internet access is likely to be very slow, insecure, and limiting. Private companies will do fine, given that they provide a service that is far superior to the free one.

Like all socialist ideas that have been tried since the late 1700's-early 1800's this one too will fail in due time. History repeats it's self and socialists (NAZI's) never learn from it. ]]>Jul 1st 2008 10:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/the same service and are funded by local businesses and power users. The problem is once something is free, it is perceived to have no value and you can't show it off to your friends and neighbors because anybody can have it. Linux is free and it isn't worried about going under anytime soon. Then again, they don't
have to buy stuff like bandwidth from telcos. But, not everyone is smart enough to setup and use something like Linux with no corporate limits imposed.

The problems come when they have to buy bandwidth or expand. This
project has a grant and the interest earned on that money may be
enough to cover it.

I am viewing this like the library, dorm and campus setup at my
college. Anybody could get on, nothing was logged if you used public
computers and nothing was filtered. Costs were paid out of tuition,
but the initial network setup fee would be the biggest cost. Since
the network hasn't changed much in the past 5 years, there is no
reason to think that the costs would be that bad. The routers and
switches and cat 5 cable don't go bad.

I would like to see the private companies do yearly billing and see
how many people would spend $480/year for internet access instead of
$40/month. I think the local coffee shop would see an increase in
business, or a local non-profit would setup a WiMax setup where
individuals would buy their own network card and pay only for the
bandwidth and administration costs.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/]]>Jul 3rd 2008 2:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
Hmmm? You like to pay for your internet!?!

What is the world coming to!?!?!


(p.s, I realise this is a typo...I'm just the funny guy)]]>Jul 1st 2008 4:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 2nd 2008 6:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/and a lawsuit wouldn't hold up due to it being a free public service and I sure as he'll would sell it for at alot more than 5k]]>Jul 1st 2008 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
Earthlink completely fucked up SF's plans for muni wifi-aggressively horning in on the planning process, making promises they couldn't keep, and then running away after the deal was made. Philadelphia too. ]]>Jul 1st 2008 4:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/ (Or I'm just crazy, which most of you most likely will assume because of what I said and/or my name and picture)]]>Jul 1st 2008 5:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
Yes, it will fail.

Free is never free you idiots. All it means is that you pay with it through your taxes. It means that sales tax they charge you is now being funneled to some group to set this network up versus re-paving streets, upgrading water/sewer services, building parks, hiring cops, hiring firefighters.

I hope people that think this is free love it when other aspects of your town crumble because the money was taken away. When that robber steals you iPod and no cop was around, you can rest assure that wifi is still free instead of paying the salary of someone who could have helped you.

Sheesh, just pay for your services. Be a productive member of society and earn a living so you can pay for a quality service. And if you think cable and phone companies have horrible customer service. Then be ready for worse customer service when you have issues with free wifi.

]]>Jul 1st 2008 4:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
No one seems to get it. Sure the grant helps, but in the end guess who really ends up paying for it? Taxpayers. Everyone loves to hear the word free until they realize that its not really free unless they aren't paying any taxes. Why do you think people with little or no income love big government? Because they are the only ones truly getting shit for free.

This is the same with our healthcare system. "Affordable" healthcare sounds great until you find out that although your healthcare premiums go down, your taxes go through the roof. Yes medical insurance providers are evil, but just wait to see what happens when the US government takes it over.]]>Jul 1st 2008 6:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 2nd 2008 7:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
Santa Monica choose to roll out WiFi in small increments. First connecting all the major City buildings. Then, slowly adding WiFi and even ground based internet to the main commercial district.

Based on their success it seems like it is more economically feasible to add the network in phases, carefully selecting areas with the highest potential usage and avoiding areas where there would be minimal usage.

The end result isn't "City-Wide" but it is sustainable.]]>Jul 1st 2008 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/22749554.html]]>Jul 1st 2008 5:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/22749554.html
]]>Jul 1st 2008 5:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
For decades there have been virtually no 'nice' housing in the downtown area, but over the past few years a number of options have popped up, including my neighborhood, which is an example of 'new urbanism' style planning. What used to literally be the projects is now a mixed-income, multicultural community that is quiet, family-friendly and quite livable/walkable.

Unfortunately, this development signed a great 'deal' with Time Warner to pre-wire the houses for cable TV/internet. Maybe this is only a local phenomenon, but TWC has taken a drastic turn for the worse over the past year around here. Incredibly unreliable services, clogged support queues and lousy technicians have become the norm. It's too bad, since Akron was a testbed for TW's Roadrunner service - my family was one of the first to get broadband in the early 90s, and it was amazing, but they have not kept pace.

I'm fully aware this isn't going to be a blazing fast service, and there will certainly be hiccups, but I will appreciate the fact that I now have a backup provider available 24/7, and that thousands of my neighbors, many of whom do not have a lot of disposable income, will be able to get online easily and inexpensively.

I'm quite aware TINSTAAFL and the money spent on this project could be spent elsewhere - but I think the benefits of this move still outweigh the costs. Like much of the country, our infrastructure is in bad shape, but there has been a ton of construction lately, roads and schools are gradually improving, and our police force is actually quite good. This is a relatively cheap expenditure that will provide a lot of bang-for-the-buck. The fact that some cities have mismanaged their rollouts doesn't mean this one will fail.]]>Jul 1st 2008 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 4th 2008 3:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
http://wifi.google.com/]]>Jul 1st 2008 6:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
I'd rather see Akron invest in more police officers to clean the place up. Either way, Akron is a beautiful city and theres a lot of potential. Good news.]]>Jul 1st 2008 5:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 5:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
You can check an article about Municipal WiFi's Problems at http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=526&doc_id=149441&f_src=flffour]]>Jul 1st 2008 6:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 6:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/Jul 1st 2008 6:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/akron-ohio-to-provide-free-citywide-wifi-inevitably-fail-withi/
Once again Engadget is all talk, ZERO substance. Munic WiFi is going smoothly here in Minneapolis, MN. But hey. Who ever said you needed to get your facts straight when you talk shit.]]>Jul 1st 2008 7:03PM