Oklahoma
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Oklahoma City claims world's largest municipal WiFi mesh network, leaves public out
With just about every other US city shutting down any Muni-Fi project that managed to get off of the ground, we can't help but have mixed feelings about this one. Oklahoma City is boasting of having the world's largest municipal WiFi mesh network, but for whatever reason, it's being reserved exclusively for "public safety and other City operations." In other words, it's not there to provide wireless internet access to the general public -- yet, at least. The network itself covers 555 square miles with 95% service coverage in the city's core, took two years to construct and was funded with $5 million from "public safety capital sales tax and City capital improvement funds." Talk about a tease.[Image courtesy of OKWebCenter]
19-year-old mayor of Oklahoma town is a gaming enthusiast
University of Oklahoma freshman John Tyler Hammons harbors the stereotypical interests of a 19-year-old college student -- an Associated Press report, apparently written by a 1950's schoolteacher, credits Hammons as enjoying "fast cars and rock n' roll". Anachronistic lingo aside, the teenager also apparently spends his time beating the pants off of seventy-year-old incumbents in local mayoral races, and according to the same AP story, could probably beat the rest of Muskogee's local leaders in a round of Call of Duty 4.Yes, the "baby-faced" gaming enthusiast will be sworn in next week as the mayor of Muskogee -- an Oklahoma city of about 38,000. Though his achievement completely overshadows our teenage feat of becoming the youngest Taco Bell assistant manager in the tri-county area, we can't wait to see how a fellow gamer (one who is many years the minor of most of Joystiq's staff) decides to run a town -- almost as much as we can't wait to hear the mayoral pick-up lines he busts out at the next Sooner soiree.
Cox brings another handful of HD channels to Oklahoma
Just two months after Oklahoma City and Tulsa received a new trio of high-def channels from Cox Communications, a new six-pack has found its way onto the on-deck circle. Based on an updated HD channel lineup for both of the aforementioned cities, residents can expect Sci-Fi HD (752), Lifetime HD (759), Bravo HD (763), CNBC (784), Weather Channel HD (785) and USA HD (732) to arrive in short order. Sadly, we're not sure exactly what day to expect the new half dozen, but hopefully "Coming Soon" is just hours (rather than days, weeks or months) away.[Thanks, Philip]
Cricket launches first AWS CDMA handset
It doesn't look like much, but it's the innards of UTStarcom's unassuming CDM7126 flip that makes it a superstar. It turns out that this is the very first CDMA phone to launch in the US on AWS bandwidth, meaning that in addition to the typical 850 and 1900MHz support, this one adds in a little extra coverage punch via the new 1700MHz spectrum that T-Mobile is also sharing for its 3G services. We spied the CDM7126 at CES earlier this year -- hence the somewhat unusual picture -- and while we can't find it hiding out on carrier partner Cricket's website, residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma should be able to march into stores as soon as today to pick 'er up. Don't get too excited, though; other than the noteworthy use of AWS, the phone lacks EV-DO and an external display. Yikes![Via Phone Scoop]
Allegiance Communications rolls out array of HD channels
Though Allegiance Communications may not be known very well nationally, we're sure mid-sized markets in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas are quite familiar with the name. Nevertheless, said cable carrier has reportedly just "completed the first phase of channel additions for 2008," and there's definitely some HD love mixed in. According to Oklahoma's Tecumseh Countywide News, local residents can now access A&E HD, HGTV HD, Food Network HD, National Geographic HD and Starz HD on channels 972, 973, 975, 976 and 974, respectively. Better still, the outfit has also promised that ESPN2 HD will be joining the fold in the coming months, and just in case that still wasn't enough, subscribers can look forward to Chiller, Fox Business HD and RFD HD showing up in the not-too-distant future. Not bad for a rural carrier, huh?
Tulsa's NBC affiliate (KJRH) becomes first in Oklahoma with HD news
For those that call Tulsa, Oklahoma home and are sick and / or tired of tuning into SD newscasts each night, you finally have a better option. Effectively immediately, residents in the Tulsa area can now point their antenna to the region's NBC affiliate (KJRH Channel 2) and receive news in high-definition. Best of all, the station will be broadcasting all of its news -- 28 hours worth per week -- in HD, and if you really want to know how lucky you are, the next closest station(s) to Tulsa to do the same are in Dallas, Texas. Enjoy, Tulsans.
Cox Oklahoma adding HGTV, Travel Channel, and Food Network in HD
Just last summer, AT&T rolled its U-verse service into Oklahoma City and threw the ball back in Cox's court. Now, the latter is beefing up its own lineup ever so slightly in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Starting on February 12th, subscribers in both regions will purportedly be able to tune into HGTV HD, Travel Channel HD and Food Network HD on channels 737, 744 and 745. We know -- you all were wishing for a few more than three, but hopefully it's just a sign of things to come, eh?[Thanks, Philip]
Oklahoma violent game law overturned
A federal judge today handed down an opinion (PDF link) putting a stop to an Oklahoma law that created a $1,000 fine for disseminating violent games to minors. Oklahoma now joins California, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Washington in the list of states that have had such laws have been overturned by the U.S. courts.Besides reaffirming the oft-stated judicial opinion that games are a form of speech protected by the first amendment, U.S. District Court Judge Robin Cauthron included some harsh words for the defense in her opinion. "Beyond Defendants' generalized statements, there is a complete dearth of legislative findings, scientific studies, or other rationale in the record to support the passage of the Act," the opinion reads in part. "Defendants' argument that 'common sense' dictates that playing violent video games 'is not good for children,' and that the onus is on Plaintiffs to prove otherwise, completely fails." Ouch! This wasn't just a win for the game industry, it was a rout.Of course, Oklahoma could follow California's lead and appeal the ruling, but given the strong language in this opinion, we really think Oklahoma should cut their losses and just stop wasting the taxpayers' money.Read - GamePolitics reportRead - Law of the Game analysisPDF - Full text of the legal opinion
Tulsa, OK Apple Store set to open
The newest Apple Store will open in Tulsa, OK, this coming Saturday, June 29th. Apple Store Woodland Hills is located at 7021 S. Memorial Dr., on the lower level of the mall near Macy's. You can find complete travel directions here.As usual, the first 1,000 visitors will get a commemorative T-shirt, and the store is hosting a grand opening giveaway. If you visit Apple Store Woodland Hills next weekend, let us know how it goes! Have fun, Tulsa.Thanks, Mark!
ESA calls Oklahoma's bluff; lawsuit imminent
Like clockwork, the Entertainment Software Association's Doug Lowenstein has issued a statement regarded the passage of Oklahoma's HB3004, a bill that, by classifying them as "harmful to minors," would restrict the sale or rental of violent video games to minors*. GamePolitics has reprinted part of Lowenstein's statement, in which he writes:"The ESA is deeply disappointed by the actions of the Oklahoma Legislature. We believe HB 3400[sic] will restrict the First Amendment rights of Oklahoma's citizens, and intend to file suit in Oklahoma federal district court shortly, asking that the state's new video game law be overturned...""We do sincerely appreciate and respect the concerns that these legislators have. However, six courts in five years have struck down similar laws, ruling that they were unconstitutional and rejecting the unpersuasive claims made by states that violent video games cause aggression...""We hope that sooner or later state legislators and candidates will stop trying to seek headlines by subverting the constitution and frittering away desperately needed taxpayer dollars and instead enter into a constructive partnership to educate parents about the tools available so they, not government, can raise their kids as they see fit."*To answer the inevitable question of "What's wrong with keeping little Billy from killing hookers?" we'll direct you to star commenter 32_Footsteps' explanation: "the consequence of such laws will be that manufacturers will self-censor in order to prevent running afoul of the law. When a content producer self-censors to make something accessible to a wider audience, they risk losing something in the game." Legislation may result in new retail environments that would force publishers to reconsider the content of games or risk financial inviability. That means adults wouldn't be able to play GTA either. The ensuing discussion in this post is well worth your time. Thanks, guys!
Oklahoma guv signs violent games bill into law
GamePolitics broke the news over the weekend that Oklahoma governor Brad Henry (D) threw his John Hancock on HB3004, a little piece of legislation by Rep. Fred Morgan (R) that, by classifying them as "harmful to minors," would restrict the sale or rental of violent videogames to minors effective November 1st. Now, I understand that Oklahoma is sort of flat, but that's one slippery slope they've gotten themselves on. In a short statement, the governor wrote, "The violence in videogames has grown to epic proportions. Some video games glorify violence to a degree seldom seen in even the bloodiest movies. While parents have the ultimate responsibility for what their children do and see, this legislation is another tool to ensure that our young people are not saturated in violence. This gives parents the power to more closely regulate which games their children play."But that's not even the best part! The Oklahoma Senate took the opportunity to tack on some "unrelated language ... regarding signage around strip clubs and porn shops." Cause they're all the same thing right? How long before some pol tries to pass laws regarding gaming retailers? GTA in brown wrap? "I'll take, uh, that one ... on the top shelf. No, the tooop shelf. Yeah, with the hookers in it."While no lawsuit has been filed by the ESA, an "industry source" told GP, "ESA and EMA have vigorously responded to each of these laws that has been enacted, and they have been successful in every case. No one should expect a different course of action or result in this instance." Let's review: St. Louis unconstitutional Indianapolis unconstitutional Washington State unconstitutional Illinois unconstitutional Michigan unconstitutional Maryland (doesn't really count, so we'll let you have it) California (currently under review by Federal District Court Judge Ronald Whyte) Minnesota (lawsuit has been filed following passage of the law) ... and now ... Oklahoma (lawsuit anticipated)
