Quick news story about the Citywide Wireless initiative for Milwaukee this morning: According to the Journal Sentinal, the common council approved planned negotiations with Midwest Fiber Networks yesterday, which is the first big step in moving the whole plan forward.
Negotiations could lead to extra cash for the city or, more likely, compensation in the form of free wireless access for those in the parks and public housing projects, or reduced rates for low-income residents.
The part that concerns me there is the ‘more likely’ quote, which seems to indicate that the city of Milwaukee is going to get less than what could be it’s fair share of monetary revenue off this deal. Discounted rates for low income families is a wonderful idea, but more needs to be given to the city – in my opinion – in return for the position Midwest Fiber has been given.
I live in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI with my wife Jen, our daughter Emerson, and son Carter.
As one of three owners of Midwest Fiber Networks engaged in negotiations with Milwaukee, I can assure you the city is rigorously pursuing its due diligence in negotiating on behalf of its taxpayers.
While I can appreciate your concern for the city and the taxpayer, of whom I’m one, it should be noted that the project calls for Midwest Fiber to invest $20 million to build this wireless network that stands to positively affect economic development, education, the digital divide, public safety, public works, and overall convenience for the consumer among others. In this day and age it seems a refreshing change to read about a company proposing to pay its own way.
Hello Donna. I’m one of the people who this plan is supposed to help.
I live in a low income part of town. And, one way you plan on giving back
is to give low cost access, but what about people like me and my family
who do’t have a computer yet? Right now we have to go to the libary to use computers
so your plan doesnt help us at all. So how does this help me and people in my neihborhood that are in the same situation as me. I was searching for ansers to this question on the internet and came here so I’m glad to talk to the person whos in charge.
Thanks Mike.
Mike,
Thanks for your comments and questions about the Milwaukee Wireless Initiative and Midwest Fiber Networks role in it.
Midwest Fiber Networks is working closely with the city and One Economy, a national nonprofit created to bring access to technology into the homes of low-income people around the country.
Some early conversations have centered on what steps need to be taken to ensure the city-wide wireless network provides public benefit to low-income and impoverished families. Preliminary possibilities include providing access to low-cost or free computers through One Economy, as well as online content support and training to educate families about navigating the web.
The strategy is to help low-income people use technology to build assets and join the economic mainstream. By forming these partnerships, Midwest Fiber Networks can better serve all the residents, businesses and government entities of Milwaukee.
Donna Raffaelli
Mike,
Similar thread that might be fun to watch: http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=169669&cid=14140551