This is how it should be: if you’re living in a poorer neighborhood and/or experiencing the “last mile” problem, you should get government assistance to deliver internet access to your home. And what better than Wi-Fi (the faster type, mind you)?
According to the Post, the D.C. government is soliciting bids on blanketing the District with wireless internet service, “including free service for low-income residents.”
They’re taking an unusual approach, however. They will award the contract to whoever goes the farthest in serving this low-income population with free internet access, and even free computers and training.
It’s a wonderful, brilliant idea. I always want to see our government do more to close gaps - the education gap, the gender gap, the disability gap, the racial gap, the digital divide. Gaps are antithetical to the idea of a free and equal society, and internet service is already as vital as having a television or radio in the living room.
Kudos to the D.C. government. The only issue I have with it is the mandated minimum speed for downloads is 500 kbps. DSL/cable is way faster than that. There are technologies out there capable of delivering faster speeds wirelessly; I’d encourage the people over at city hall/district hall/whatever it’s called to not settle for less just because it’s free.
After all, Adam says a free hamburger that sucks isn’t better just because it’s free.
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I can see the Federal government having a field day with this proposal due to security concerns, etc.
500kbps is actually pretty decent. it’s more than enough to have a good experience online.
Here we go again… Should a DC resident really care about what the Federal government thinks? Wouldn’t it be funny if DC residents refuse to recognize the government until it provides us with voting representatives in Congress.
[…] This morning’s excerpt was from Adam’s blog about the D.C. government soliciting bids for free Wi-Fi coverage across the District. Today’s recognition comes five weeks after Chris Kaftan was similarly quoted from his blog analyzing the Mohammed cartoon controversy. […]
barcelona is almost all wireless now, isn’t it? and london’s expected to follow suit. there’s quite a few wireless spots in NYC now.
Tim, Adam quotes the DC not federal government which are different, right? i confess to never understanding that ridiculous setup.
Joseph, you’re right, but Congress has approval power over anything DC does, I think.
The Federal government mostly bans wi-fi within Federal buildings, so any wi-fi solution would need to somehow exclude any Federal territory (there’s a region in DC that’s administered by the Federal government…National Capitol Region or something).
Still, Dupont Circle has wireless, and they seem fine so far. I don’t think there’s any Federal bldgs nearby tho.
Joseph, I was merely commenting on Rob’s comment, mot on Adam’s blog. Read before ye leap!
Tim,
Your comments are really annoying. Every blog you post makes yourself sound like “Mr. Know it all”. Lighten up, man.
[…] This morning’s excerpt was from Adam Stone’s post about last Friday’s Gallaudet’s pep rally. Today’s recognition is our third. Our first was last February when Express quoted Chris Kaftan’s post analyzing the Mohammed cartoon controversy, and the second was last March’s excerpt from Adam’s blog post about the D.C. government soliciting bids for free Wi-Fi coverage across the District. This also represents the first DeafDC.com quote about a deaf-related topic. Evidently, hearing people (or Express editors) are just as interested in our little community as we are. Again - thank you for being a part of DeafDC.com; it’s your support that makes our increased visibility and relevance possible. So - thanks! P.S. Didn’t get to pick up today’s Express for some bizarre reason? Download it here. Look at page 31. Caution, though - it’s a really, really big PDF. I mean, big. […]
[…] March: Adam Stone reviews D.C.’s plan for free Wi-Fi in the District […]