Joho the Blog
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June 24, 2005
Andrew Rasiej, running for the obscure post of NYC Public Advocate, has put forward a plan that would connect wireless routers on city lamp posts using the city's dark fiber. The total cost would be less than $10/person (= $80M) and would provide free wifi access in public places; businesses and residents would pay about $20/month for basic high-speed service. Of course, the incumbents, always zealous in their protection of the free market (hah!) are lobbying hard to prevent municipalities from providing this service. [Technorati tags: rasiej wifi] Posted
by D. Weinberger at June 24, 2005 04:19 PM
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Comments
And you don't think the city would outlaw free wifi if they were charging people for it?
Posted by: Thomas | June 24, 2005 08:05 PM
Nope, I don't think so, and I am certain that's not Rasiej's plan. Outlawing free wifi would only make sense if the City were providing wifi in order to make money. But the plan is to provide it as a service. Besides, there'd be something of a legal hurdle to get over.
Posted by: David Weinberger | June 25, 2005 01:05 PM
Why should any government entity provide a service that can be delivered by the free market. Let competition drive the costs down and keep the quality up. Do you really want to call some municiple hotline when the WiFi goes out? And if you choose to pay for a service that has higher speed, higher quality, and a real person working support, do you pay twice -- once in taxes and once with your checkbook. (Had to send a paper check 'cause the WiFi was down)
Posted by: dykstraNet | June 27, 2005 04:45 PM