[1st-mile-nm] MuniWireless Articles

[Richard Lowenberg]

The following exerpt from the featured essay in the current issue of the
MuniWireless newsletter, and another article from the issue.
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www.muniwireless.com

It is time for us to view broadband - wired and wireless - not as a
service or an application but as infrastructure. The services that run on
top of that infrastructure - voice, Internet access, video, wireless
camera surveillance, automated meter reading - can be provided by any
company (or by the city itself). Approaching broadband as infrastructure
requires the city or region to invest in deploying and maintaining the
infrastructure, which it can open to all service providers and
applications developers. When individuals and businesses have a choice of
providers, there's meaningful competition. This does not mean cities are
competing unfairly with telcos and cable cos. It means that telcos and
cable cos now have to compete with other private enterprises who may be
more nimble and innovative in delivering the services that people want at
the appropriate price.

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www.muniwireless.com/article/articleview/6629/1/23/

Posted by Carol Ellison at 3:42 PM on November 21, 2007

Guest commentary: Building state-wide wireless networks

Bob Panoff, who has been a consultant on a number of state-wide wireless
network initiatives, including Rhode Island's boarder-to-border network,
has produced a valuable whitepaper, An Approach to Statewide Wireless
Networks, that lays out the imperative and identifies successful
strategies for state-wide deployments.

In it, he takes a look at the market and discusses strategies for
successful implementations, including cost-effective, well-coordinated
business models that deliver real value to communities, network designs,
and key actions that can be taken early to help assure successful
deployments.

Successful networks and network business models are based upon
applications and services that solve real problems and deliver real value
to people and organizations in the community, Bob observes.

He recommends a central statewide organization to establish standards and
key processes. Such a resource can guide communities in the planning and
development of local networks, as well as providing a central location for
resources to help network implementation and operations.

Regarding technology, he makes no one recommendation but observes that the
size, complexity and diversity of statewide, community-based wireless
networks make it unlikely that any single network design or technology
will be appropriate for all requirements. A hybrid design that includes
multiple wireless technologies in combination with a high-capacity fiber
optic backbone for transport - within and beyond state borders - is more
likely.


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Richard Lowenberg
P.O.Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110,  505-603-5200 cell

1st-Mile Institute
New Mexico Broadband Initiative
www.1st-mile.com
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