Wireless Internet: Structure for the Urban Future

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

5 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

05/01/2008

Category :

Science & technology

Sub category :

Computer science

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Summary :

Introduction
Confusing the issue
Boston, New York, and San Francisco: Promoting plans for citywide wireless internet
Problems installing public WiFi
The lack of public wireless Internet service
The point of wireless technology
Conclusion
Works cited

Abstract

The battle for control of public airwaves is nothing new. Following in the steps of radio and cellular telephones, wireless internet - or wireless fidelity, known and trademarked as WiFi - is becoming the next major wireless permanent infrastructure accessed in urban public space. As such, regulatory concerns arise about this third generation of wireless technology (Werbach 2003), as do conflicts in varied visions for the future. A number of the nation's growing cities are working to build up the faculties needed for wireless internet citywide, and with that growth comes the promise of networks and accessibility for all. A leading expert on wireless technology, Craig Mathias from FarPoint Group in Ashland, MA, explained, "Every major city is going to have some kind of citywide Wi-Fi access. It will become an expectation like electricity or telephone service" (Reardon 2005). Without always understanding the technology at hand, several major cities have already begun to commit resources to building necessary infrastructure, both to serve the general public as well as close the digital divide (Werbach 2003).Indeed, the prevalence of wireless internet access continues to rise, beginning to catch up with broadband and high speed internet connections that now service over 37 million people in the United States, up from just 7 million in 2000, according to the Federal Communication Commission (Lehrer 2006). wireless internet, requiring less complicated technical infrastructure, is a less expensive option if geography allows for its penetration into all areas attempting to access service from the same connection.

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