calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
| Rights aside, look at the result....
(I'm kinda "results oriented" today....)
All the talk about the "rights" hype aside, let's look at what the Mayor DID:
He asked for proposals to provide Internet access citywide.
And let's look at what the Mayor GOT:
He got at least one proposal to provide FREE WiFi access.
Kinda reminds me of advice from an old corporate pro: "If you don't ask, you're not going to get it. And you shouldn't be criticized for asking."
calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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dslgold22
join:2004-06-28
San Jose, CA
| Good point -- he did end up with a "Free" proposal. I guess the thing is to whom is it free? The taxpayer or the end user? Or, will Google just crush the user with ads?
Also, cheap, basic Internet access already exists. It's called dialup and is available from companies like PeoplePC and United Online. Sure, it's 56Kbps but it works just fine and (only in my opinion) if someone cannot spend $10/month to support their own Internet usage, well, then maybe they need to reexamine their priorities and lifestyle. If you can't afford a phone on which to use that dialup service, walk to the library or anyone of a number of places with taxpayer-funded, free, wired access. Oh, virutally all California unemployment offices have this service today. Kill two birds with one stone. 
If I was a taxpayer in San Francisco and Newsom pushed this through I'd be pretty upset that he didn't use the money for other things to improve the quality of life in a deteriorating city. |
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calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
| From the underlying Reuters article:
" 'My intent is to have the taxpayers pay little or nothing,' Newsom said of the municipal wireless project."
He's on record as saying this shouldn't be tax funded. Now WHY should taxpayers be upset?
calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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dslgold22
join:2004-06-28
San Jose, CA | calvoiper - thank you for the clarification. I missed that part and agree that if the startup and operating costs of this Free Muni wireless network are zero, then let him knock himself out. |
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