said by bmn :

Like little jaunts across the ocean with our military that have destabilized an entire region ?

said by pnh102 :

The war costs us $100 billion a year out of a $3 trillion budget.

That includes all the farm subsidies and other pork needed to pass a funding package.

Besides, local governments are not as rich as the federal government and cannot extort the kind of tax revenues from citizens that the feds can. You would think such restrictions would provide local politicians an incentive to go easy on the spending.

said by bmn :

Public agencies are using them for data backhaul to city hall because its far cheaper and definitely faster than relying on cell providers.

said by bmn :

I recently overheard something about a project that will allow paramedics to send admissions information via the WIFI networks to hospitals instead of having to call it all in, reducing the time on the radio.

said by bmn :

Building inspectors can file from sites now, reducing processing time.

said by bmn :

There are multiple uses beyond just a free giveaway that will make government more efficient and responsive.

said by pnh102 :

What you are stating is simply a manufactured reason for setting up taxpayer-provided Wifi.

That is a scary prospect. Someone turns on a microwave or uses a 2.4Ghz cordless phone and patients die because the Wifi doesn't work.

So now we have to buy them even more expensive equipment to do the job that they should be doing just fine without it in the first place. That doesn't sound like progress to me.

Government as an institution has existed on this planet for at least 6000 to 10000 years. It has been, nor will it ever be, efficient and responsive.

said by bmn :

because, oh dear, it costs money...

said by bmn :

You clearly don't know much about wifi...

said by bmn :

Typical conservative reaction. Complain about government inefficiency and take no steps to fix it. Status quo.

said by pnh102 :

So we should spend tax money on things we don't need for no good reason at all? Weren't you just telling me the war was costing too much?

You clearly don't know much about healthcare.

This is not an industry where great "leaps of faith" are made simply because of a "way cool now" technology. There are already ample ways for EMTs to communicate with hospitals that do not endanger the lives of patients. There is simply no need for a new technology that does not work as well.

There still are interference issues with Wifi. This is an indisputable, irrefutable fact. Any hospital or doctor that allows this technology to interfere with patient care and cost lives is going to be in a serious heap of trouble.

We took your approach with public schooling in this country and we continue to throw more money at that year after year. I hear we have the best public schools on earth now... Oh wait a sec.

said by Sammer :

Many of these mesh networks are multiband and include the 4.9 Mhz licensed Public Safety band. There is much less interference on the 4.9 Mhz band than on WiFi.