Comments on The Blazer Blog: Chicago Say Bye-Bye To Wi-Fi

give the masses free internet. its practically a n...

2007-09-11T19:47:00.000-04:00

give the masses free internet. its practically a necessity like health care nowadays. if it isn't free, its just another example of the man keepin us down!! hogwash. let the poor stay poor, we like it that way. at least i do.

Bye Bye WiFi WF---I sure hope the door doesn't hit...

2007-09-03T14:18:00.000-04:00

Bye Bye WiFi WF---I sure hope the door doesn't hit his ass on the way out of town--the landlord could get some bodacious damage money---chbpod

You don't have to take me seriously, that's a choi...

2007-09-01T15:05:00.000-04:00

You don't have to take me seriously, that's a choice everyone has to make for themselves.

I'm sorry _ I thought high speed communication was...

2007-08-31T22:33:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry _ I thought high speed communication was already available---my bad---and yeah if it is not and the Mayor deems it important-- then it will go through the City Council----but only on his initiative---and I certainly have not heard a hue and cry for this other than a few bloggers who are computer geeks---so what's the big deal about high speed communication---other than I guess it's not available-------if it were a matter if life and death--- don;t you think there would be more people advocating for it- other than a handful of computer geeks on a couple of local weblogs---please tell me what I and the rest of the business and governmental community are missing--- you have the mentality of Al Gore does on global warming----HE'S A FREAKING IDIOT-- so wifi would be a catalyst --FOR WHAT???? faster access??? for whom--- the City???? bullshit--- maybe for you--but trust me pal -- you ain't the City---especially when you're in the closet---who are you-- what creds do you have????? why should I take anything you have to say seriously?? for freakin nut bag-- chbpod

DAMN KIDS!!!

2007-08-31T21:20:00.000-04:00

DAMN KIDS!!!

Like education, libraries, buses, street sweeping,...

2007-08-31T19:33:00.000-04:00

Like education, libraries, buses, street sweeping, etc? You have told us over and over that NA is a strong Mayor configuration, so I'm not really sure that the CC would do anything other than rubber stamp what the Mayor wanted.

Just as MoCA was the catalyst that sparked the art invasion of NA, a muni-wifi system could be the catalyst for city wide (and farther) high speed communication.

Very shortly access to high speed communication will not be a choice, but a necessity of life.

as you know I am a compltet moron on high tech and...

2007-08-31T17:47:00.000-04:00

as you know I am a compltet moron on high tech and computers---but I don't see how wifi gets any ball rolling for high speed---I thought Hi Speed was available---stupid me--- are you suggesting that people will move here because we have wifi----actually two of our cit councilors have been active in the downtown committees-and I have heard nothing from them about any interest from local businesses---so the council has contact---who has contacted the Mayor-- Wes Flinn??? he's a leper in the Mayor's Office---the mayor doesn;t like self-proclaimed no-it-alls---especially if they've only been here a couple of years---so far as far as wifi is concerned there is nothing on the table---what does that tell you?? If it were so damn important don;t you think someone would have come to the Mayor and Council with a proposal???? I have heard nothing from the business sector- or our municipal emergency services---nada- zip-- bupkis---a proposal comes forward I will deal with it with due dilligence----and if no one can answer my questions---it will be a BIG NO---and if they answer my questions- but not to my satisfaction- the vote will be a BIG NO---I don;t expect anything to be forthcoming in this year 2007---and of course if I don;t get re-elected in November- then my vote is rendered obsolete---

I don't understdan why the CITY should be the bearer of any costs for a product that other people can get on their own---chbpod

Most people meaning those in the K-12 educational ...

2007-08-31T12:38:00.000-04:00

Most people meaning those in the K-12 educational system and those who would like to come out here from the cities to spend all their money.

Perhaps we both have the same "predeliction" just for different sides of the coin.

Probably one of the best reasons for muni-wifi downtown is that it gets the ball rolling and will go a long way to getting high speed communications to the rest of those who would like it and need it.

As a CC, have you actually asked what the Chamber of Commerce and local business think of the idea of having wifi available? Or are you assuming they don't want it because of your predeliction?

POD I'm not going to re-hash this whole argument again. We have been round and round on this and you I just don't agree - no problem for me.

Actually the Mayor think of and install benches on...

2007-08-31T10:54:00.000-04:00

Actually the Mayor think of and install benches on Main St. They were removed at the request of business owners who complained about kids congregating on the benches outside their stores-- leaning their bikes up against store windows---do the Good Lord gaveth and he then tooketh away----da snoop ought to somehow be told that he and his desires are not MOST people's----there is a peculiar -yet understandable- predeliction for people to think that what they think is what everyone else thinks- or at least should think--the onlu people that I hear calling for Muni WiFi are a handful of computer geeks and dilitantes----Chamber of Commerce??? Businesses--- not heard much of anything--sure the Wireless initiative---but----other than the benefits for school kids--- and frankly I think it's over-rated even there---I just don't get it----please tell me the value of having WiFi-----all I have heard are generalities----and some of these have come from an anonymous poster (has a tag name) who also owns stock in one of the emerging technologies---please help me out here---I can simply not see any value to WiFi for the downtown area----chbpod

I find it odd that the Mayor would be against some...

2007-08-31T10:42:00.000-04:00

I find it odd that the Mayor would be against something that would benefit, and what most people are coming to expect, the residents of his city. I just read in the paper yesterday what a great success the Berkshire Wireless Project is becoming. It only follows that as these kids grow they are going to be looking for similar services. Maybe with each diploma the city could include a one-way ticket to the city of the graduates choice.

chbpod.....Why are you so cavemanien when it comes...

2007-08-31T04:08:00.000-04:00

chbpod.....Why are you so cavemanien when it comes to computers? And as far as "HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE MAYOR" and his stubbornness on benches, we all know his "Because I didn't think of it so it isn't any good" spoiled childishness attitude. Anyway.....Just wondering why you are so anti progress when it comes to new technologies?

Muni WiFi will not happen in North Adams---if loca...

2007-08-30T13:42:00.000-04:00

Muni WiFi will not happen in North Adams---if local establishments like Cup & Saucer-- Brew Ha Ha---The Porches- Holiday Inn want to do it they can---my understanding is that you don;t have to be too far from the outside of any facility that is set up for WiFi-- Conte- The Library- MCLA---there is no need for the City to get involved any more than it has---and the economy of scale for users is too low for a private firm--to wifi the city as a whole or even just the downtown----grants??? maybe?? but the last thing John Barrett wants is benches on Main St.---so what would be the point??--this whole idea of wifi comes from elitist snobs-some computer geeks---who want convenience at the public expense--it's not going to happen---as far as Boradband access for some of the rural communities??? OK---- I use dial up but have access if I want to sign up for DSL---I could care less---I like dial up---it's like when my first wife said why don;t you play more tennis instead of golf- you'd be home in two hours rather than six or seven--I said- that's precisely the point---if I had a faster internet service-- I wouldn't have the excuse to spend so much time on the computer---I have no use for a laptop---to me it's an affectation---and it toasts your nads---if you use it on your lap---but I guess since we are giving laptops to all the guys with hyper testosterone in Conte-- the up side (maybe a poor choice of words ) would be fewer teenage pregnancies---chbpod

would definitely appreciate that.and agreed that t...

2007-08-30T11:43:00.000-04:00

would definitely appreciate that.

and agreed that there will be challenges, just not the same challenges as Chicago.

Here is a link for anyone who is interested:http:/...

2007-08-30T09:41:00.000-04:00

Here is a link for anyone who is interested:

http://www.tropos.com/newsletters/2007-08-29.html

I agree with Ben to some extent, although I still ...

2007-08-30T09:21:00.000-04:00

I agree with Ben to some extent, although I still would like to warn of the possible price gouging I envision companies like Verizon attempting because of the "difficulty" in reaching these rural towns. Long ago when Wes first proposed the muni-wifi in NA I suggested he look to technology that was just on the horizon (WiMax) because by the time everything came together it would be mainstream and possibly jumping on board early would provide some research dollars from the WiMax companies.

One of the problems with a city like Chicago is the huge number of obstructions - there would have to be a transmitter in just about every building in order to cover the city. NA wouldn't really have that problem and could use fewer transmitters per square mile. I envision the need for 3 to cover the downtown area (MoCA to Joe Wolfe field to NA Library to Dunkin Donuts).

Ben I have been forwarding info I get regarding broadband and wifi on to Wes and Mr. Bosley, I can add your email address if you would be interested. Latest was from a company called Tropos that is making a muni-wifi push.

Andy - I think the issues in a major city's effort...

2007-08-30T09:07:00.000-04:00

Andy - I think the issues in a major city's efforts, like Chicago, are far different from what we are working on in western Mass. These communities already have broadband. Their major issue is bringing down cost and improving access, through hotspots, etc.,

I don't think we'll run into a lack of users at all (although our population density is the major challenge cited by the privates). In Chicago, this is just another way to get to the same internet, to which people already have reliable access. Out here, we are talking about actually having access (beyond dial up).

Andy... as usual your impeccable incite and abilit...

2007-08-30T04:38:00.000-04:00

Andy... as usual your impeccable incite and ability to grasp the nuances of a situation are amazing. I keep forgetting that we are a CITY and as such are bound by the same standards and limitations as a city like Chicago or New York or Dallas, who's populations number in the millions, not to mention the point that the CITY of North Adams and it's total population wouldn't qualify to even be considered as a suburb of one of these cities. As usual Andy your grasp of the situation is truely uncanny.