Why municipal broadband is important
Via Usual Suspects, I see that at least one neighborhood in San Francisco has free wireless internet access. Ironically, it is not a neighborhood that needs any help getting on the net:
Unless the city gets involved in this stuff, we will end up with a patch of hotspots, including Hayes Valley, but not the Tenderloin, including Potrero Hill, but not the Bayview, and so on. Cause here's the kicker: "AnchorFree is actively seeking sponsors to offset the cost of maintaining free Wi-Fi in the heart of the Marina district."
AnchorFree Wireless has announced the launch of a free wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) hotzone in the heart of San Francisco’s prestigious Marina district. Consumers can access the Internet wirelessly at no cost indoors and outdoors on a 4-block region of Chestnut Street.You can see a map of the coverage here.
Unless the city gets involved in this stuff, we will end up with a patch of hotspots, including Hayes Valley, but not the Tenderloin, including Potrero Hill, but not the Bayview, and so on. Cause here's the kicker: "AnchorFree is actively seeking sponsors to offset the cost of maintaining free Wi-Fi in the heart of the Marina district."
1 Comments:
Thanks Sasha - That's great news for the mostly affluent and white residents of the Marina district around Chestnut St but I also worry about how the new technologies are worsening the 'digital divide' and other inequalities among the neighborhoods in SF. Perhaps the company can be pressured to begin wi-fi in other neighborhoods too.
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