Comments on: Fiber is Future Proof

By: Chapel Hill Wireless » Chapel Hill Wireless Forum Blogging

Chapel Hill Wireless » Chapel Hill Wireless Forum Blogging — Fri, 19 May 2006 03:07:38 +0000

[...] Chapel Hill citizen Will Raymond has taken a bunch of notes (aka live blogging) about the community wireless forum we had tonight. Check out what he is writting over at his blog Concerned Citizen (check out comments) and what all kinds of people are discussing over at Orange Politics. The event was recorded and broadcast on channel 18 our local community government access station. We need to figure out how to get that footage online. [...]

By: Brian R.

Brian R. — Fri, 19 May 2006 02:56:20 +0000

Thanks for live blogging this Will. I’ll link to it when I can. An important record.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 01:14:02 +0000

I think one of the chips we could bring to the table is to tag-a-long with the NC-DOT project. With a great population and ownership of 15-20 miles of fibre, I think we could cut a great deal.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 01:06:26 +0000

Lynda Goff – The business community in WinstonNet sees some real advantages – stresses mobility applications – real-estate agents, RJR trans-shipments, etc – as a very innovative application with profound business impacts.

Walker Rutherford, 2005 Council candidate, is asking about owning the infrastructure vs. private ownership.

Casey – “interesting question” – suggests you could make the equipment – like the radios – seperable from the ISP. The equipment could be used by multiple vendors.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:59:50 +0000

Whoops! That wasn’t Eric in the back row! Sorry Eric.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:58:48 +0000

Someone watching has asked about the reliability of the network vis-a-vis remote medical monitoring.

Casey – explaining MESH technology – difficult to gaurantee but unlike other technologies can suffer large losses – hundreds of nodes – and it self-heals

Casey – In New Orleans, after all the other communication modalities were wiped out – the only remaining functioning system was a Wifi-MESH system.

Same caller ask about priority communications for first-responders. Casey answers – QOS – quality of service – tech today can prioritize one packet (say first-responders) over another (like mine from Town Hall).

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:54:02 +0000

Another audience member is concerned about “Chapel Hill values” – how can you use the ‘net safely?

Ray – Chad’s comment about computer literacy is key

Chad – media production saavy helps educate – “when you learn to produce stuff, you remove some of the [literacy problem]“

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:50:11 +0000

An audience member asked about a potential disconnect – a lack of computers in the home. Ray responds that our real problem is connectivity – Blue Cross, Blue Shield ditches hundreds of computers, many other companies do – we use those computers – “the real problem is connectivity”

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:48:09 +0000

MobilePro representative asking Lynda Goff what kind of incentives a municipality can offer to get a city-wide deployment.

Goff – “we’re collaborating with 10 of the largest businesses in our community”. She’s making a plea to bring together a regional effort – Durham/Chapel Hill – Duke/UNC and the population of the RTP. Chapel Hill is uniquely located in tech central – a great asset to bring to the table.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:44:59 +0000

Terri B. is asking Lynda Goff about the Umpstead Act – “can you comment?”

“No.” – “What is that?”

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:43:05 +0000

He’s pledged to bring networking to our community, looks forwarded to working with the group to make it happen.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:42:03 +0000

Wow! Brian Russell just announced the formation of a new NPO to bring wireless to the community!

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:41:25 +0000

Mayor Foy, Council members Harrison, Greene, Strom, Easthom attended. Local 'bloggers OrangePolitics and eric isThatLegal are here. Uzoma, Brian, Steve, Martha, Terri, Arek and Bob (and me, of course) from the now defunct Technology Board.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:35:31 +0000

Initial pilot sometime in 2007 covering 5 or more square miles (wow! that would cover a great chunk of town).

By: Administrator

Administrator — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:34:44 +0000

Demand in first phase – 100,000 users over 109 sq. /miles – population of 186,000 – need to make Winston-Salem attractive because of wide area (eventually Forsythe county) means lower population density.

RFP is available on their website (I’ve read it – quite thorough).