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Does Corpus Christi have the right muni WiFi model?

by Michael Sciannamea

Corpus Christi, TexasA new report by the Heartland Institute may be the salve that muni WiFi supporters will need to heal the cuts and bruises they have been subjected to over the last few months with regard to the decline of citywide wireless projects across the country.

According to the report, the city of Corpus Christi, Texas seems to be going about it the right way and could end up being the model for future AND current muni WiFi projects. There are quite a few projects going on right now that have been sputtering–most notably, San Francisco–and it might be a good idea for project champions to analyze what Corpus Christi (pop. 300,000) is doing and base their own efforts from that model.

Some highlights, along with my own interpretations, of the report include:

  • Cities and municipalities need to take a more “measured approach” in developing and deploying a wireless network. If you promise much, you have to deliver more.
  • Focus on what you can provide–if your goal is to streamline government services, then do what you can to achieve that goal. Concepts such as providing universal access and “bridging the digital divide” are just too lofty to reach at the outset. Providing mobile access for local authorities to access information is a great place to start.
  • If you’re going to issue an RFP, make sure that what you ask for is realistic. Remember that providers are in it for profit (why wouldn’t they be?), so they will be more than likely to say “yes” to most or all of your requests without question. Being skeptical would be helpful in this case.
  • Both parties–local governments and providers–need to be upfront and honest as to how much building the network will cost, and who exactly is going to pay for it. The free access concept just isn’t feasible–users are more than willing to pay for it if they know what they’re going to get.

If muni WiFi is going to survive, it has to undergo a behavioral change and forget about how “cool” it is and get down to basics.


2 Responses to “Does Corpus Christi have the right muni WiFi model?”

  1. WWE Daily » Blog Archive » Cyber Sunday: WWE Fan Nation Picks Says:

    [...] Sunday, Sunday October 28, 2007 at 8 pm. at the Verizon Center in Washington [...]

  2. Wireless Tech Chat » Blog Archive » AT&T ends plans to build wireless network for St. Louis Says:

    [...] muni WiFi, which was once on an upward swing, is now struggling to stay afloat. As discussed in an earlier post, the Corpus Christi, Texas network model may be the one to simulate by cities big and small moving [...]

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