Minneapolis To Go Wireless

an_mo writes " According to a Minneapolis Star Tribune article, Wednesday will see the announcement of a request for bids on a citywide wireless access service The city will unveil a request for a proposal for a privately owned, $15 million to $20 million citywide wireless and fiber-optic network to improve government communications by linking every city building, police car and housing inspector. The network would also would be available to every individual in the city for $18 to $24 a month."

Shouldn't be all that expensive...

[aicrules]

That area is so flat one high gain antenna on top of a flag pole should be able to service everyone.

Re:Pros and Cons of Municipal Broadband...

[Ingolfke]

I'm nervous about governments getting into the broadband business--the potential for intrusion and abuse of the citizen's rights to privacy is certainly increased. The fact that this deployment is run by a private company helps a little--but it still concerns me, since the government is providing the funding for it.

Quit your whining. $24 and a set of 12 always-on govenrment monitored webcams in your house is small price to pay for broadband.

Re:I'm sorry sir, breathing the oxygen is extra.

[Ingolfke]

I look forward to the time in the not so distant future where wireless internet access is considered an inherent right.

Yes and free food, and free homes, and free clothing, and free TV, and free video rentals, and free pot (like what you've been smoking) and free computers and free cars... yippee this is fun.

Signal Strength Problems

[justanyone]

I can foresee signal strength problems due to:
* snow
* swarming hordes of rampaging mosquitoes

Ever hear the joke: "Perhaps there's a reason the wind is always blowing north in Iowa... Minnesota sucks!"

BTW: I'm a former Edina MN and St. Anthony MN resident; It's a GREAT place to live! But, you've got to wear a durable environment suit in the summer early evening due to the large mosquitoe population (Land of 10,000 lakes makes for lots of stagnant breeding grounds).

Living there, I quickly learned that most people just don't go outside near sunset in the summer. It's not smart. Breathe too deeply and you'll choke on the swarms. The state needs to start an aggressive Bat breeding program [batcon.org] to give the skeeter population a natural check besides insecticide. But, there's all sorts of misconceptions about bats, so that'll probably never happen. Alas...

Or, they could put Bat Houses on the same poles as the Wireless antennae and try to solve 2 problems at once!

Re:Every cop car?

[Timesprout]

You can already plan the location for your crimes to ensure no police presence simply by making sure the target has no donut shops within a 5 block radius.

Re:zerg

[e2ka]

Yes, but unlike conventional cities which just have to cover a 2D area with wireless, our new service will also have to reach our flying cars.

Re:zerg

[Lord Omlette]

Yes, but unlike conventional cities which just have to cover a 2D area with wireless, our new service will also have to reach our flying cars.

Well, duh, just put pringles cans on your antennas @ the Lunar Base....