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Mayoral candidate Henry Klein has made Wi-Fi a key issue in his campaign. He is pushing a “ConnectKC” proposal to provide free cheap wireless Internet access to every corner of the city. The city already is studying a city-wide wifi network, but their plodding IT department won’t be getting to work anytime soon. It should be interesting to see how he plans to provide full coverage in a city that ranges from dense urban core to rural farmlands. Then there is the even bigger issue of getting computers into the homes of the low income folks that would most benefit from this network.
While we love the idea of city-wide Wi-Fi, we also want to see Klein’s plan for fixing the city’s infrastructure (especially the crumbling sewers). Otherwise, just imagine an idyllic scene of folks with laptops lounging along the banks of Flush Creek. Nothing ruins Internet porn faster than the sight of turds floating by, unless of course you are into German scheisse movies.
Here are the talking points of the plan:
* Develop an initial pilot project to establish wireless hubs around targeted schools to expand student, teacher and parental involvement and to bring downtown online
* Build new partnerships to provide affordable wireless access to the Internet from every corner of Kansas City
* Forge new alliances, making affordable computers available so every Kansas Citian will be able to take advantage of the new technologies * (see below)
* Protect for-profit providers with caps on Internet speed, while encouraging competitiveness through a well-managed private sector bidding process
* Empower parents with new safeguards to protect their children
* Generate new for-profit opportunities to expand Kansas City business and bring additional jobs to our community
I must have missed the FREE part. I see ‘affordable’ wireless access but that aint free. Oh and we have to protect the big guys cause god forbid someone come up with an idea that makes their business model unprofitable. Free municipal WIFI is a great idea but it will never happen. Time Warner and AT&T won’t let it. Remember that as you make out your monthly check to them.
sounds like pandering, or he’s just trying to differentiate himself in a crowded field. however, NO ONE can escape the billion dollar sewer issue that’s looming. i see no mention of that on his “issues” page.
Y’know, I’m a tech guy. I likes me some wireless networks. But I also own a home in an aging KC neighborhood. I like running water. I like dependable sewers. I like police patrols. I’d like more police patrols. I like codes enforcement. I’d like it if they had more than $300,000 per year to spend on taking care of neighborhood blight. If it’s a question of those things, or wi-fi? I’ll take the infrastructure and safety, please. Let’s get a mayoral candidate with a clue.
I would like to see just one mayoral candidate talk about fiscal restraint instead of more ideas to blow money. This idea is so far out in left field ( in light of our problems with the infrastructure) that I have to think the guy is an idiot. In that regard, he certainly has distinguished himself from the field…somewhat.
I would like to defend the “Connect KC” proposal…
First, I understand the sentiment of “Before we do Wi-Fi, Let’s get more cops, clean up crime, fill potholes, etc…”
Perhaps we can do a little of both.
Because if goverment does nothing but focus resources on the basic services, you will never do anything new, creative or revolutionary. An idea that is characterized as “blowing money” might end up making for a better city, and actually make for a more livable and better community.
My analogy would be like saving money and paying your debts. Most people say they will start saving money as soon as they pay off all their debts, but for many people, it takes years and years to get their debts paid off! So, you start saving BEFORE you pay off your debts, a little at a time so you don’t wait too long.
I think Connect KC might just be an investment plan – it could help make KC a more computer-savvy city that attracts better workers, companies, and might also help school children get smarter too! Of course, I also don’t want them to spend a ridiculous amount on such a plan, either.
You might not agree with this plan, but I think it’s bold and forward-thinking.
Of course, this city has shown in the past that it is neither bold nor forward-thinking (Truman Sports Complex), so I’m sure Mr. Klein is destined to lose – probably to a candidate that panders to the rubes (like talking up a gay marriage amendment or adding the Ten Commandments to all public schools).
‘Many good points made in the comments above. I’d like to touch on the issue of Wi-Fi for another moment.
We are seeing cities of all sizes around the country embrace the idea of low cost access for the masses. Noble idea I’m sure but it looks like redistributionism to me. But from the technical side there is an even bigger problem with this strategy: government invariably gets it wrong.
Here’s how the deal will work if they choose to do it: 1) The City Council will spend 180 days debating it. 2)Bids will then be requested for 180 days based upon a spec that was determined 90 days prior. 3) the bidding process will be extended 180 days because the right minority contractor didn’t put in a competitve enough bid. 4) the council will award the contract to four firms (three minority or woman owned) all with differing ideas as to implimentation. 5) January 1, 2010 the mayor will “flip the switch” and our state of the art (circa 2007) network will be up and running in 20% of the city. The council will pat itself on the back and get back to the real business of the day: granting TIF to developers stepping over themselves to develop urban core properties.
As for me, I’ll continue to use commercial networks running at high speeds built by entrprenural companies seeking profit in the free market (unless we’ve already outlawed that sort of non-collectivist, non-teamplayer activity)
Northeast Guy:
Are you saying that you don’t believe in democratic government?
Personally, I would more often put my trust with elected officials than businesses in the “entrepreneurial free market”.
Exxon, Enron, GE, Wal-Mart, Microsoft, etc…these companies are more trustworthy than our government?
Sure, there is corruption in politics, but many corporations that are driven solely by profits and often do a lot more damage than good.
OK Chris, am I to assume that you believe that democracy and redistributionism is the same thing? If that is the case then the definition of democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding on what is for lunch. And, for what its worth, democracy is based on the rule of man. We here in the USA live in a democratic republic which was envisioned as limited government by the rule of law.
I can assure you that Exxon, Enron, GE, Walmart,and Microsoft will not be developing the cutting edge technology that will lead the way in the world of Wi-Fi. When I said entraprenurial I meant, well, entraprenurial. The above listed companies have all used the force of government in order to prevent smaller competitors from gaining a foothold in the market.
Are large corporations corrupt? I would say that any person or entity that uses government force to drive out competitors or rivals or uses government to force the sale of land for his or its benefit is corrupt. That would include every elected politician that has voted in favor of limiting the speech of his challengers in the name of campaign finance reform.
I’m for the seperation of business and state. And if we could find a way to do it, the seperation of politicians and state.
Northeast Guy,
I don’t believe in redistribution (I don’t think there is anything I wrote hat would lead you to believe I do), but I do believe that just about every corporation is designed to make profits above EVERYTHING ELSE, and that includes looking out for American workers. Corporations will cut jobs, move plants overseas, take away pensions and insurance – all in the name of better profits for stockholders. (See the movie “The Corporation”)
I guess where we differ is that I don’t believe that ALL government is corrupt, and that if we tell our elected officials what it is that we want, we are more likely to get it.
Part of this plan includes people ACTUALLY VOTING.
The other part of this plan is Americans actually UNDERSTANDING what they are voting for.
I think we are actually a lot closer on this issue than it appears. I feel that the creeping control of government by corporations is our biggest problem.
Energy corporations shouldn’t be allowed to write our government’s energy strategies or have an oil industry lobbyist re-writing environmental memos.
Of course, much of this problem lies with American citizens who are too consumed with American Idol to worry about global warming or a lying incompetent President who says he believes in “small government”, but wants to use every resource to tap your phone and run up GIANT, CRUSHING debts.
Wi-Fi for the People!
There is a simple and cheap way to provide coverage and that is Wimax – a technology that is a step above WiFi. WiFi and Wimax can work together to provide Internet and Phone service – for free. Connectivity to the World Wide Commercial Enterprise (Internet) is as important to communities as water and sewer. People have a right to communications as defined in the 1934 Telecommunications Act.
These technologies are widely deployed else where in the world. The US is now a back water for telecommunications. government gets it – the phone companies do not.