Wireless Networking Elsewhere

Where is the originating connection to the internet? Do you have your own T1 type line? Do you use an existing DSL or cable connection(s)? Do you need to essentially form your own ISP?
Any clarification to these questions would be most appreciated!

While there have been plenty of fights between telcos and local governments trying to offer muni-broadband, none received quite as much attention as the battle in Lafayette, Louisiana, over muni-broadband, where it seemed like the more attention the battle received, the nastier the telcos became. This included threatening to move call centers out of state and conducting push polls (which are designed to influence opinion while pretending to be asking for opinions). However, it appears that those efforts have backfired, as all that media attention allowed the folks in Lafayette to understand the real issues and vote in favor of a muni fiber network. If BellSouth and others had spent half as much effort in actually providing better broadband to the folks of Lafayette, this issue might never have come up at all. There are still plenty of questions over implementation, and having a muni-broadband offering certainly doesn't always make sense. However, given the constant misleading FUD put out by BellSouth concerning this plan, hopefully the folks in Lafayette know what they're doing.

techdirt.com source

Hi. I'm a homeland security consultant, specializing in the area that concerns you and me (and seems to be an afterthought in DC): how to inform, empower, and involve the general public in anti-terror preparation and response.

I happen to think the CUWin software is the greatest thing since (and perhaps before) sliced bread, and that it can and should be at the heart of self-organizing, self-healing community networks not only during ordinary times, but especially during and after a disaster, whether terrorist or otherwise).

I've
written about CUWin several times in my blog, especially in regard
to what I call smart mobs for homeland security(taking off from the Rheingold meme).

I hope members of the group will keep me informed about progress, especially in terms of using it to create other community nets outside of Champaign-Urbana, and I'll in turn keep you informed about progress on my end (crossing my fingers: I may be near a contract with a major city to make "smart mobs" a crucial part of their strategy!).

Keep up the superb work.

I heard about CUWIN on Democracy Now.
We moved from CA to Moriarty NM, an isolated area, but constantly growing population, with no DSL possible. All we have here is phone dial up, which is restricted and relatively high monthly fee.
The internet/website is the foundation of my work. I have an organization for Adults Abused as Children Worldwide und use Messengers (microphone) to talk to childhood victims around the word.
What can an “internet-nonprofessional” do to bring CUWIN in to the area.
Thanks for bringing awareness about CUWIN.
Sieglinde

I live in Mendocino Country, in Northern California, in the small town (pop. 6000) of Willits. Our town has a fast growing social movement to make ourselves sustainable, to localize our economy, to become more self-reliant.

To this end, what could be more important or more helpful to both our means and ends than to create a town-wide wireless network? A participatory, sustainable, more democratic community must be well-informed. In reality, we are all interdependent; therefore, we must be interconnected.

Can you tell us what is involved? What the costs might be? And if it is possible for a town our size?

I would think we are the perfect size.

Hoping to hear from many,

Towards a strong local economy,

Lanny