Raleigh Wi-Fia grassroots approach

@bmcd67

Our Common Thread๏ We ♥ Raleigh

๏ Universities

๏ Downtown Living

๏ Arts and Culture

๏ Events

๏ Diversity

Top Place to Be

Changes for the better

Why do we need Wi-Fi?

๏ Growth of smartphones, handhelds, notebooks

๏ Internet is primary source of information

๏ Video on a phone? It’s Cool!

Competitive Advantage

Austin, TX

San Jose, CA

Debate

Current Downtown Wi-Fi

๏ Paid for by tax payers- $112K price tag tough pill during recession- $18k per year to maintain

๏ Limited downtown coverage

๏ Outsourced to Virginia company

Community Driven Approach๏ Paid for by users/providers of the network

as opposed to tax payers

๏ Cost spread over broad group of business owners and local residents

๏ Equipment options provide lower installation cost and maintenance

๏ Ability to sell ads to local businesses within the coverage area to offset costs

๏ Ability to post local community content on splash and referral pages

๏ Easy to expand coverage to other areas of downtown (Glenwood South, Hillsborough Street)

๏ Contributes to general downtown economic development and perception among other high-tech cities/regions

What about us locals?

Case Studies๏ San Francisco

100K plus users๏ Ashville

Not for profit admin

City of Raleigh Wi-Fi Coverage

Potential Coverage Areas

West West RaleigRaleig

hh

NC NC StateState

HillsboroghHillsborogh PeacePeace

OakwoodOakwoodGlenwooGlenwoo

dd

BoylanBoylan

Cost Comparison

๏ $112,000 to build and implement with cost of $18,000 per year to operate.

๏ Cost over 5 years = $202,000

๏ Vs.

๏ Less than $20,000 for same coverage area

๏ Create profit after break even point (18 months)

Big Brother

๏ Who would administer and ensure proper use of the network?- Adding nodes to the mesh- Filtering inappropriate content- Bandwidth limiting- User and Business Support- Content and ad administration

Reach๏ How can you cover a large geographic

area and keep costs low?- Mesh network technology- Open Mesh, Meraki, etc.- Multiple backhauls in key locations- Grow network on demand- Use local businesses, HOAs to sponsor- Have local bloggers, photographers, others

contribute

Free the Net!

๏ What service providers allow sharing of bandwidth?- T1 and Fiber providers for businesses- Nuvox, Covad, Deltacom- Push for more ISPs to allow for sharing- Need for change from our leaders!

Costs

๏ Who would pay for the equipment and backhaul?- Local businesses that already incur a cost for

broadband- Local businesses looking for another channel

to advertise to a specific audience- Solicit grant and public funds available to

Not-for-Profit agencies

Community๏ Workshops and seminars to educate

students and general public about Wi-Fi technology

๏ Internships to assist those seeking careers in all areas: HW, SW, Infra, Interface

๏ Put people to work

๏ Example to other projects

Thank You!๏ “Nobody can go back and start a new

beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

๏ Maria Robinson from thinkexist.com

๏ @bmcd67