Free Wi-Fi for the Peasants Courtesy of King Danny

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Just a quick post and link.

Recently, the City of Charleston decided it would be a great idea to provide free Wi-Fi to the community of the East End.  It was announced with such bravado that you would think it is the ultimate solution for the problems plaging that area.

The blog at Create WV comments on this and provides several links to reports and notes some concerns that other cities have had when implementing free Wi-Fi.  Among other things …

But non-bleeding edge municipalities have been watching the results of the early adopter cities with interest. Many projects, like Toledo’s, have had a great deal of controversy surrounding them. There are “digital divide” benefits to be realized with a free (or low cost) public approach to broadband. But many are questioning the real economic impact of subsidized coverage. It does help brand an area as somewhat more progressive and tech savvy, if that counts for anything.

The blog also cautions …

In the East End of Charleston, it will be critical for the organizers to identify some “hard” uses of Wi-Fi and demonstrate some measurable economic growth or cost savings of some sort before the public at large will likely get on board.

 Some things to think about.

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