Minneapolis - our home town - is moving rapidly toward a decision on a citywide wireless broadband network. This section is different than others on the New Rules site. It is a resource for Minneapolis citizens. But it is also a resource for citizens and policymakers in other communities as they make decisions about their information futures.
Why "Wireless (and Wired) Minneapolis"? Wireless networks tap into the same fiber optic backbone that supports our system of wired connections. While wireless is a rapidly evolving technology, fiber optics are the copper wires of this century. As we upgrade this backbone, we are laying the foundation of our City's information and communication network. The choice we make now will either limit or enhance our choices for decades to come.
Minneapolis Wireless Information Packet
Act Now for a Democratic Information Network in Minneapolis - An Overview of the Minneapolis Wireless Initiative
We've put together a packet for neighborhood and community groups, and Minneapolis residents. It explains why we think the City Council should seek public input and consider the benefits of public ownership before it takes any more steps toward approving the City's plan for a privately owned wireless network.
It is available as a PDF (printable version), or in text format.
NEW! Just the facts in a one-page summary.
Minneapolis Wireless News
To subscribe, contact becca at ilsr dot org.
December 15, 2005 - Longfellow Community Council adds its voice in favor of public participation and public ownership.
Why We Need a Democratic Information Network in Minneapolis
Reason #6: Better Prices, Faster Connections
Minneapolis should learn from Moorhead, where the prices of cable and DSL Internet connections went down even before the municipally owned, citywide WiFi network went fully live today. “After [Moorhead] announced its plans, prices of cable and DSL in the city dropped from highs of $40 to $60 a month to under $30.” More...
Who Will Own Minnesota's Information HIghways? [PDF]
Who Will Own Minneapolis' Information Highways? A Fact Sheet
Still have questions? Read Ten Myths About a Publicly Owned Information Network in Minneapolis, and the Facts
The New Rules Project - http://www.newrules.org/