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July 20, 2006 • 10:37 am 0

CUWiN/UIUC Partnership Awarded $500,000 NSF Grant To Develop Next Generation Open Source Mesh Wireless Technologies

Sascha Meinrath and his team just announced a big grant to help develop open source wireless mesh technologies. Congrats, Sascha!

bq. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign partners with CUWiN to build high-performance, robust open source wireless mesh networking technologies.

bq. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $500,000 in grant funding to support a research and development partnership between the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN) and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). This initiative, “Toward building a Performance-Predictable Wireless Mesh Network”, focuses on the development of wireless routing protocols, network testing systems, and gateway discovery in open-source technology. The grant, part of the Network Technology and Systems Program of the NSF, provides support over a three-year period.

bq. “CUWiN is building the next generation of mesh wireless technologies. Most importantly, CUWiN is releasing our software under an open source license — allowing communities, municipalities, organizations, and individuals around the world to deploy low-cost alternatives to current proprietary systems.” stated Sascha Meinrath, CUWiN Executive Director.

bq. Community and municipal wireless networks have gained tremendous attention in recent years. The ultimate objective of this CUWiN/UIUC partnership is to incorporate research results and system prototypes into production code to be widely distributed by CUWiN. With the help of CUWiN, the research to be carried out by UIUC researchers will make a real impact and effect high-throughput, cost-effective broadband access both for the U.S. and worldwide.

bq. “I am extremely pleased with the fact that NSF recognizes the importance of carrying out research on a real multi-hop wireless network. CUWiN provides us with a city-wide research testbed to understand how, and to what extent, wireless links are affected by PHY/MAC attributes and other environmental factors. All the measurements we make on CUWiN will help characterize the behavior of wireless links and identify control ‘knobs’ in the MAC/PHY layers with which the network capacity can be optimized.” Principal Investigator, Jennifer Hou, stated.

bq. CUWiN’s mission is to help bridge the digital divide by developing low-cost, open source, wireless technologies and making them available to community and municipal networks around the world. CUWiN networks have been established in urban settings like Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., as well as rural places like the Mesa Grande Indian Reservation near San Diego, California, and Apirede, Ghana. CUWiN continues to expand its development testbed in Urbana, Illinois in partnership with the City of Urbana and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

bq. “The wireless technologies being developed by CUWiN as a part of this initiative hearken back to the innovation and vibrancy of early Internet development.” stated Ross Musselman, CUWiN Outreach Coordinator. “With a focus on maintaining Internet freedom, these new technologies support digital inclusion around the globe.”

Filed under: Community Wireless, Mesh, News

July 16, 2006 • 9:50 pm 0

First Free Wireless Park Hotspot In Brooklyn Launched

Two Trees Management Co., the Dumbo Improvement District and NYCwireless bring free, public internet service to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The system provides full coverage to the city park at 1 Main Street, enabling free Internet access to those who visit the park, making Brooklyn Bridge Park the first public hotspot in a Brooklyn park.

As a public private enterprise, the hotspot at Brooklyn Bridge Park is the result of a joint effort undertaken by Two Trees Management and the newly established Dumbo Improvement District. Two Trees has covered the cost of the installation of the hotspot while the BID will cover the annual maintenance of the service, thus providing a useful park amenity that appeals to area employees, residents, local visitors and out of town tourists. “The project has great marketing potential in terms of how a public private partnership can help advance the parks department’s goal to wire parks throughout the boroughs,” said Valerie Lynch of Two Trees Management. “The project serves as a model for other developers and corporations to work with parks and other business improvement districts throughout the city.”

“Wireless access in this already alluring park is a significant step in our efforts to improve the quality of life in Dumbo, and we anticipate it being a important long-term service that greatly benefits the neighborhood,” said Tucker Reed, Executive Director of the Dumbo Improvement District. “Our partnership with Two Trees and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to provide this wireless Internet access is a perfect example of how other neighborhoods in New York City can use private resources to provide public amenities that benefit their communities.”

“NYCwireless is thrilled to work with Two Trees Management and the Dumbo Improvement District to provide free, public wireless internet service in this beautiful park,” said Dana Spiegel, the executive director of NYCwireless. “We encourage everyone to visit Brooklyn Bridge Park and log on to check e-mail or just surf the Internet.” When users initially log on, they will land on a page that describes the DUMBO neighborhood and links to the Dumbo Improvement District website.

*About DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge Park*

The neighborhood is booming, becoming more populated with office workers, residents, young families, new retailers, restaurants, galleries and tourists. In recent years, this area has been transformed from a deteriorated, abandoned industrial neighborhood to a vital and exciting place in which to live, work and play. The level of private and public investment in DUMBO is staggering – hundreds of millions of dollars in private funds have been spent to develop over 2 million square feet in office/studio space, 100,000 square feet in retail space and nearly 1,500 residential units. In addition, nearly 150 million dollars in state and city monies have been committed to create a world-class waterfront park. Brooklyn Bridge Park is an important aspect of the vision to make DUMBO more attractive and desirable as a thriving urban center and downtown destination. The park will provide much needed open space and recreational facilities for many neighborhoods that have historically been underserved.

*Two Trees Management Company*

Two Trees Management Co. owns most of the Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO (“Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”). The company’s holdings include 13 buildings and the second largest portfolio of commercial space on the Brooklyn waterfront, which spans 3 million square feet.

*About the Dumbo Improvement District*

Nestled between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, the newly formed Dumbo Improvement District operates in one of New York City’s most culturally and physically diverse neighborhoods. Historically a manufacturing and shipping neighborhood, DUMBO is increasingly becoming a mixed-use community with light manufacturing, offices, artists’ studios, performance spaces, galleries, restaurants, retail stores and residencies. Funded by local commercial property owners, the Dumbo Improvement District was signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg in December 2005 and will deliver the following services to the neighborhood: stewardship of the community’s public spaces, helping to address neighborhood security issues, advocating on behalf of the community to public and private stakeholders, and marketing and promoting the area to attract new visitors, businesses and customers to DUMBO.

Filed under: New York City, News, NYCwireless

July 11, 2006 • 12:50 am 0

Help for a story about NYC Wi-Fi hotspot users

My friend Amanda is a reporter for Crain’s New York Business, and is doing a story about Wi-Fi hotspot users. She is looking to interview a few people:

bq. I am looking for regular Wi-Fi hotspot users in NYC, who use hot spots for leisure or work purposes. I would like to briefly interview users and learn about their experiences using hotspots and reasons why they use hotspots. I will use these interviews and include the feedback in a feature story I am working on for a weekly local business paper called Crain’s NY Business. My deadline for conducting these interviews is this Thursday July 13. Please feel free to call me directly at 212-210-0203 or email “afung@crain.com”:mailto:afung@crain.com before Thursday if you would like to talk. I look forward to your help and feedback. Thank you!

bq. Amanda Fung
Reporter
Crain’s New York Business
(212) 210-0203

Filed under: New York City, News, NYCwireless

July 3, 2006 • 11:25 am 0

Newsday: NYC unplugged: Parks going wireless

“Newsday covers”:1 the NYC Parks Department plan for Wi-Fi in Central Park. Interestingly, they also publish cost numbers for running Bryant Park:

bq. *NYC unplugged: Parks going wireless*

bq. BY MELANIE LEFKOWITZ
Newsday Staff Writer

bq. For nearly 150 years, Central Park has been an urban oasis, a place where harried denizens of the concrete jungle can breathe fresh air, feel grass under their feet, while away an afternoon in the leafy shade.

bq. Starting later this month, they’ll also be able to check their e-mail.

bq. Central Park will be the first of 10 parks that the city parks department plans to make wireless-accessible this summer. Another 10 small parks, mostly run by nonprofit partnerships, already offer wireless (also known as Wi-Fi, short for Wireless Fidelity), which allows enabled computer users to surf the Web without plugging in. But it’s the introduction of the Internet to the city’s most famous and historic outdoor playground that seems to signal a new era.

bq. “The park’s adapted to the world as it adapts, and we’ve kept as much of the history and historic elements as possible, but of course the park’s meant for everyone to enjoy,” said Jennifer Pucci, a spokeswoman for the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit that manages the park. “And we feel that the Wi-Fi is going to be no different from a pen and paper.”

bq. Though its rolling lawns and gracious landscapes are rooted in the 19th century, Central Park is no stranger to the 21st. Power-walkers punch text into their BlackBerries as they round the curving paths. Mothers chat into cell phone headsets as they wheel their strollers toward playgrounds. And now, multitaskers seeking to enjoy nature more efficiently will have another tool at their disposal.

bq. …

bq. “Especially in New York City, parks are the most public places for gathering, and they really, over their history, have been viewed and used as community centers and as cultural centers,” said Dana Spiegel, executive director of NYCWireless, a nonprofit group that has helped set up the 10 parks that are already wireless-accessible but is not involved in the Central Park project. “So Wi-Fi is really an extension of that. Just like you have trees and benches and grass, we view Wi-Fi as an amenity that is increasingly important for everyday life.”

bq. …

bq. WiFi Salon, the contractor doing the installation, has agreed to absorb the costs but may recoup some of their investment through corporate sponsorships. In Bryant Park, where corporate sponsors fund the service, setup cost about $18,000 and the monthly fees run about $1,400, according to the Bryant Park Restoration Corp.

bq. …

[1]http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nywifi034805398jul03,0,343914.story

Filed under: Interview, New York City, News, NYCwireless

June 23, 2006 • 6:49 am 0

New York Daily News: Students spread wi-fi

Some of us from NYCwireless (Rob Kelley, Laura Forlano, and me) have been training a class of students at Monroe College about how to install free, public hotspots. And the Daily News “has written about it”:2.

*Students spread wi-fi*
Tech wizards bridge digital divide in city

BY BILL EGBERT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Increasing numbers of city residents will be able to surf the Web while they dunk their doughnuts, thanks to technology students at a Bronx college.
Students in Monroe College’s advanced wireless technology course are installing wireless Internet connections at several locations in the Bronx and upper Manhattan, including a Dunkin’ Donuts in the east Bronx.

Last semester, they installed wi-fi in Manhattan’s Stuyvesant Park, and at a Harlem coffee shop.

“It’s good experience for them in a cutting-edge job,” said their professor, John McMullen. “And it’s a service to the community as well.”

Not only will the Web access be free to anyone with a wi-fi-ready laptop, the installation and equipment are essentially free to the hot spot hosts.

While the students earn college credits, the hardware is donated by NYCwireless, a nonprofit promoting free wi-fi access in the city.

“The Monroe College students have done a lot of really important work,” said Dana Spiegel, executive director of NYCwireless.

“They’re really plugged into their community. They’re the ones who know where the best places will be for new hot spots. They also help involve the community, which is crucial.”

While City Hall is lagging far behind cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia in backing citywide wi-fi networks, small-scale initiatives like Monroe’s and SoBRO’s new hot spot at the HUB are starting to fill the gap – to the delight of local businesses left on the wrong side of the digital divide.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Billy Gonzales, owner of Billy’s Deli & Grocery at 83 West Fordham Road, due to be wired shortly. “Our customers are excited too. I think it’ll be good for business.”

Other spots the class will turn hot this year include the Dunkin’ Donuts on Boston Road and Burke Ave. in the Bronx, Java’s Brewin’ Coffee Shop in Harlem, Coogan’s Restaurant in Washington Heights and Little Hands Day Care in Brooklyn.

Monroe’s first collaboration with NYCwireless – wiring Stuyvesant Park in Manhattan – was a first in more ways than one. The hot spot was installed in conjunction with alternative energy nonprofit SolarOne, and is the first solar-powered wireless access in the New York area.

An interactive map of free wi-fi hot spots throughout the metro area can be found at “http://www.nycwireless.net”:1.

Bronx businesses interested in being wired as a public hot spot can contact McMullen at “johnmac@acm.org”:mailto:johnmac@acm.org.

[1]http://www.nycwireless.net
[2]http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/429005p-361758c.html

Filed under: Community Wireless, New York City, News

June 13, 2006 • 9:42 pm 0

Gotham Gazette: Wireless Access

Marcus Banks writes for the Gotham Gazette about “New York City’s Wireless Access”:1:

bq. Earlier this month the New York Times criticized the slow growth of wireless Internet access in New York City, which was the centerpiece of Andrew Rasiej’s bid for the office of public advocate last year. The Times noted that free or low-cost wireless access is particularly needed in poorer neighborhoods, where the cost of DSL or high-speed service is prohibitive.

bq. New York City’s current patchwork approach to wireless access is markedly different from that of other cities and many rural communities. The national trend is toward developing free or low-cost wireless networks that are accessible anywhere within a given region. New York City has focused on wireless access in parks.

bq. Thus far the Department of Parks and Recreation has been trying to provide wireless access in selected parks through partnerships with various non-profit and commercial groups. In addition, several organizations have worked independently to “light up” selected parks. For example, the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation provides wireless access in Bryant Park, and the Alliance for Downtown New York provides the same service in eight public spaces, including three parks, in lower Manhattan. Both groups worked with NYC Wireless, a non-profit organization that advocates universal wireless access in New York City.

bq. *Parks Department Strategy*

bq. The parks department first solicited bids for vendors to provide wireless access in 2003. Despite skepticism from some City Council members and NYC Wireless, the department perceived wireless access as a means of generating new revenue. The bid sought out companies willing to pay a significant license fee to outfit some of the city’s largest parks, in exchange for selling subscriptions and/or pay-as-you-go wireless access. Few vendors were interested, and over a year later the contract was finally awarded to Wi-Fi Salon, a small firm in Manhattan. Although Wi-Fi Salon has successfully launched wireless service in part of Battery Park, it is almost one year behind schedule for launching wireless service in nine other parks throughout the city. The parks department has given Wi-Fi Salon a deadline of the end of this summer for completing this contract, and may approach other vendors if this is not met.

bq. Because the original bid did not generate as much interest or revenue as anticipated, the parks department issued a second bid for wireless vendors earlier this year. The new bid has lower licensing fees, allows vendors to bid on one park at a time rather than multiple parks only, and assumes that wireless access will be free to all individuals. In addition, there are shorter deadlines for completing projects once a contract is awarded. There are early signs of success for this approach; NYC Wireless is involved in providing wireless service in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, and a Long Island company will work on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and in Brooklyn’s Columbus Park.

bq. *NYC Wireless (sic) Perspective*

bq. Even though NYC Wireless successfully competed for the recent parks department bid, Executive Director Dana Spiegel expresses concerns about it. He believes that wireless service should be treated as an amenity that is as important as a park bench. Spiegel also worries that, because of the costs associated with responding to the parks department bid, many qualified groups have ignored it.

bq. Spiegel feels that the city should pay for park access if no other funds are available. With that said, in many instances parks conservancies or “Friends of” groups could pay for installation and maintenance of wireless service. However wireless access is funded, Spiegel argues that it is a modest financial proposition, which pays for itself in the creation of more vibrant parks.

bq. Most NYC Wireless projects have not included the parks department. Union Square, Tompkins Square and Stuyvesant Cove Parks all offer wireless service established by NYC Wireless and interested local groups. A similar installation at Brooklyn Bridge Park is currently in development.

bq. *Narrowing the Digital Divide*

bq. One of the most important goals of universal wireless access is to narrow the digital divide. The South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and Urban Communications Transport Corporation recently launched the first freely available wireless network in the South Bronx. Urban Communications Transport is a minority-owned business that was initially founded to provide wired Internet access in disadvantaged communities, and has now moved into the wireless realm. If the South Bronx network proves successful, it could serve as a model for similar networks in other neighborhoods throughout the city.

[1]http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/tech/20060613/19/1882

Filed under: Interview, New York City, News, NYCwireless, Policy, Rasiej

June 7, 2006 • 10:26 pm 0

New York Times Editorial: Wi-Fi and the Cities

A “New York Times editorial”:1 on June 6 advocates both free public Wi-Fi in NYC parks as well as universal affordable broadband. The article specifically mentions NYCwireless’ work in these areas, and calls for the Mayor and the rest of the City’s leadership to step up and start addressing some real issues. Far from the usual “scare article” about Wi-Fi, this editorial trumpets the great work that NYCwireless and other interested parties have done, and the benefits we have brought to this great city.

bq. “Wi-Fi is not the future. It is now, needed by businesses, educators and especially the underserved populations on the wrong side of the digital divide”

bq. “some smaller parks have already been hooked up by agreement between independent groups managing those parks and NYC Wireless (sic)”

bq. “The city needs to get moving to get the larger parks online, but it also has to get serious about wider access. The minimal goal—-pressed with energy in the City Council by Gale Brewer of Manhattan—-should be free or low-cost access in its densely populated, poor neighborhoods in all the boroughs.”

The Gray Lady is spot on correct in addressing issues of affordable broadband, which has long been an important initiative and topic of discussion by NYCwireless.

Your hard work is paying off. People are pointing to our example as the way it should be done.

Good work! Let’s keep it up!

[1]http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/opinion/06tue3.html?ex=1150257600&en=c37853eee83da5ef&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Filed under: Community Wireless, New York City, News, NYCwireless

May 16, 2006 • 7:33 am 0

News Stories from about NYC Council Hearing on Parks-based Wi-Fi

Here are some news stories from yesterday’s hearing on the NYC Parks Department and their plans for hotspots.

h2. “New York Times: Deadline Set for Wireless Internet in Parks”:1

bq. “[NYCwireless], a nonprofit group that did the technical work for those projects, has also set up networks at Union Square, Tompkins Square and Stuyvesant Cove Parks, and is building a network at Brooklyn Bridge Park this year.
So far, the city’s own efforts have paled compared with those achievements by private groups.”

h2. “New York Sun: New York Parks To Offer Free Web Access”:2

bq. “For the many New Yorkers seemingly locked to their laptops, the expansion of wireless access cannot come fast enough. But one suggestion at yesterday’s hearing – taking Wi-Fi to the city’s beaches – had even a leading wireless advocate issuing words of caution: “I think it’s a wonderful idea, but you have to be careful about getting sand in your laptop,” the executive director of [NYCwireless], Dana Spiegel, said.”

h2. “Newsday: Wireless Internet access urged for NYC parks”:3

bq. “We believe that free Internet is an amenity and should be provided to all New Yorkers just as grass, trees and benches are,” said Dana Spiegel, executive director of NYCwireless, a nonprofit organization that has worked with business groups and park boosters to set up wireless Internet access in several parks and open spaces.”

h2. More Headlines

*”BBC: Central Park to be wireless hub”:10*
*”New York Post: CENTRAL PK. TO BECOME A WEB SITE”:9*
*”WNBC: Techies Urge Wireless Web Access In NYC Park”:4*
*”WCBS: Wi-Fi Internet Access In NYC Parks?”:5*
*”SILive: Wireless Internet access urged for NYC parks”:6*
*”Spotlighting News: New York Central Park With WiFi”:7*
*”All Headline News: Deadline Set For Wireless Internet In Parks”:8*
*”Technology Review: Wi-Fi Coming to Parks in New York City”:11*

[1]http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/nyregion/16wifi.html
[2]http://www.nysun.com/article/32788
[3]http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny–parks-wi-fi0515may15,0,3939253.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork
[4]http://www.wnbc.com/news/9221264/detail.html
[5]http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_136070920.html
[6]http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1147739966322390.xml&storylist=simetro
[7]http://www.spotlightingnews.com/article.php?news=2201
[8]http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7003589801
[9]http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/68590.htm
[10]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4988792.stm
[11]http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16890

Filed under: Interview, New York City, News, Policy, Urban Wireless

April 26, 2006 • 1:05 pm 0

What is Net Neutrality Video

Public Knowledge has posted a great “Schoolhouse Rocks” style video explaining Net Neutrality.

p=.

Filed under: Network Neutrality, News, Policy

April 24, 2006 • 10:00 am 0

CNN Welcome to the Future: Ubiquitous Wi-Fi Networks

I sat for an interview and video shoot for a CNN Welcome to the Future piece on ubiquitous Wi-Fi networks that aired on March 23rd, 2006. Here’s the clip:

p=.

Filed under: Community Wireless, Interview, New York City, News

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