webnetic.net

Folks, the Fix-IS-IN for Wifi in SF unless you take a moment below

We aren't against Wifi. We just think maybe it might be good to see what is being considered and to provide suggestions to real people. Not just emails sent off to a generic email address that some low level analyst reads, Maybe.

Do you care about your online anonymity? Your Financial Privacy?
Are you concerned about being tracked all the time by your WIFI connection?
If you drop your land internet connection to save money do you expect WIFI to work better than cable does?
Do you want WIFI to work on BART or MUNI on the Bridges, in the parks, in the tunnels, in the Bay?
Do you want WIFI to work after the Earthquake Disaster?
Do you want WIFI to work well enough to get rid of your land line? cell phone? Cable TV?
Do you think that Nonprofits should get help to get online?
Do you think that this might help with the Digital Divide?
Do you want local advertising dollars currently in Newspapers for Display ads and Yellow Pages to go to a International Search Engine?
Do you want a default search engine that promotes local and unique businesses rather than Big Box retailers on the top listings?
Do you want to make sure that if you start using all these free features that you aren’t later charged for them?
Do you think the City could save a bundle of money standardizing on WIFI for All Communication rather than all the incompatible special public safety radio networks that make vendors rich?

WHO: Anyone that thinks that San Francisco WIFI Internet might effect them (and a lot of people that don't realize it)

WHAT: We want Public Hearings on San Francisco Techconnect WIFI like every other city in the Nation

WHY: Cause there are a lot of unanswered questions and the city is working in secret

WHEN: We gotta Ask for Public Hearings Now before Thanksgiving - the Supervisors are scared of Techno Issues and of fighting the Mayor

WHERE: Right from your computer, right now, two minutes.

HOW: Contact the Supervisor's aides and ask for these Public Hearings (see details below it's easy)

Contact All these Supervisor's Aides, email and leave them a polite voicemail with your Name, Email, Phone, and if you are with an Organization, Ask for Public Hearings before the RFP is released on SF Techconnect. This will take you like two minutes.

If they answer (unlikely) Don't worry, they will be nice to you, you don't have to have a special point, they are just counting the responses

John Avalos, (415) 554-7969 john.avalos@sfgov.org
Boris Delepine (415) 554-6758 boris.delepine@sfgov.org
Tomas Lee (415) 554-5144 tomas.lee@sfgov.org

Please do this as soon as you get this! Leave the voicemail and send the email 24/7. This is time sensitive.

If we don’t have hearings before the RFP is written it will be almost impossible to change. Some of the Supervisors are scared because this sounds "Techie" to them rather than realizing the Public Policy issues at hand.

When the Public Hearings are setup we will arrange for Live wifi, Live video and audio streaming, Live blogging and Live chartroom.
We are also going to see if we can do proxy public comment for people who can't attend.

If you represent an organization, please request that they send this out to their membership ASAP.

SF Bay Guardian Lead Editorial on the Secrecy: http://www.sfbg.com/40/06/news_wifi.html
SF Bay Guardian Feature story on the Secrecy: http://www.sfbg.com/40/06/news_wifi2.html
Another Important Source of SF Wireless issues (Media Alliance): http://action.media-alliance.org/article.php?list=type&type=3

Remember all politics are Local - this effects you and the people close to you.

Posted by admin at 12:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I love tech and wifi and google.

You will see nothing below about LBS (Location Based Services).

What’s the rush? Most people have internet at home, at work and on their cell if they like, Let’s try to get this right before we grant a monopoly in the way the Automobile interests quiety purchased all the street cars/routes and turned them into automobile roads only – not to the long term benefit of our society.

If a city designates a wifi provider as the official carrier, it gives that carrier somewhat of an official Yellow Pages designation (called branding in banking). Now with Google adding Click to Dial & VOIP abilities, suddenly a good amount of the local display advertising in the Local Yellow Pages and Local Newspapers is no longer relevant because any Merchant (even all the local ones who don't bother with websites) would be happy to pay for any call they receive from an interested customer - rather than a print display ad that has difficult to measure results (the old saw "Half my advertising budget is wasted, I just don't know which Half"). If you are a local merchant you will buy your ads with the official city isp because that is the one most people will use by default. Recall the huge fight Microsoft had to control the Desktop?

Search engines are wonderful, but they are not doing this free wifi stuff stupidly. Gates was recently quoted as saying in the future Search providers will pay people to surf.

Fine business models change. But now the local advertising dollars funding local news coverage is significantly reduced..

And more interestingly: Are local unique merchants given priority listings over big box nationwide chains in search results? Large companies can probably pay more for referrals. John Battelle has discussed the strange listing algorithms for search engines…

Maybe local governments should think about ways to promote or a least level the playing field for their valued merchants (Deli's, Auto Repair etc may never bother with websites)? Otherwise there may be even more "Malling of America.". Ok Google is going to really really hate me for saying this, but maybe something like top five listings go to locally owned businesses otherwise Google can’t use the city light poles.

And isn't this the perfect time to make vendors roll out wireless solutions that are disaster proof? And if it is disaster proof then let’s save everyone a lot of money and confusion and cancel all the contracts for private Public Safety networks on special bands. We only use one kind of electricity, one kind of water Remember the Internet was designed initially to survive a Nuclear Disaster.

Let's ask wifi and search engine vendors to work with society solve the very difficult privacy and anonymity issues. They won't unless they are mandatory for installation. Banks have dragged their feet on two-factor authentication for years, only now are there regulations rolling out in the US.

One person can’t very well fight large search engine firms terms of service. Or the way wifi hardware works.

But governments can.

Posted by admin at 01:59 AM | Permalink

law.com - Will Going Wireless Bring Legal Entanglements for San Francisco?

"The best thing they can do is candidly think of it as best they can through the eyes of people who will oppose the project," Kreucher said. "And do the best job they can of creating a record, swaying public opinion [and] having the relationships necessary at state houses to ensure the success of the project."

Posted by admin at 12:44 AM | Permalink

W2i Digital Cities Convention (West): Executive Summary

Vein said: The most telling thing for me is to go to a housing project and talk to the people in those projects who ask me, ‘When? When are they going to get affordable or free access to the Wi-Fi. We need it now.’ When you talk about the time it takes to make sure it’s a fair and open selection process, you can see the disappointment. ‘Here it is, government again, going to disappoint me.’”

People come up to Vein in the street and ask, ‘When is it going to be? What are you going to do for me? I want it now?” “The general reaction to the people we serve has been incredibly positive response to this.”

Understandable since the Gavin Newsom promoted Wifi for San Francisco over a year ago.

Posted by admin at 12:38 AM | Permalink

Chris Vein, the mayor's top point person for TechConnect...

Chris Vein, Executive Director of San Francisco Department of Telecommunications and Information Services has a message on his voicemail saying that he is out of the office and will return calls on Nov 25th.

This is kinda Evil
He has probably gone Dark to work on the RFP without public input. And to avoid the Sunshine requests that are outstanding.

You can try this out yourself call 415-554-7803
chris.vein@sfgov.org

Posted by admin at 07:42 PM | Permalink

City of Mountain View - City Government - Click for Attachments
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2005
CITY HALL - 500 CASTRO STREET
6:30 P.M.-REGULAR SESSION

7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1—AGREEMENT WITH GOOGLE, INC. AND PG&E FOR THE USE OF
STREETLIGHT POLES FOR A CITY-WIDE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
SYSTEM

1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a five-year nonexclusive
agreement with Google, Inc. regarding the use of City-owned streetlight
poles for placement of wireless Internet-access transmitters and the
provision of Internet access services.
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with PG&E
relating to the connection of wireless transmitters on City-owned
streetlight poles.

Ok, Who lives near Mountain View and can Attend Tuesday night (11/15) and can Live Blog and set up an IRC channel for this possibly interesting presentation? Or who has access to Mountain View city Cable?

1) Where is the Service Level Agreement?
2) How are privacy issues addressed?
3) How will this effect local advertising in the city? Local Papers, Local TV, Radio?
4) What Kind of wifi is being offered? What vendor is being used? Maybe WFI?
5) How well will this work inside and in multistory buildings?
6) If the National Chains buy up all the top local ad placement - how will mom and pop local businesses compete?
7) What community outreach has occured before rolling out this citywide infrastructure?
8) Back to SLA, if the service is poor, can the city cancel?

No one suggests this is going to be a legit public discussion of the issues since Google World-Wide Headquarters are based in Mountain View, But we can start asking the questions...

Posted by admin at 01:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

0) What we are asking for is reasonable - Public Hearings on Infrastructure - This is being done in cities around the world. We are not promoting a solution, we are just asking to help form the questions. We know what is best for us.

1) We don't have a news cycle, we can blog real-time

2) We can record interactions and take pictures and post all of it online.

3) We can hold individuals who represent secrecy, lethargy and self dealing individually accountable. And the Internet Never Forgets.

4) We are all writing the story. Everyone has a different source, or angle, the story will be richer.

5) We are not worried about upsetting someone at the city and therefore not getting some future contract.

6) The more secrecy and avoidance, the worse Vendors/DTIS/PUC look

7) We can use technology in ways Vendors/DTIS/PUC can both appreciate and in ways that will grab their attention.

8) The Online and Print Press has taken an interest in this story

9) The World is interested in the Free wifi offer from Google, many people are watching this outcome.

Posted by admin at 10:25 AM | Permalink

MercuryNews.com | 11/10/2005 | Google expands coverage offer to Mountain View

``This proposal is in the same spirit of making the world's information easily and quickly accessible as our recent San Francisco WiFi bid and is technically comparable to that initiative,'' Google said in a statement released Wednesday. ``Google has no plans at this time to expand our WiFi efforts beyond the Bay Area.''

Posted by admin at 09:49 PM | Permalink

Posted by admin at 09:03 PM | Permalink

Even with the requested ten day extension the Unredacted RFI/C's by the 26 companies were to be produced today. As well as Techconnect Advisory proceedings. Looks like Ron's bosses wouldn't let him release the documents.. So they arranged to send some unhelpful documents and to approve an unanounced two week vacation.

Lots of people seem to be going on sudden 90 day leaves (Brian Roberts) and now Ron two weeks off, when the chips are down.

Here's the email:

Ron Vinson [Ron.Vinson@sfgov.org] Thu 11/10/2005 4:06 PM
Ron Vinson is out of the office.

I will be out of the office starting 11/10/2005 and will not return until 11/21/2005.

I will respond to your message when I return.

This is actually great news, now we will take the battle to his boss, Chris Vein.

Posted by admin at 08:06 PM | Permalink

i will be posting a bunch of revealing and funny public records later today (Wed)

In the meanwhile, be sure to read the 11/9 San Francisco Bay Guardian article on this topic
http://www.sfbg.com/40/06/news_wifi2.html

(photo Lori Spears, 2005, SFBG.com)

Posted by admin at 01:49 AM | Permalink

Looks like they heard about the Guardian article coming out tomorrow, 11/9 critical of their secrecy, and maybe the Sunshine requests I've filed over the last few days helped them to see that they were in trouble.

Still no Public Process defined, apparently PUC/DTIS and this secret Techconnect panel know best. This ain't over.

What's the Press Release term for Cock Block? Whatever - Nope, it didn't work guys. This was rushed out so quickly (7pm) it hasn't even been posted on the Techconnect website they reference. Now they say 26 proposals and nearly 300 comments, this should be interesting to reconcile with my other data sources.

Tuesday, November 8, 2005, 7pm PST

SAN FRANCISCO TO ISSUE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO CREATE UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE WIRELESS BROADBAND INTERNET NETWORK

First of its kind network would provide affordable “Anytime, Anywhere” connectivity

San Francisco, CA – Mayor Newsom today announced San Francisco will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to create a universal, affordable wireless broadband network in the City. Today’s announcement marks the conclusion of the seven-week Request for Information and Comment (RFI/C) process that sought public comment and proposals from the private and non-profit sectors to fulfill the Mayor’s goal to provide free and affordable wireless internet for all San Franciscans

Following review of the 26 proposals and nearly 300 public comments submitted during the RFI/C process, a panel comprised of City staff, an independent consultant and a community representative, the recommendation was made to pursue a formal RFP. This recommendation was a direct result of the responses and proposals submitted to the City through the RFI/C that clearly demonstrated it is reasonable to expect a combination of terms and benefits, including free and affordable wireless broadband for all San Franciscans.

“We have made universal, affordable Wireless internet a top priority – and today we are taking a significant step toward to making it a reality,” said Mayor Newsom. “Affordable, wireless internet access for all San Franciscans, is essential if we are to connect and compete in the new knowledge based economy. And I am proud that it is just first phase of our TechConnect strategy to bring technology to low-income and disadvantaged residents,” the Mayor continued.

The RFI/C, released on August 16, 2005, was designed to solicit community input and to gather the best ideas from the brightest minds in the wireless industry. Extensive community input during this process strengthened the City’s resolve to promote digital inclusion by requiring that this project serve the whole City, especially disadvantaged neighborhoods, that it protect the privacy and promote the well being of San Franciscans, and that it provide for consumer choice through open access.

The Department of Telecommunications and Information Services (DTIS) and the SF PUC will release the RFP on behalf of the City later this month and hopes to select a proposal and commence negotiations early next year. Interested parties can visit and monitor the TechConnect webpage at http://www.sfgov.org/techconnect

Posted by admin at 10:33 PM | Permalink

Om Malik’s Broadband Blog — � San Francisco To Request RFP Soon

Many companies who have participated in the RFI process have been told that the city has disbanded the board that had been studying the RFI process, and the city will issue a formal RFP in next 30 days

Posted by admin at 06:10 PM | Permalink

AlterNet: Google's WiFi Bid for San Francisco

In San Francisco, at least four companies are vying for the job of blanketing the city with free wireless access, among them Comcast, the city's cable service; SBC, its local phone company; and Earthlink, the Internet service provider that won the bid to provide free city-backed WiFi in Philadelphia.

Posted by admin at 06:59 AM | Permalink

Internet Archive Forums: View Post

To: Custodian of Records Date:10/26/2005_4:00PM PST
_DTIS, PUC, OES & Office of the Mayor, SF Purchasing and Contracting departments

____San Francisco_________
Departments Department Address
Name of Requester:___Kimo Crossman_____________

you may contact me 24/7
Subject or Item Requested: (Please be as specific as possible)

My interest in this matter is purely as a community particpant - I am not representing any party involved and i am concerned about the lack of openness in this process to date. I don't think wifi causes anyone harm - no tinfoil hat for me, but I do have concerns about the transparency of this process. I am very interested in seeing wifi for san francisco!

For example, whole RFI submittals (AnchorFree) are not available for review stating they are completely proprietary, and i have previously identified that intial comments posted on the site did not reflect a complete record of comments sent to the committee. Lastly the many of the submittals posted for public review are heavily redacted or there is a high level public version drastically different from the submittal (Google's public version is 6 pages, reports are that their submittal was 100 pages)

I am open to negotiation regarding what is easy to find and what is hard or expensive to find as well as what will severely torpedo this initiative I do request that this information be posted as soon as possible incrementally rather than all at one time. If in the process of gathering this material for posting online there will be a delay in providing it, i am open to reviewing it in person as long as i can receive digital copies which i will post myself online.

Specifically i am requesting full public access to all RFI/RFC Techconnect 2005-07 proposals submitted with only minor redaction's for legitimate company secrets. Additionally I am requesting full public access to the all comments emailed to the techconnect@sfgov.org mailbox,

I request that an estimate of cost be performed before incurring it and that all materials be provided online for download at the techconnect site for public access so that no cost need to be incurred for copies or postage

I am happy to volunteer some of my technology expertise and time to assist in this process.

Posted by admin at 11:57 PM | Permalink

SF TechConnect: Welcome to TechConnect

This is what started it all....

Mayor’s Message on TechConnect :

As the United States lags behind other nations in equipping our citizens to compete in the global economy, San Francisco is stepping forward to bring universal, affordable wireless broadband access to all our residents and businesses.

Welcome to San Francisco TechConnect.

TechConnect is a new City-wide initiative for universal, affordable, wireless broadband access. Following the model of “Project Connect,” TechConnect will connect all San Franciscans to the social, educational, informational and economic opportunities they need to succeed in the increasingly competitive local, national and international economies of the 21st Century.

Posted by admin at 11:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)