What we thought San Francisco TechConnect Municipal Wireless Internet would be
We thought TechConnect would be Wireless Internet for all that closed the Digital Divide and which:
+ Worked as well as your Cell Phone service
+ Had Library/Bank-like privacy and security
+ Was Disaster-proof so that the Public can communicate when they really need to, not just Public Safety.
The leaked draft RFP lacks or only partially has these features.
Anyone can speak for three mintues: Come tell the three Supervisor's McGoldrick, Ammiano and Mirkarimi (he called the hearing) why this is unacceptable. (the selected Vendor will most likely be using City Light Poles, Power, Buildings and possibly fiber)
Ask for Transparency and Accountability in the whole RFP process - in the drafting, due dilligence and selection process. As it stands, while DTIS has been embarassed, they are still writing the RFP to exclude Public Participation.
Fri Dec 16th, 2 PM, (PST GMT -8) City Hall, Room 263 (across from chambers), LAFCO SFGTV2 called by Sup. Mirkarimi
http://sfgov.org/site/lafco_page.asp?id=36018
(you can watch it online from home or work too on SFGTV2 live internet streaming or LIVE on cable channel 78 on Comcast & cable channel 28 on RCN):
http://sfgov.org/site/sfgtv_index.asp?id=11463
Live chat (active now - free - no download - enable popups - works on public or library computers)
irc://irc.indymedia.org/techconnect
server irc.indymedia.org the channel is #techconnect
For Live chat help:
http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Sysadmin/IrcHowTo#New_users_Connect_quickly_using
Online Trip Planner for Public Transit
http://transit.511.org/tripplanner/index.asp
City Hall driving and parking information
http://www.sfgov.org/site/cityhall_index.asp?id=5244
Google map to City Hall
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1+Carlton+B+Goodlett+Pl,+San+Francisco,+CA+94102&iwloc=A&hl=en
Comments
I could not garner any meaningfull statements from Supervisors Tom Ammiano nor Jake McGoldrick - these two are so far behind the real facts and technology that some one has to sit down and bring them up to par.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi can keep up with some information but as many of us found out the issues discussed today really focused on some general statements. The "platform" to be used and the level of service needs in put from the experts and that includes fiscal planning, engineering, operations, and economics.
San Francisco cannot depend on a City Agency like DTIS or for that matter SFPUC or MOCD. These agencies always hire consultants and that means some entities that can make money and mostly compromise security, our First Amendment Rights, and critical information that will be privy to access in some quarters and compromised and that we all should guard as a top priority.
There are companies that have invested billions of dollars - not only in equipment but in terms of person hours and development of technology, organization, and quality service. These entities are well poised to do business in any dog eat dog areana.
Here is San Francisco we have the technology and we have certain clusters where the technology is already being used. The issue is when it take it to a higher level and incorporate a wider region - what really are the consequences of fair play, service, and trust related to critical information that may or may not be compromised.
We cannot expect City Employees that are NOT in the know fully to make these decisions for us the constituents.
So it comes to Transparency and Accoutability. We had this discussion in Room 263 at City Hall - with some accomodation and little progress with time lines and goals.
I could not remain to hear all the comments but I wish you folks the best. At least some of you are stepping up to the podium and bringing about great ideas and forcing those that previously in secret made deals to open up and have a dialog.
Keep bombarding these folks with quality band width and challenge them to a better tomorrow. You all have the power to make it happen.
I wish you all well.
Francisco Da Costa
Posted by: Francisco Da Costa | December 17, 2005 12:10 AM