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Bobby Worldwide
Location: United States
Abstract:
BobbyTM was launched in 1996 to help Web designers throughout the world analyze their sites for accessibility for all Internet users, including those with disabilities. This interactive tool examines web pages to identify potential barriers to access. Bobby offers prioritized suggestions based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provided by the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Access Initiative. With the release of Bobby WorldWide, web designers can now test their sites for compliance with the U.S. Federal Government's Section 508 standards. As web designers use Bobby WorldWide, they learn how to address problems within their own sites and subsequently learn skills to design more accessible sites in the future.
Website: http://www.cast.org/bobby/
Practitioner Name: n/a
Practitioner Tel: n/a
Practitioner E-mail: ptedoff@g3ict.com
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Boston, MA
Location: USA
Abstract:
OpenAirBoston.net is a private, non-profit corporation—currently all volunteer—charged with developing, implementing and operating a network to provide affordable wireless internet access throughout the City of Boston. OpenAir Boston held a pre-RFI conference on Wednesday, April 11, in downtown Boston. While a goal of OpenAir Boston is to spur digital inclusion across the City of Boston—the design is a wholesale network supporting up to twenty retail service providers—its top objective is local and regional economic development and innovation. A major part of OpenAir’s Request for Information is a Wireless Innovation Center, or WIC, to be housed a local major university. Any private-sectdor respondent seeking OpenAir’s serious attention will need to address the WIC, which will shape its forthcoming RFP. Additional project goals include digital inclusion—a pilot project is under way in Roxbury's Dudley Square—and enhancing the City’s ability to provide innovative services and lower its costs.
Website: http://www.openairboston.net
Practitioner Name: Pamela D.A. Reeve
Practitioner Tel: (617) 542-5690
Practitioner E-mail: info@openairboston.net
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Cambria County, PA
Location: USA
Abstract:
Rural Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and CONXX have teamed up to replace the county's outdated public safety communications infrastructure as mandated by the FCC. The new network, which was announced in April 2007 and will serve 47 fire departments, 33 police departments, 23 ambulance services, municipal offices, local institutions and the community is further intended to drive economic development. The Cambria County model was inspired by AllCoNet 2, also operated by CONXX, in nearby Allegany County, Maryland, where a countywide carrier-class wireless network was installed to drive economic development.
Website: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/transcore/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1001919&newsId=20070508006454&newsLang=en
Practitioner Name: Brian Feist
Practitioner Tel: 814-472-2125
Practitioner E-mail: bfeist@co.cambria.pa.us
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Can Government Create Universal Internet Access? The Philadelphia Municipal Wireless Network Story
Location: USA
Abstract:
As the Internet becomes an increasingly indispensable component of the global economy, Internet access is an increasingly important arbiter of which societies and peoples will have access to the tools and information necessary to adequately exploit social, economic, and educational opportunities. However, due to various reasons, around the world certain geographical areas and populations lag behind others in terms of Internet access. A number of communities and governments around the world are actively seeking solutions to speed up the process of universal broadband Internet availability. One potential solution that is currently receiving extensive attention is the concept of municipal wireless networks (MWNs), which are defined as wireless Internet access networks created with active local leadership and involvement. However, MWNs are still an evolving concept, and there are a number of drivers and inhibitors that may accelerate or reduce their impact. In this report we describe the development of the Philadelphia MWN. In 2004, the city government of Philadelphia announced that it would seek to build an MWN to address the digital divide in the city. Despite considerable opposition and doubts about the project, by March 2007 a 15-squaremile proof of concept was completed and is available to use, and full implementation is expected in late 2007. The report describes how the project was organized around sequential stages that include goals, stakeholder expectations, policy, applications, technology, management, funding, and implementation. The case provides an example of government acting as a catalyst for the introduction of technology— with the intention of promoting social and economic change. The case also provides important lessons for municipalities and governments contemplating similar roles in developing MWNs. In the short term, MWN projects require a strong champion who can respond to different stakeholders and balance private and public demands, and identify the main application of the MWN. To sustain the MWN, municipalities should also understand the potential and danger of focusing only on the digital divide, and have a plan in place to respond to the many issues surrounding MWNs and the underlying technology.
Related Items:
• Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative
• Advance for Philly Wireless Network
• Eight Ways to Promote Digital Inclusion Now!
• Wireless Philadelphia: Varinia Robinson
• Digital Inclusion Roundtable: Government-Backed Initiatives / Urban Vs. Rural Inclusion
Website:
Practitioner Name: Abhijit Jain
Practitioner Tel: 906-227-2707
Practitioner E-mail: ajain@nmu.edu
Presentation: Only registered users can load presentations, please log-in
Vendor Name 1: IBM
Vendor Title 1: IBM
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Caroline County, MD
Location: USA
Abstract:
Caroline County, MD, (pop. 30,000) is 50 miles long and narrow on Maryland’s Delmarva Peninsula. The county seat is Denton, with only 3,000 people, but that is projected to jump to 30,000 in the next decade. Cawley and his associates were able to build a 30-MB fiber network within the town limits and extend that to a three-tower network (800 Mhz). From there, the network has expanded with point-to-point and point-to-multipoint (900 Mhz). This network is all connected back to the state library system’s SAILOR network, which is federal-grant (i.e., e-Rate) and state-tax funded and can’t be used for private use. The County pays nothing for Internet access, and it gets huge capacity, says Charles Cawley, County Administrator. The county has fiber to state buildings and is partnering with Network Maryland [another state network] to hook those up. The next challenge to bring the broadband to schools and other buildings. Moreover, Caroline County has no hospitals, and all EMS patients must be transported out of county, which raises jurisdictional issues with other counties and the State of Delaware, which has 800 Mhz.
Website: http://www.carolinemd.org/governmt/technology/index.html
Practitioner Name: Charles Cawley
Practitioner Tel: 410-479-0660
Practitioner E-mail: ccawley@carolinemd.org
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Chaska, MN
Location: USA
Abstract:
In 2004, the small town of Chaska, southwest of Minneapolis, began making some big headlines. Chaska had decided to take telecommunication matters into its own hands and, across 16 square miles, provide broadband Internet access as an affordable public utility to residents, and eventually connect schools and local businesses, city employees, and public safety officials. In April of 2004, the city council approved the rollout of a 200-node Wi-Fi Mesh network on streetlights and other properties to provide low-cost connectivity to residents. Service to 7,500 households across 15 square miles would overlay existing commercial cable and DSL service and be billed the same way as gas and electricity. Residents had been paying $40 to $60 per month for broadband, but by the following November, Chaska.net was charging $15.99.
Website: http://www.chaska.net
Practitioner Name: Brad Mayer
Practitioner Tel: 952-448-2851 x7561
Practitioner E-mail: bmayer@chaskamn.com
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City of Miami Beach WiFi
Location: USA
Abstract:
Miami Beach residents and visitors will soon be able to go surfing, not just in the water, but into another realm. The only board needed will be a computer with a wireless card to catch the free unlimited internet waves.The City of Miami Beach entered into an agreement with IBM to install a secure citywide wireless broadband network, also known as WiFi (wireless fidelity), to support public safety and other government use and also provide free hot zones citywide for public access. A pilot program was tested and everyone should look forward to the citywide installation and coverage.
Related Items:
• Austin Wireless City Project
• Minneapolis Wi-Fi Works, Where it Exists
• Eight Ways to Promote Digital Inclusion Now!
• Connect Kentucky - Joe Mefford
Website: http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/wifi/
Practitioner Name: n/a
Practitioner Tel: 305 604-CITY
Practitioner E-mail: info@digitalinclusionforum.com
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Cleveland Sight Center has its eyes on the future
Location: USA
Abstract:
Overview ■ The challenge Determine technology resources and programs required to improve accessibility investment over time and help consumers who are blind or visually impaired gain independence in their everyday lives. ■ The solution Strategic business assessment and technology roadmap delivered by IBM that outlines the center’s accessibility and adaptive technology needs by consumer group and focus area. ■ The benefit Clearly defined strategy to help in serving consumers more effectively and gaining an understanding of initiatives and resources needed to execute strategy.
Related Items:
• Microsoft to develop document translator for the blind
• OneCommunity, USA
Website:
Practitioner Name: n/a
Practitioner Tel: n/a
Practitioner E-mail: info@ibm.com
Presentation: Only registered users can load presentations, please log-in
Vendor Name 1: IBM
Vendor Title 1: IBM
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Cleveland, OneCommunity
Location: USA
Abstract:
OneCommunity is a community-driven nonprofit organization focusing broadband wireless solutions for government, healthcare, and nonprofit initiatives in the greater Cleveland area to enable and transform the region. It provides support to the champions that want access to new and innovative applications. To do that, it partners with corporations to provide innovative solutions and transform the ways communities do business. OneCommunity began as OneCleveland out of Case Western Univeristy with an eye toward taking advantage of fiber in the region. The nonprofit spun off with a specific focus on applications and outsourcing services to the private sector. The City of Cleveland is on its board. OneClevland has received donated fiber which serves as a platform to connect interested communities. OneCleveland is building a regional collaboration and integration model that looks at all the providers in municipal, public, and private environments. OneCleveland then becomes the gateway between all the clusters of wireless mesh networks.
Website: http://www.onecommunity.org
Practitioner Name: Mark Ansboury
Practitioner Tel: 216-621-3367
Practitioner E-mail: mark.ansboury@onecommunity.org
Vendor Name 1: IBM
Vendor Title 1: IBM
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ConnectKentucky
Location: USA
Abstract:
ConnectKentucky develops and implements effective strategies for technology deployment, use, and literacy in Kentucky, creating both the forum and the incentive for interaction among a variety of people and entities that would not otherwise unite behind common goals and a shared vision. Working closely with the office of Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, ConnectKentucky is motivated by recent research revealing that broadband deployment throughout Kentucky could add 14,000 jobs and $5 billion in gross state product. In addition, the project aims to accelerate the growth and economic development of technology in Kentucky, increase public awareness of the benefits of e-commerce, e-government, and e-learning to Kentucky’s businesses, governmental agencies and citizens, and implement market driven strategies that increase business, consumer, and government use of the Internet. ConnectKentucky will also support the implementation of public policy initiatives that promote the preceding goals. ConnectKentucky projects full broadband deployment by 2007. This is defined as improved residential use of computers and the Internet, a meaningful online presence for every local community with ready-to-offer citizen services, and economic development resources provided to each local community in the form of technology inventories and improved telecommunications assets. In recognition of its groundbreaking work to unwire the state, ConnectKentucky received the 2006 U.S. Economic Development Administration's Excellence in Innovation Award.
Website: http://www.connectkentucky.org
Practitioner Name: Joe Mefford
Practitioner Tel: 270-781-4320
Practitioner E-mail: jmefford@connectky.org
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