Tom - This could be a valid proposal for the Digital Inclusion Fund group. It would need a nonprofit to propose it or act as a fiscal agent. Right now, there is no date set for a grant cycle. On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 8:34 AM, Tom Poe<tompoe at fngi.net> wrote: > Peter Fleck wrote: >> >> - - - snip - - - >> So one idea would be to (un)wire the Cedar Riverside high rises and >> construct a WAN for residents, focusing on the Somali population. No >> Internet. This would likely require funding and nonprofit involvement. >> I don't see that as a big problem, you just get yourself a fiscal >> agent. The local Freegeek/TC Open Circuit group is in the process of >> becoming a 501C3 and might be interested. >> >> Good to see this list active again. >> >> Peter >> >> >> > > Interesting idea, if I understand what you're saying. Unfortunately, I am a > disadvantaged computer user. Been struggling for days with trying to > understand how to properly set up a home network and assign IP's to two > computer boxes. > > Assumptions: > A WAN would establish an effective local broadband infrastructure for the > high rises. > There would initially be no Internet access. > > Vision: > This infrastructure could support communications between residents of the > network, computer to computer. If one of the computers was set up as a > server on an intranet, it might provide a virtual world application like > Sun's Wonderland virtual world (open source). Residents would then be able > to have a virtual venue that includes individual as well as group > activities. > At this level, I suspect the local broadband infrastructure becomes > attractive to ISP providers, telco/cableco incumbents, hospitals, grocery > stores, newspapers, city services, etc., who might want to gain access to > the network in exchange for reasonable wholesale Internet access pricing for > the residents. > > The social and educational enhancement from having a WAN, or local broadband > infrastructure seems obvious to me. > Peter, is any of the above in line with what your committee is set up to > explore? Have you had any contact with the folks at St Paul College, or > possibly some group at the University? > http://blogs.sun.com/wonderland/entry/st_paul_college_open_virtual > Tom > -- Peter Fleck Blog: http://www.pfhyper.com/blog Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfhyper pfhyper at gmail.com