Broadband Initiative
“The goal is to provide mobile connectivity to the people of Boston in a cost-effective manner. It will be a huge platform for innovation.” Joyce Plotkin, Co-Chair, Mayor Menino's Boston Wiresless Task Force |
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“Ubiquitous broadband is a totally disruptive business model for large incumbents across the business landscape.” Jim Cash, Co-Chair, Mayor Menino's Boston Wireless Task Force |
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“There will be multiple vendors in the mix and the choices are going to multiply for consumers. A single-payer system is fraught with danger.” Rick Burnes, Co-Chair, Mayor Menino's Boston Wireless Task Force |
The John Adams Innovation Institute is supporting the movement of Massachusetts municipalities to create ubiquitous wireless Internet access through its Broadband Initiative.
Working with partners in government and in communities across the state, the Innovation Institute has undertaken a number of projects related to enhancing Massachusetts' technological edge and creating a more connected society.
Innovation Institute hosts forum on creating a low-cost, downtown, WiFi network
On January 24, the “Unwired Village” team, in collaboration with the Orleans Chamber of Commerce and MTC’s Innovation Institute, hosted a forum showcasing the open access wireless downtown network which they created on Cape Cod as a potential model for other communities.
The “Unwired Village” project in Orleans, developed by the Cape Cod Technology Council is centered on local businesses, which provide a coordinated WiFi “hot spot.” The businesses contribute an annual fee in return for advertising on the portal page of the network. After only four months, there are more than 1,500 registered users. Two other nearby communities on the Cape have begun work on developing their own open-access wireless networks.
Boston HotSpot Initiative
Boston has formed a new initiative to create and expand wireless access with the support of Mayor Tom Menino, the Museum of Science and the Boston Foundation. The Boston HotSpot initiative was unveiled at a February 15, 2006, gathering.
Its task force will be directed by Joyce Plotkin, President, Massachusetts & Technology Leadership Council, James Cash, retired Professor, Harvard Business School, and Rick Burnes, Co-founder and Director, Charles River Ventures.
The Innovation Institute is undertaking an analysis of the different business models being used in cities and communities across the nation and internationally. As an important part of the analysis, the Innovation Institute will engage with industry and talk about the ways to establish policies and programs that best leverage the emerging wireless technologies. The Governing Board anticipates using its May meeting as a forum in which to consider the role of government and potential business models for achieving the stated goals for broadband connectivity in Massachusetts.
Read more about the launch of the Boston HotSpot Initiative >>
May 2006 Governing Board meeting on Wireless Broadband
BOSTON'S BROADBAND BEACON-- “Steady blue, clear view. Flashing blue, clouds are due.” Once, the bright blue and red beacon atop the John Hancock Berkeley tower provided Boston and its surrounding communities with visual weather forecasts, a symbol of technological prowess of the mid-20th century. Soon, new ubiquitous broadband and wireless services will usher in a new age of connectivity to Boston’s footprint in the 21st century. It was very appropriate, then, that the Governing Board of the John Adams Innovation Institute met on May 1st inside the John Hancock Conference Center to hear the three co-chairs of the Boston Wireless Task Force offer their vision of what the changes may mean.
Contact:
Bill Ennen, Program Manager
tel: 413 997 3070 x 103
cell: 413 834 0192
e-mail: bennen@masstech.org