Browsing by Subject "Internet access"
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Item Community Wireless Networks : a case study of Austin, Texas(2006-12) Rock, Kathy; Mueller, Elizabeth J.Community Wireless Networks (CWNs) are a fairly new phenomenon. One of the first projects, NYC Wireless, started in 2001. These wireless initiatives are often a response to the lack of high-speed ubiquitous computing. Many of the first users, frustrated neighborhood “techies,” jerry rigged low cost WiFi antennas to rooftops and the side of buildings in order to access a high-speed broadband service. By doing this the wireless pioneers shared high speed wireless signals with neighbors and anyone within reach of their signal. As wireless computing became more popular, and it’s social and economic benefits more obvious, CWNs became an attractive alternative for many rural and low-income urban communities. Populations that had been overlooked by large cable and telephone service companies. The success of CWNs has paved the way for municipalities to build publicly supported wireless projects. Cable and telephone companies, major providers of broadband service, view municipal networks as unfair competition, and thus began the legislative battle over municipal wireless networks. The battle continues to wage. Cable and telephone companies have had some success at the state level and the federal debate is underway at this moment. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to understand the role Austin’s nonprofits play to ensure that high speed broadband access is made available for everyone and how lessons learned in Austin can be applied to other cities and locations around the country. The study found that Austin, compared to other cities of the same size, has a very small nonprofit community to addresses the issue of universal broadband access. Although the group is small, networking and mingling between community service organizations, the city government and wireless projects has created a community that effectively addresses the issue of high-speed access to the Internet.Item Digital arroyos and imaginary fences : assessing the impact of public policy, communication technologies, and commercial investment on Internet access in rural Texas(2000-08) Nicholas, Kyle Hallett; Strover, SharonOne of the key complications in connecting citizens to the Internet is "remoteness," or distance from a community to the nearest metropolis. Rural areas often have higher communication and transportation costs, and have difficulty attracting investment and services in areas with insufficient telecommunication infrastructure. The communication perspective distinguishes communication from information transport, and asserts communication as the principal function of both technology and policy. The study utilizes a political economy approach to examine the interaction of specific Internet technologies, Universal Service and Texas Expanded Local Calling (ELC) policies, and commercial investment patterns with Internet access in rural Texas. A statistical analysis of 208 rural telephone exchanges was conducted to determine the relationship between Internet access, demographic characteristics and the presence of ELC policy. A concentrated case study of seven rural Texas counties, including interviews with Internet Service Providers, determined the quality and bandwidth of rural connections and the viability of state policy in addressing access issues for remote citizens. Remote communities were far less likely to have Internet access. However, those communities with ELC were much more likely to be connected than their counterparts. ELC policy favors those communities closer to metropolitan areas and served by major telephone carriers. The specific rules of ELC policy eliminate the neediest communities from regulatory relief. Rural citizens also are more likely to have Internet access in areas served by major carriers, with relatively low Hispanic populations and relatively high incomes. There are fewer ISPs in remote regions and those few are rarely prosperous. Bandwidth is generally lower, prices can be higher, and fewer services are offered. This study indicates the importance of the "last mile" of telecommunications infrastructure in connecting citizens to the Internet and highlights the need to examine a complex array of factors that condition the discursive and expressive potential of citizens in our communication age.