October 05, 2005

Metro Task Force to Study Internet Access

S-Town Mike notes that Nashville's Metro Council voted in favor of creating a "Task Force on Telecommunications Innovation" that would study how to provide wide-spread internet/data access to the city.

The resolution can be found here.

Synopsis:

A resolution establishing a Task Force on Telecommunications Innovation to explore and report on the feasibility of using Metropolitan Government resources in a network that is available to the public using broadband technologies, broadband over power lines, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, and other wireless applications, end-user fiber build out, and other telecommunications technologies.

Mike goes on to chastise those that voted against the resolution:

I was amazed that the dissent to the resolution was hair-triggered, with dissenting council members not seeming to understand the difference between voting for a "study/report on" the feasibility of establishing a broadband network and voting for establishing a broadband network.

Well, technically, it's not just a "study/report" on the feasibility of the project, but it creates another metro task force (which I think does cost money in of itself) to study something that Council members may feel really isn't needed.

Back in January, I discussed a call for free wi-fi downtown by Tom Neff of the Nashville City Paper. I looked at both sides of the argument, but ultimately, such a move (whether it be confined to downtown* or city-wide) would be unwise *if* such a system were to be paid for and run by the Metro government and subsequently offered free of charge.

It's really a bad idea for governments to be getting involved with projects that would clearly put it in direct competition with private companies. On the other hand, I could be completely supportive of an effort by Metro that would encourage private companies to put such networks in place and could even allow for the leasing/rent of Metro infrastructure if necessary.

I did notice that such options would be considered by this task force, but my concern is that the focus may be more toward just providing a free wi-fi service that's completely subsidized by taxpayers without regard to the unfair competitive disadvantage of private companies...private companies that could/would supply internet access for a fee.

With that being said, I'd like to make it known that I (as someone with a background in technology) am available to sit on such a task force.

*Note: You can't consider the free wi-fi at Centennial Park in the equation as that type of small-area doesn't come into direct competition with a private company, but there is still a cost there that Metro is paying for.

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