please support them by writing Smithsonian
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Staple, Greg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: May 16, 2005 11:20:10 AM EDT To: "Anthony Townsend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Open Park Update --We need your help !
Anthony:
Thought I would bring this to your attention so that , hopefully, you can pass it along and get it circulated to the NYC Wireless list.
We are finallly getting much closer to winning an agreement with the Smithsonian for the roof top access we need to create a vibrant new community wireless park on the Mall -- a hotspot for democracy -- but we need one more public push. Hence, my plea below to Open Park's email list which I am also forwarding to friends and fellow travelers. Please do what you can and let the Smithsonian know that you support our efforts. Every letter and email count !
Do give me a shout if you want more information or background. This has been quite a journey. But , I am convinced we can make this happen.
all the best,
Greg
-----Original Message----- From: Open Park News [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 9:05 AM Subject: Please Help Open Park Provide Free WiFi on the Mall
I am writing today with some urgency because Open Park's dream of creating a free community WiFi service on the National Mall is facing a crucial challenge. I know that the outcome will be positive, however, with a little help from our many friends on this mailing list.
Since mid 2004, Open Park has tried to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement with the Smithsonian Institution for suitable rooftop antenna sites on the Mall. An agreement is critical to Open Park's success because, without access to the roofs of the major museums overlooking the center of the Mall, it will be very difficult if not impossible to provide a strong and reliable wireless Internet signal to most Mall visitors.
Open Park expected to reach an agreement with the Smithsonian in December 2004 after several joint drafting sessions with the Institution's Office of Contracting. The draft agreement contemplated the non-exclusive installation of Open Park's antennas for a trial period (until December 2006) with Open Park to bear all costs, including the costs of any Smithsonian supervisory staff (estimated at under $2000). However, in February 2003, the Smithsonian decided to break off negotiations. It told the Congress that Open Park's proposed use of the Smithsonian's premises was not directly related to the Smithsonian's own operations and programs.
During the last week though, the Smithsonian has decided to reconsider, as reported in the May 9 edition of the Washington Post (click here for the article). Sheila Burke, Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, has agreed to take a new look at the merits of Open Park's proposed WiFi installation. Ms. Burke told the Post that "Obviously, access to the Smithsonian is one issue that is critical for us. Having people find an easy way to get information is something we care deeply about." We agree, of course, and we have always thought that Open Park's WiFi service could go a long way to meeting the Smithsonian's goals.
Simply put, Open Park's free public WiFi service will support the Smithsonian's current operations and programs by providing free on site access to the Institution's numerous web sites, on-line event calendars, ticket offices and new web-based music service (i.e., the Folkways records site). None of these Internet based services are readily available today to Smithsonian visitors because there are no public Internet terminals at any Mall museum. Open Park's free public hotspot service would remedy this IT shortfall -- at no cost to the Smithsonian or the tax payer -- by providing museum goers high speed online access just when it may be most desired -- on the steps of the Mall 's most popular museums.
Please tell the Smithsonian yourself about the promise of Open Park. Your message can be as short as this: Dear Smithsonian -- Please grant Open Park the roof top access it has requested to provide the public with free Wifi service this Summer on the Mall.
Feel free to put this in you own words though and, if you are a Smithsonian member or donor, as many of you are, don't forget to say so. But make your support for Open Park known. Take a few minutes today or tomorrow to pick up your pen or to put your fingers on your keyboard and write. And for those of you who want some more details on the benefits Open Park will provide, please click here to read Open Park's Congressional briefing.
Contact details for the Smithsonian's executives are appended at the foot of this letter. US mail or courier may be best as we all hate having our email boxes jammed with messages we did not expect, even if this comes with the job. We'd like to keep a tally of your letters, so be sure to send Open Park a copy at 740 Seventh St., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
We are confident that the Smithsonian will do the right thing. However, it will certainly be helpful if they know that the Congress and the public will support their decision. Tell them you will.
Sincerely,
Greg Staple President and Co-founder, Open Park
SMITHSONIAN CONTACTS
Sheila P. Burke Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Smithsonian Institution Castle Bldg., Room 219 1000 Jefferson Drive SW Washington, DC 20560 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (202) 357 7033 Fax: (202) 357-7031
Lawrence M. Small Secretary Smithsonian Institution Castle Bldg., Room 205 1000 Jefferson Drive SW Washington, DC 20560 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (202) 357-1846 Fax: (202) 786-2515
Roger Sant Chairman, Executive Committee, Smithsonian Board of Regents c/o Summit Foundation 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 525 Washington, DC 20037 Tel: (202) 912-2900 Fax: (202) 912-2901
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