Churches are undergoing changes because of the laws of supply and demand. Demand is low at this time. Church membership is down. They really would like to participate in a public benefit media network. Most Churches like libraries are renting out their halls for public events. Other uses are community education that has nothing to do with church curriculum. The public events are quality presentations by well known speakers on many subjects. It is a good fit because these public events are what would benefit the community if the events could be put out over a media network. It also brings the churches which are hurting from low membership back into the communities and in a way gets the communities participating in Church activities although the activities have absolutely nothing to do with religion. The educational classes may be attended virtually at other community centers, churches, residences, etc. So it is a very empowering thing, a wireless network that can offer high quality video, education and community involvement. Radio stations will ultimately have to participate as well. The public radio stations are already aware they must become involved with the new technologies and are currently willing to advertise for free whatever we would like to have them advertise in support of the wireless networks. Now if we had a consortium of public wireless technologists that could sit down and study how to best put together a public wireless media/data network then we could put forth a proposal for funding to large organizations, churches and others that would likely be funded. We have the locations. We have the technology, We can probably get the funding. We don't have a design. So what I've been doing over the last three weeks is getting churches and nonprofit organizations to offer their rooftops and steeples to be used as access points. By Friday this week I hope to have some tests run between a few of the access points we can currently use. The critical component that is missing is a redundant backbone across Los Angeles. The points I'm testing are Little Tokyo, Harvard Heights and the Venice Center. If we can get these connected to the downtown LPBN colo then everyone has bandwidth at cost. Which currently is running around $30/Mbit. In Marina Del Rey we can connect at a colo for redundancy via the Internet. So the two main points onto the Internet will be downtown LA and Marina Del Rey. Once a backbone is in place the resale of wireless access and access to the LA city wide network can begin. The build out should occur very fast once the backbone is in place because of the low cost of bandwidth compared to competitors. Also people will participate because it is a public vs private network. And, it will have live entertainment coming in from all the clubs and public events. It would not be out of question to also offer some commercial subscriptions to cable programming to round out the media/data/telephony network. It is quite possible that one hardware vendor would actually offer to provide the equipment up front. Of course we would like an open solution but we may even be able to request such a solution from a proprietary device corporation. They may open up. You know LA is a big City and has the potential to purchase a massive amount of equipment. If anyone would like to work on the design for the LA (it could be SoCal) wireless network let me know and I'll set up an online development bulletin board, online videoconferencing and whatever may be necessary to use for the design of a WiMax or other network.
> hi Ray, > That's pretty sweet! Churches, huh? interesting... How did you get > them to go for it? Isn't there something a little ironic about providing access to porn using church steeples? ;) > > Take it easy, > -Lee > > > > On Tue, 10 Aug 2004, Ray Steding wrote: > >> Also note that per the TV news today on Walmart Superstores, they are outlawed in Los Angeles and even the smaller Walmarts will have to undergo >> special restrictions and meet certain community regulations. This is because the Walmart Superstores have created large low income government subsidized families of workers because of their minimum wage employee policy. They have also decreased the taxable income for the cities they are currently in by lowering property values in the areas they are located >> in. There may not be many Walmarts or Super Targets to fund such speculative technologies. >> I'm on the side of putting together a buildout of WiMax for a publicly owned and operated system that is designed, managed and implemented by a consortium of technologists. Additionally Churches have nice Steeples. I was in one a week and a half ago. I could see Catalina from just East of Western on Santa Monica. Also Pacifica and other public radio stations seem willing to let us use their existing antenna locations or at least talk about it at this point. The other church I'll be going to sits atop of the Loyola Marymount University property. It can see to Downtown LA. Whith this kind of community support it will be very difficult for any private enterprise to compete. >> >> >> > Ouch Frank - you got me.... got me to respond to your post, that is... >> > >> > Dan Sherman is probably only one of the millions (or is it only thousands?) of people who has fallen for the WiMax hype - hook, line, and sinker. We all fall for hype sometime so he's only human in >> letting >> > his hopes, dreams, and expectations prevail over reality but a little reality is in order here: >> > >> > WiMax, IMHO, is currently 80% hype and 20% reality. >> > >> > The reality: >> > >> > 1. WHAT IS IT? - WiMax (802.16) is an abbreviation for a set of over-the-air protocols. These protocols will be used on different frequency bands. >> > >> > 2. HOW FAR WILL IT GO? - Distances depend on frequency, terrain, obstructions, interference levels, and acceptable bit-error rate. >> > >> > 3. WILL IT GO 30 MILES? - In a point-to-point scenario at 5 GHz with a line-of-sight (LOS) path (for example, between mountain tops) - YES. >> In >> > a point-to-multipoint scenario at 5 GHz without a LOS path - NO. >> > >> > 4. HOW FAR WILL IT GO? - In a typical 5 GHz NLOS point-to-multipoint scenario (the kind that most of us would be facing) the range is >> likely >> > to be 1 to 2 miles if the obstructions are reasonably few (for >> example, >> > a few trees or a building of two in the way). If obstructions are more dense (or if the outdoor antennas are too low) then the range will be shorter. >> > >> > 5. HOW FAR WILL IT GO ON OTHER FREQUENCIES? - The lower the frequency, the farther the distance it will go and the less it will be attenuated by obstructions. The higher the frequency, the shorter the distance it will go without needing to be repeated or mesh-network enabled. For >> the >> > record, repeating IS addressed in the WiMax standards. >> > >> > 6. WILL IT USE LICENSED OR UNLICENSED FREQUENCIES? - Both. WiMax is >> just >> > a set of protocols. One or more WiMax protocols may be used on >> licensed >> > of license-free frequencies between 2 GHz and 66 GHz. >> > >> > 7. CAN WAL-MART DOMINATE THE WISP MARKET BY PUTTING A BASE STATION ON EVERY STORE? - Extremely unlikely although it would be fun to see them try it. Unless every store is on top of a mountain overlooking the customer base/service area (below the mountain) then the frequency, terrain, obstructions, interference levels, and acceptable bit-error rate variable (mentioned above) are going to restrict the coverage to >> a >> > relatively short one or two-mile distance. >> > >> > I hope this bring a little perspective to the claims made by Wi-Max vendors, "marketing pros", and public relations "experts". >> > >> > >> > jack >> > >> > >> > fkeeney wrote: >> > >> >> http://www.dansherman.com/2004/06/walmart-communications-look-into.html >> >> >> >> " Imagine this scenario... Walmart adds capacity to their already notorious >> >> bandwidth coming into their stores (that they use for their data >> links) >> >> and >> >> sets up Wi-Max points of presence at each of their stores. Because >> they >> >> would be buying all this bandwidth in bulk (every Walmart in America) they >> >> could get the best bandwidth price than anyone else in the US and >> then >> >> hook >> >> people up via Wi-Max to these point's of presence." >> >> >> >> http://www.thefeature.com/article?articleid=100964 >> >> >> >> http://blogger.iftf.org/Future/000484.html >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >> Frank Keeney >> >> http://www.wlanparts.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >> > -- >> > Jack Unger - President, Ask-Wi.Com, Inc. >> > Serving the License-Free Wireless Industry Since 1993 >> > Author of the WISP Handbook - "Deploying License-Free Wireless WANs" True Vendor-Neutral WISP Consulting-Training-Troubleshooting >> > http://www.ask-wi.com >> > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (818) 227-4220 >> > >> > >> > >> >> >> * * * * * * * * * * * * >> >> "Weaving the spirit of open source throughout the social fabric." The Linux Public Broadcasting Network, a 501(c)3 public benefit media nonprofit, provides free public access to technology, education, community >> and arts services and content. >> >> ~ VNAN.ORG ~ SOCALWIRELESS.ORG ~ COLO.LPBN.ORG ~ >> ~ MUSIC.LPBN.ORG ~ RADIO.LPBN.ORG ~ ARTS.LPBN.ORG ~ >> >> * * * * * * * * * * * * >> >> http://COLO.LPBN.ORG: Data Services, Video & Audio Streaming, Video Conferencing, Offsite Data Storage; Webhosting, Group Management Reliable, Secure, Convenient Colocation Services. >> >> The Linux Public Broadcasting Network Colocation services are available at >> cost to qualifying individuals, nonprofit organizations and other public benefit projects and institutions. Other individuals, groups and for-profit business may also apply to receive discounted rates. All proceeds support the nonprofit public access, public benefit community media projects of the Linux Public Broadcasting Network. No commercial advertising, no hidden charges. >> >> * * * * * * * * * * * * >> >> LINUX PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK >> 2210 Lincoln Blvd. Suite #12 >> Venice, CA 90291 >> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 310-636-1815 >> >> > > * * * * * * * * * * * * "Weaving the spirit of open source throughout the social fabric." The Linux Public Broadcasting Network, a 501(c)3 public benefit media nonprofit, provides free public access to technology, education, community and arts services and content. ~ VNAN.ORG ~ SOCALWIRELESS.ORG ~ COLO.LPBN.ORG ~ ~ MUSIC.LPBN.ORG ~ RADIO.LPBN.ORG ~ ARTS.LPBN.ORG ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * http://COLO.LPBN.ORG: Data Services, Video & Audio Streaming, Video Conferencing, Offsite Data Storage; Web hosting, Group Management Reliable, Secure, Convenient Collocation Services. The Linux Public Broadcasting Network Collocation services are available at cost to qualifying individuals, nonprofit organizations and other public benefit projects and institutions. Other individuals, groups and for-profit business may also apply to receive discounted rates. All proceeds support the nonprofit public access, public benefit community media projects of the Linux Public Broadcasting Network. No commercial advertising, no hidden charges. * * * * * * * * * * * * LINUX PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK 2210 Lincoln Blvd. Suite #12 Venice, CA 90291 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 310-636-1815 * * * * * * * * * * * * "Weaving the spirit of open source throughout the social fabric." The Linux Public Broadcasting Network, a 501(c)3 public benefit media nonprofit, provides free public access to technology, education, community and arts services and content. ~ VNAN.ORG ~ SOCALWIRELESS.ORG ~ COLO.LPBN.ORG ~ ~ MUSIC.LPBN.ORG ~ RADIO.LPBN.ORG ~ ARTS.LPBN.ORG ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * http://COLO.LPBN.ORG: Data Services, Video & Audio Streaming, Video Conferencing, Offsite Data Storage; Webhosting, Group Management Reliable, Secure, Convenient Colocation Services. The Linux Public Broadcasting Network Colocation services are available at cost to qualifying individuals, nonprofit organizations and other public benefit projects and institutions. Other individuals, groups and for-profit business may also apply to receive discounted rates. All proceeds support the nonprofit public access, public benefit community media projects of the Linux Public Broadcasting Network. No commercial advertising, no hidden charges. * * * * * * * * * * * * LINUX PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK 2210 Lincoln Blvd. Suite #12 Venice, CA 90291 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 310-636-1815
