Free wifi for Tulsa?

[patric]

Mayor Kathy Taylor on Thursday announced a new initiative to bridge the digital divide.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081030_11_Thec366672

The three-tier "Bring IT Home" program is a partnership between the city and One Economy, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that uses technology to help low- to moderate-income families improve their lives.

One Economy is working to identify underserved areas of the city to establish free wireless internet service to about 700 households, along with providing them access to affordable computers.

[joiei]

I use wireless all the time.  When traveling I have never had a problem connecting or staying connected, this includes trips to Kansas City, several Texas locations, Vicksburg, MS, the panhandle of Florida.  And most of those were hotel free wifi connections.  I have used the tulsa free wifi locater to go for coffee.  If Tulsa goes free wifi then I am for it.

[TUalum0982]

I never have any trouble at the hotels we go to.  Mainly Hilton, Embassy and Marriot.  

I received an email and txt message from AT&T just yesterday saying that since I have an iPhone that I can use any att wifi hotspot for free.  I won't necessarily need or use it that often, but its nice to know it is there.  I am not usually the coffee shop type person.

[TeeDub]

quote:Originally posted by patric

Mayor Kathy Taylor on Thursday announced a new initiative to bridge the digital divide.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081030_11_Thec366672

The three-tier "Bring IT Home" program is a partnership between the city and One Economy, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that uses technology to help low- to moderate-income families improve their lives.

One Economy is working to identify underserved areas of the city to establish free wireless internet service to about 700 households, along with providing them access to affordable computers.

Someone else beat me to it...    

Why the hell am I paying for someone else's internet?

WOOT FOR A SERVICE THAT I SUBSIDIZE BUT GET NO BENEFIT FROM.

[inteller]

i see, so in otherwords city wide wifi = free wifi in north and east tulsa.

sounds like taylor is sold hook line and sinker on Obama's redistribution of wealth.

[nathanm]

Apparently some posters in this thread have a reading comprehension problem here. This non-profit is paying for Internet for some folks, not the city.

[TeeDub]

quote:Originally posted by nathanm

Apparently some posters in this thread have a reading comprehension problem here. This non-profit is paying for Internet for some folks, not the city.

Apparently you don't know how nonprofts work,   Do you think the money just appears out of thin air?

This company lives off taking government grants.  Do I really need to tell you where the government gets it's money?

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by TeeDub

quote:Originally posted by nathanm

Apparently some posters in this thread have a reading comprehension problem here. This non-profit is paying for Internet for some folks, not the city. Apparently you don't know how nonprofts work,   Do you think the money just appears out of thin air?

This company lives off taking government grants.  Do I really need to tell you where the government gets it's money?

I looked all over to find what government money went to this non-profit. All I find is money donated from corporations (Intel, Cysco, banks).

I found no government money while looking at their non-profit stats, even their IRS info.

I think you are either confused about "how non-profits work" or are purposely attacking this initiative for political reasons.

Free wifi for some of our residents ain't a bad thing. Communication is a positive thing.

[inteller]

if they city has to foot ANY part of the bill then yes they will be getting gov money.  when my tax dollars are at work there is no "donation in kind" BS from the city.  i get the sneaky suspicion public works will be "helping" install the APs around in the ghettos.

[TeeDub]

US Department of Housing and Urban Development is paid for by tax dollars.

Or it was last time I checked.

Freddy Mac and Fannie May are now funded by taxpayer dollars (or so the buyout read.)

Since your research didn't show any public funds, I will show you where you CAN find them.
http://www.one-economy.com/sites/all/files/report2007-low-res.pdf

[RecycleMichael]

I am sorry to burst your bubble.  Fannie May was a shareholder owned corporation when they made those contributions.  Yes, they have now been bailed out with our government dollars for their home loans program, but that doesn't mean your tax dollars went to this cause.

I admit that there is a little government money in this program after reading the link you submitted, but it has to be less than a couple percent of the entire budget.

98% of the money comes from 80 different private family and corporate foundations.

That is a pretty good return on the investment.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

I am sorry to burst your bubble.  Fannie May was a shareholder owned corporation when they made those contributions.  Yes, they have now been bailed out with our government dollars for their home loans program, but that doesn't mean your tax dollars went to this cause.

I admit that there is a little government money in this program after reading the link you submitted, but it has to be less than a couple percent of the entire budget.

98% of the money comes from 80 different private family and corporate foundations.

That is a pretty good return on the investment.

what return?  I havent seen any return on my tax dollar investment.

[nathanm]

quote:Originally posted by inteller


what return?  I havent seen any return on my tax dollar investment.

We pitch in a tiny fraction of the cost of this program, they provide the rest. Yes, you don't see anything back, but we get far more than we put in, which is return on investment.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by nathanm
Yes, you don't see anything back, but we get far more than we put in, which is return on investment.

WHAT THE ****!?!?!  I dont get anything, but I get far more back than I put in?  That's some pretty fuzzy math.

[nathanm]

quote: I dont get anything, but I get far more back than I put in?  That's some pretty fuzzy math.

You personally get nothing. As a member of the human race residing in Tulsa, you do. We as a group pitch in a little, and the foundation pitches in the rest.

We're contributing a small part of the cost, yet we get all the benefits.