From economic and social development to revenue generation, communities have a variety of motivations for bringing together wireless broadband users which include municipal employees, residents, businesses, and visitors. Wireless and Fiber Optic based technologies can bring more efficiency to government operations, enhance public safety, strengthen the vitality of a city’s technology infrastructure, support staff mobility for a more cost effective delivery of city services, provide a seamless connectivity experience for residents and visitors and help implement digital inclusion strategies for underserved neighborhoods.
Communities taking a leadership role in the deployment of wireless internet networks face numerous policy and planning issues, such as:
The diversity of wireless options available means that municipalities face a complex decision environment. No single wireless approach is best in all circumstances and the choices of network architecture, service model, and business model are critical.
rClient, LLC, prides itself in keeping at the forefront of wireless technologies. We are experts in this rapidly expanding field of wireless broadband networks with hands-on experience. We are currently supporting the City of Minneapolis in the implementation of its municipal wireless strategy.
Digital Inclusion
Our society and economy is increasingly reliant on information technology. Many low-income communities are isolated from recent technological advances and do not have access to personal computers, the Internet and the interactions and opportunities these technologies provide. This experience defines the “digital divide” – the separation between those who do and those who do not have access to information technology.
A community wireless broadband network can be a valuable resource for promoting and stimulating broad-scale social, economic and educational development for all constituents. At rClient, we help our clients create a comprehensive strategy for creating digital inclusion that contains elements such as access for individuals, capacity building for organizations, and content and applications development. Read more about digital inclusion.
The field of wireless broadband networking is constantly changing. As technology evolves, municipalities and communities are finding more ways to benefit from a wireless broadband network. An awareness of how technology, process and community informatics interact is crucial to transforming the broadband goals established into tangible outcomes.
rClient, LLC has made it easy to stay updated on new developments:
www.digitalaccess.org
The Digital Access Project was founded in 1998 to help local non-profit organizations provide access + tech literacy programs in underserved communities.
www.w2idigitalcitiesconvention.com
Independent thought leadership group bringing together stakeholders around the world to accelerate the adoption of wireless Internet in support of universal connectivity for economic, social and educational development
www.muniwireless.com
Features news and information about citywide wireless broadband projects around the world.
www.centerdigitalgov.com
National research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government.
www.pbbroadband.org
As an independent nonprofit organization, Public Benefit Broadband, Inc. (PBB) assists community leaders with the daunting challenges of making the right decisions and adopting the right broadband solutions to fit local and regional needs.
www-cwc.ucsd.edu
The Center for Wireless Communications (CWC) of the University of California at San Diego offers a cross-disciplinary program of research and education targeted at the emerging needs of the cellular and wireless communications industry.
www.cooltownstudios.com
Cool Town Studios help people build communities. They link several million dollars in investment capital with proven, innovative real estate developers in cities with progressive government leadership.
www.wimaxforum.org
The WiMAX Forum™ is working to facilitate the deployment of broadband wireless networks based on the IEEE 802.16 standard by helping to ensure the compatibility and inter-operability of broadband wireless access equipment. The organization is a nonprofit association formed in June of 2001 by equipment and component suppliers to promote the adoption of IEEE 802.16 compliant equipment by operators of broadband wireless access systems.
www.bluetooth.com
Supports a collaborative environment and drive programs to develop and advance Bluetooth wireless technology in order to exceed personal connectivity expectations and meet the needs of a changing world.
www.communitydesign.org
Association for Community Design (ACD) is a network of individuals, organizations, and institutions committed to increasing the capacity of planning and design professions to better serve communities. ACD serves and supports practitioners, educators, and organizations engaged in community-based design and planning.
www.archfoundation.org
The Mayors' Institute on City Design is a program dedicated to improving the design and livability of America's cities through the efforts of their chief elected leaders, their mayors.
www.livable.com
A national, nonprofit organization working to restore and renew communities. Partners has over twenty-five years of experience in solving community problems by providing information, leadership and guidance that help communities help themselves.
