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April 11, 2007

More on Limping Muni Networks

By Glenn Fleishman

Broadband Reports notes that they weren’t alerted it was “citywide Wi-Fi is over-hyped” week: I didn’t get the memo, either, but it appears to be a week in which much is written about networks that fail to live up to their expected potential. BR runs through stories already posted here, but there’s another one: MetroFi’s Foster City network has achieved 60 percent citywide coverage after six months, rather than a promised 95 percent. The problem here isn’t equipment or intent, but rather that MetroFi hasn’t obtained attachment rights in neighborhoods where light poles aren’t owned by the city. They’re working on it.

I keep telling you, loyal readers, that utility poles are to citywide wireless networks what printing presses are to books. If you can’t get access to the printing press, you’ve got limited distribution options. If you can’t attach to utility poles, other real-estate options are expensive and hard to obtain. Another point of evidence: Carol Ellison writes at MuniWireless.com that AT&T told a Georgia town that it has to become a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier) to have access to utility poles AT&T maintains. It’s rather unclear whether a CLEC requirement is necessary, and a recent FCC ruling doesn’t carry clarity for me.

Posted by Glennf at April 11, 2007 11:13 AM

Categories: Metro-Scale Networks, Municipal, Regulation

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