New Orleans to Get Free City-Wide WiFi

[Skiz]

http://www.hiptechblog.com/wp-images/neworleans_01.jpg


New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has announced that the entire city of New Orleans will be blanketed by a free WiFi network within a year. This move is expected to boost the city’s economy that was all but destroyed from the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Thanks to Intel Corp., Tropos Networks and Pronto Networks who donated most of the hardware necessary for the project, these hardwares will be mounted on top of street lights in order to cover the whole city.

The network will operate at a speed of 512 kilobits per seconds, until the city’s state of emergency is lifted, which will then drop to a 128 kilobits per seconds in accordance to state laws restricting government-owned internet services.


It's nice to see that Mayor Nagin still has the city's priorities in order. :dry:

[j2k4]

Yeah, what an asshole.

He should be in the same canoe as most of the N.O. police force: OUT OF WORK.

[Skiz]

Well he has already purchased a home in the Dallas area.

Heck of a way to "roll your sleeves up" and show your fellow citizens you're going to stay and help out Nagin. :dry:

[Seedler]

N.O. is ferked up bad right now. People lost their homes, jobs, everything. I honestly don't think this project will be much of a help.

[BigBank_Hank]

The state is really a mess and we have no leadership to take charge and problem solve.

It’s good to know that there is WIFI available throughout the entire city when there are still parts with no electricity and clean drinking water.

[vidcc]

multitask: n.

Often used of humans in the same meaning it has for computers, to describe a person doing several things at once. The term multiplex, from communications technology (meaning to handle more than one channel at the same time), is used similarly.

jargon (http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/M/multitask.html)

[Skiz]

umm...ooookay. :blink:

[vidcc]

umm...ooookay. :blink:
What is causing you confusion?

[Busyman]

umm...ooookay. :blink:
What is causing you confusion?
Your're in the wrong thread.

Compton's Encyclopedia/Dictionary is down the hall, then make your first left.:ermm:

[vidcc]

Explain to me.

What is wrong about doing more than one thing at a time?

Sure the electric and water isn't up in all places yet, sure there are still houses not rebuilt. Is the suggestion that the people that are tasked with these are somehow going to be hindered because other "less urgent" tasks are being carried out ? Has this work stopped to carry out other tasks? Are resources being taken away ?

[Skiz]

Explain to me.

What is wrong about doing more than one thing at a time?

Sure the electric and water isn't up in all places yet, sure there are still houses not rebuilt. Is the suggestion that the people that are tasked with these are somehow going to be hindered because other "less urgent" tasks are being carried out ? Has this work stopped to carry out other tasks? Are resources being taken away ?

It's about priorities. There are so many other items on the list that need to be attended to before a city-wide WIFI stsyem is installed. That should be item #694 on his list. Instead, it's underway and to be completed within a year. I mean c'mon. I can just see him in the conference room while the levees are being repaired, discussing WiFi. :dry:

EDIT: You know, after thinking about this, it makes perfect sense. Residents who don't have cars or couldn't afford gas to drive out of the city in the face of Katrina have a real need for wireless connections don't they?

[Cheese]

Perhaps it will help "boost the city’s economy that was all but destroyed from the Hurricane Katrina disaster"? I'm just guessing like but that's what I got from the article.

[Skiz]

Getting electricity to the rest of the city and getting residents (workers) back in their homes will do much more for N.O.'s economy that free WiFi. That's where he needs to concentrate his "efforts".

[Busyman]

Getting electricity to the rest of the city and getting residents (workers) back in their homes will do much more for N.O.'s economy that free WiFi. That's where he needs to concentrate his "efforts".
Agreed. How will citywide Wi-Fi help the economy?

Money and resources have to be allocated to get it. There shouldn't be 1 cent allocated "to get on the internet".

This is something that established cities do, not ones that have just had the equivalent of a bomb dropped on it.:dry:

I like Nagin somewhat but he's being fucking stupid.

[j2k4]

Use a context similar to that applied to Iraq.

Three months after the coalition invades, Baghdad is still sans much of it's infrastructure (electricity, water, etc.).

Bush announces city-wide Wi-Fi.

See what I mean?

This omits the fact that New Orleans is (and will be, likely for years) in much worse shape than Baghdad.

[BigBank_Hank]

The only good that will come out of all this is Mayor Nagin and the pinhead Governor will never get re elected. With the lower east N.O. being completely wiped out they lost a whole demographic of voters, which won them the elections last time. Those people aren’t coming back because most of them had nothing before the storm so their living conditions improved with getting relocated to other cities.

I met a guy who was from N.O. while I was in Chicago waiting for a flight home after the second hurricane. I saw he was using a Red Cross credit card so I asked if he was from N.O. and he told me yes. We talked for a while and he told me that he got a job in Chicago making more than twice than what he was being paid before and he was staying in a nice neighborhood. I asked if he was even going back and he said hell no that he’s much better off now than he ever was and his family felt a lot safer now.

Edit: Nice analogy J2

[maebach]

Internet > fresh water, electricity, education, people

????

[vidcc]

It worries me that Americans have so little confidence in their own ability to do more than one thing at a time.

I was unaware that nobody was working to fix the power lines. Although that would require civil electrical engineers and not communication engineers. But you are right, perhaps the communication engineers should stand around and do nothing or be given shovels.
To me it seems a case of we are rebuilding so we might as well do it while we are at it.

If there was a case of they are putting wifi in instead of fixing the other stuff I could see your point but in all honesty it looks like they are doing it as well as fixing the other stuff.

Honest question.

Does NO have a city owned electric supply or is it a private company?
Same question about the water supply

[BigBank_Hank]

I think that you’re having trouble grasping the scope of this Vid.

It’s been three months since the hurricane and there are still areas that are wastelands. Places that are completely littered with debris that needed to be cleaned up so that the roads can become passable again. It needs to be a all hands on deck type thing to clean the place up and make it livable first and not divert resources and man power to installing the internet that people can’t even use.

This is exactly what I mean by no leadership. Everyone in this mess has to work together as a team with everyone pulling in the same direction to rebuild the infrastructure.

[j2k4]

It worries me that Americans have so little confidence in their own ability to do more than one thing at a time.


You're talking about a city that is the remnant of what it was; a Stone Age place.

Multi-tasking is a bit of a dream.

No doubt some of that is taking place, by there is no "cyber" aspect apparent.

BTW-

Mayor Nagin?

A little early to be running for re-election, isn't it?:P

[vidcc]

I think that you’re having trouble grasping the scope of this Vid.
I get it perfectly well thanks

It’s been three months since the hurricane and there are still areas that are wastelands. Places that are completely littered with debris that needed to be cleaned up so that the roads can become passable again. It needs to be a all hands on deck type thing to clean the place up and make it livable first and not divert resources and man power to installing the internet that people can’t even use.
so you think communication engineers should be given shovels
This is exactly what I mean by no leadership. Everyone in this mess has to work together as a team with everyone pulling in the same direction to rebuild the infrastructure.
And installing wifi as well as all the other stuff is pulling in the opposite direction how?

I agree with the poor view of nagin and his abilities in an emergency situation , however this seems to be more about politics that substance. If this was a case of J2's "ideal world" and the private sector was in charge, we would be hearing "all hail the private sector, look they are so efficient we even have wifi"...

[Busyman]

I think that you’re having trouble grasping the scope of this Vid.
I get it perfectly well thanks

It’s been three months since the hurricane and there are still areas that are wastelands. Places that are completely littered with debris that needed to be cleaned up so that the roads can become passable again. It needs to be a all hands on deck type thing to clean the place up and make it livable first and not divert resources and man power to installing the internet that people can’t even use.
so you think communication engineers should be given shovels
This is exactly what I mean by no leadership. Everyone in this mess has to work together as a team with everyone pulling in the same direction to rebuild the infrastructure.
And installing wifi as well as all the other stuff is pulling in the opposite direction how?

I agree with the poor view of nagin and his abilities in an emergency situation , however this seems to be more about politics that substance. If this was a case of J2's "ideal world" and the private sector was in charge, we would be hearing "all hail the private sector, look they are so efficient we even have wifi"...
There's underground cable, telephone poles with aerial cable, central office network, etc to be taken care of.

DC doesn't have citywide wifi and is teaming with internet users so is it even a splinter in the mind's eye of NO? A citywide wifi does not boost the economy of NO unless goods and services are from....NO through that wifi network.:dry:

I bet their most basic communication infrastructure is fucked in many parts of the city.

SDRAWKCABSSA

[Busyman]

Use a context similar to that applied to Iraq.

Three months after the coalition invades, Baghdad is still sans much of it's infrastructure (electricity, water, etc.).

Bush announces city-wide Wi-Fi.

See what I mean?

This omits the fact that New Orleans is (and will be, likely for years) in much worse shape than Baghdad.
I don't understand.:huh:

[j2k4]

If this was a case of J2's "ideal world" and the private sector was in charge, we would be hearing "all hail the private sector, look they are so efficient we even have wifi"...

If the private sector were in charge, they'd be pressing for re-location.

In any case, they'd get it done faster, better, cheaper, and, yes, there would probably be WiFi, but only in due course.

[BigBank_Hank]

Apparently you are having trouble gauging the scope of this.

Everyday new areas are made passable that previously weren’t where bodies are being recovered. There are still thousands that are missing or unaccounted for that families are desperate to know where their loved ones are. So if everyone can do pitches in and works together you can achieve something faster. So yes I would put a shovel in the hands of a communications engineer because he’s an able bodied worker that can help to speed up the task.

[Busyman]

Apparently you are having trouble gauging the scope of this.

Everyday new areas are made passable that previously weren’t where bodies are being recovered. There are still thousands that are missing or unaccounted for that families are desperate to know where their loved ones are. So if everyone can do pitches in and works together you can achieve something faster. So yes I would put a shovel in the hands of a communications engineer because he’s an able bodied worker that can help to speed up the task.
There were some technicians from Verizon sent down to help with the communication work and they end doing "other shit" to help.

Things just kinda work out that way.

[vidcc]

Apparently you are having trouble gauging the scope of this.
Not at all. To me it seems that you are unable to gauge the vastness of the ability to achieve things the USA has at local and national level. An odd view in my opinion and possibly even a defeatist view.

Everyday new areas are made passable that previously weren’t where bodies are being recovered. There are still thousands that are missing or unaccounted for that families are desperate to know where their loved ones are. So if everyone can do pitches in and works together you can achieve something faster. So yes I would put a shovel in the hands of a communications engineer because he’s an able bodied worker that can help to speed up the task. Ok lets keep all the restaurants closed as the waiters are able bodied. Auto repair shops as well.
Good manpower management is not about numbers, it's about putting the right people in the right place.

BTW I thought the "clean up" was in the hands of no bid private contracts...surely this means it was done yesterday :rolleyes:

[Busyman]

Apparently you are having trouble gauging the scope of this.
Not at all. To me it seems that you are unable to gauge the vastness of the ability to achieve things the USA has at local and national level. An odd view in my opinion and possibly even a defeatist view.

Everyday new areas are made passable that previously weren’t where bodies are being recovered. There are still thousands that are missing or unaccounted for that families are desperate to know where their loved ones are. So if everyone can do pitches in and works together you can achieve something faster. So yes I would put a shovel in the hands of a communications engineer because he’s an able bodied worker that can help to speed up the task. Ok lets keep all the restaurants closed as the waiters are able bodied. Auto repair shops as well.
Good manpower management is not about numbers, it's about putting the right people in the right place.

BTW I thought the "clean up" was in the hands of no bid private contracts...surely this means it was done yesterday :rolleyes:
Waiters have shit to do with basic government infrastructure.

A citywide wifi network managed by the government for people to enjoy the internet has shit to do with basic government infrastructure as well.:dry:

[BigBank_Hank]

Apparently you are having trouble gauging the scope of this.
Not at all. To me it seems that you are unable to gauge the vastness of the ability to achieve things the USA has at local and national level. An odd view in my opinion and possibly even a defeatist view.

Everyday new areas are made passable that previously weren’t where bodies are being recovered. There are still thousands that are missing or unaccounted for that families are desperate to know where their loved ones are. So if everyone can do pitches in and works together you can achieve something faster. So yes I would put a shovel in the hands of a communications engineer because he’s an able bodied worker that can help to speed up the task. Ok lets keep all the restaurants closed as the waiters are able bodied. Auto repair shops as well.
Good manpower management is not about numbers, it's about putting the right people in the right place.

BTW I thought the "clean up" was in the hands of no bid private contracts...surely this means it was done yesterday :rolleyes:
I’m not saying that we aren’t able to chew gum and walk at the same time what I’m trying to say is that we need to prioritize. Lets get all the man power that we have get the cities vitals back up before we focus on getting them internet access.

Most of the businesses there are shut down anyway because there are no people to patronize them. Bourbon St. has reopened but it’s more of a symbolic thing and the airport is open but it has very limited flights arriving.

Now the airport is open but its very eerie in there because there is only one terminal open, one baggage claim that works and all the restaurants and shops inside are all closed.

[vidcc]

I’m not saying that we aren’t able to chew gum and walk at the same time what I’m trying to say is that we need to prioritize.
Have these "priority tasks" not been addressed? is no action being taken? have they been ignored?

Lets get all the man power that we have get the cities vitals back up before we focus on getting them internet access.


Where does it say the focus is Internet access ?


New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has announced that the entire city of New Orleans will be blanketed by a free WiFi network within a year.
It is one of the projects in the reconstruction. It is not taking priority over the "cities vitals"
Judging by this over reaction one might think that Nagin said we are putting everything on hold so we can install wifi
:rolleyes:

[BigBank_Hank]

I just don’t understand why worry about something like that now.

I can tell you for a fact that there is no way in hell that city will be close to back to normal in a year. As J2 pointed out it really is like Baghdad there but without tanks.

Lets just say you used to live and work in the city of N.O. Since the hurricane you’ve been staying at a relatives because your house isn’t livable and has to be torn down and rebuilt. You are also unsure if you will have a job to return to when are finally you are able to move back to the city because your employer pulled out of the city and relocated. How would you feel if the Mayor of your city was talking about getting the internet for the entire city instead of worry about your home or job?

[HeavyMetalParkingLot]

What will they use it for? Look for a job? Probably not. Look for more handouts? Probably. Look for porn, like certain people who used the money the government and others gave them to get back on their feet, but instead used it at strip clubs to pay for lap dances? Definitly.

[GepperRankins]

seriously i don't think this is gonna make a dent in the budget, and it's gonna rawk some. maybe they could look on wikipedia and get educated :ermm:

[thewizeard]

Come on guys, after losing all their belongings, beds, linnen and blankets..they are going to be blanketed with WiFi, which will be very handy in the sub-artic temperatures of New-Orleans...

[Busyman]

Where does it say the focus is Internet access ?


New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has announced that the entire city of New Orleans will be blanketed by a free WiFi network within a year.
It is one of the projects in the reconstruction. It is not taking priority over the "cities vitals"
Judging by this over reaction one might think that Nagin said we are putting everything on hold so we can install wifi
:rolleyes:
Money sure is being spent on it and at a time when every dollar is needed.

It's fucking stupid. DC doesn't have citywide wifi and it'd benefit the city more than NO.

Picture that and take it into perspective.

"A bomb just dropped on the city and one project we are undertaking is citywide wireless internet access. This will help boost the economy.":ermm:

Citywide internet access is something you put in when the fucking city has a heartbeat....IF EVER.

[vidcc]

Thanks to Intel Corp., Tropos Networks and Pronto Networks who donated most of the hardware necessary for the project, these hardwares will be mounted on top of street lights in order to cover the whole city.


It's fucking stupid. DC doesn't have citywide wifi and it'd benefit the city more than NO.http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/2757/hugepounding9aj.gif


Unless work on the other rebuilding stops or slows down to do this I can't see why the complaints

[Busyman]

It's fucking stupid. DC doesn't have citywide wifi and it'd benefit the city more than NO.http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/2757/hugepounding9aj.gif


Unless work on the other rebuilding stops or slows down to do this I can't see why the complaints

Money sure is being spent on it and at a time when every dollar is needed.

Add to the fact that government run wifi spots are rarely viable and usually shut down.

It doesn't do the city good (especially this city) and drains money.

What part of it aren't you getting? It's as dumb as the NO government wanting to cover a buildings with PB & J...even if other work isn't stopping.:ermm:

[vidcc]

What part of it aren't you getting?
Oh I get you point of view, I just don't agree with it.

[BigBank_Hank]

@Vid incase he missed it:


Lets just say you used to live and work in the city of N.O. Since the hurricane you’ve been staying at a relatives because your house isn’t livable and has to be torn down and rebuilt. You are also unsure if you will have a job to return to when are finally you are able to move back to the city because your employer pulled out of the city and relocated. How would you feel if the Mayor of your city was talking about getting the internet for the entire city instead of worry about your home or job?

[Everose]

I am trying to make sense of this.

The only thing I can think of is it someway helps not only the City workers but FEMA inspectors?

I know right now a lot of people whose homes weren't totally destroyed are commuting into the City to repair them. From what I have heard a lot of them (homeowners) are now waiting on inspections to be made by the City. A lot hinges on these inspections, because if the City determines they have actually had to make repairs over fifty percent of the home's value, they have to rebuild said home to comply with their flood plain ordinance........such as ON STILTS. This is even if their insurance company's tell them their damage was only forty percent. I could see where this would help with correspondence that way.

That is really the only sense I can make of this. Of course, there is always Economic Development. :D

[Busyman]

What part of it aren't you getting?
Oh I get you point of view, I just don't agree with it.
Excellent.

So your ok with government money and resources put toward a hugely unnecessary luxury during a citywide time of crisis.

Nice going.:ermm:

[vidcc]

@Vid incase he missed it:


Lets just say you used to live and work in the city of N.O. Since the hurricane you’ve been staying at a relatives because your house isn’t livable and has to be torn down and rebuilt. You are also unsure if you will have a job to return to when are finally you are able to move back to the city because your employer pulled out of the city and relocated. How would you feel if the Mayor of your city was talking about getting the internet for the entire city instead of worry about your home or job?

I understood it but that is an emotion. Business is not run on emotions.

The housing bit, well isn't that between the insurance company and the owner?

The job part, the mayor can't stop companies relocating but he can do things to make the area attractive to companies. Apparently you think that WiFi is just for home use. But again you seem to be suggesting that the only thing the mayor is concerned with is the WiFi. Has he ignored the other issues? I have yet to get an answer to any of the questions I raised.
You seem to think that the mayor should be out on site directing the construction. thing is that's the engineers job. The mayors job is co-ordination and oversight.

[vidcc]

So your ok with government money and resources put toward a hugely unnecessary luxury during a citywide time of crisis.

No I am not ok with "government money and resources put toward a hugely unnecessary luxury during a citywide time of crisis".

But then I don't look at the WiFi as being that.
In today's business world Internet access is on a par with phones. The idea is to bring the city back to its feet ASAP and this is just one tiny part.


there is always Economic Development.

Give that woman a ceeegar :) (or a box of chocolates if she prefers :lol: )

[BigBank_Hank]

Has he ignored the other issues?
Well for starters how about the evacuation order.

[Busyman]

Has he ignored the other issues?
Well for starters how about the evacuation order.
and Bush.....The Rescue.:lol: :lol: :lol:

[vidcc]

Has he ignored the other issues?
Well for starters how about the evacuation order.

I have made no secret that I think he was incompetent in his handling in the run up and the immediate after of the wind. That does not however change my point on this issue.

[Everose]

Has he ignored the other issues?
Well for starters how about the evacuation order.


Yes, he screwed up big time on not ordering that. Big time.

[Busyman]

Well for starters how about the evacuation order.


Yes, he screwed up big time on not ordering that. Big time.
That's weird.

I heard the evacuation order on the news and I live outside of N'Orleans.:ermm: Whether he's the one that gave it? Beats me.

Yes, Bush screwed up on ordering a rescue...5 days later. BIG TIME.

[Everose]

Yes, he screwed up big time on not ordering that. Big time.
That's weird.

I heard the evacuation order on the news and I live outside of N'Orleans.:ermm: Whether he's the one that gave it? Beats me.

Yes, Bush screwed up on ordering a rescue...5 days later. BIG TIME.

Busy, you are right. He ordered an evacuation. And left those that he knew could not evacuate on their own. You know what was meant. :01:

Two wrongs don't make a right here by any means. They both fucked up.

[GepperRankins]

i agree with vidcc. if this isn't cannibalising funds or slowing down repairs, what the hell are you all complaining about?

[j2k4]

They both fucked up.

You swore.

I'm telling...:naughty:

[Everose]

Yes, it was fun! :lol:

I am remembering when Busyman used to go on rampages cussing all over the board.

I am understanding it even better now! IT FEELS GOOD! :O


To me this N.O. internet will also help people stay in contact with loved ones who are in the area working, etc.

But........it is what politicians do. mess up....scramble to save face and win votes back..........mess up, scramble to save face. Nagin messed up and now he is scrambling.

[Busyman]

Yes, it was fun! :lol:

I am remembering when Busyman used to go on rampages cussing all over the board.

I am understanding it even better now! IT FEELS GOOD! :O

To me this N.O. internet will also help people stay in contact with loved ones who are in the area working, etc.

But........it is what politicians do. mess up....scramble to save face and win votes back..........mess up, scramble to save face. Nagin messed up and now he is scrambling.
I'm thinking that wifi would help workers in the field access vital info and send info to others. A field tech has a laptop battery and hopefully power inverters in their vehicles.

I'm trying to see the upside to this.

I already see writing on the wall.

The grace period for mortgages (90 days) is over and as if on cue, market forces know no holidays when the money is due.

Many will claim bankruptcy (the new weird rules are in effect) and many will lose their homes. Guess who'll be moving into new hot real estate? Those that can afford it (and those that can afford to put their house on stilts:huh: ).

NO will be quite alright..but it'll take years.

[Cheese]

Seems pretty stupid not to set up a wireless network in my opinion. The wi-fi network is being set up at a nominal cost as most of the equipment is from donations and can only help the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. The network will also give a valuable boost for New Orleans' tourism trade, aid local law enforcement and aid returning businesses.

[GepperRankins]

never thought of tourism. it'll rawk tourism, like

[Busyman]

Seems pretty stupid not to set up a wireless network in my opinion. The wi-fi network is being set up at a nominal cost as most of the equipment is from donations and can only help the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. The network will also give a valuable boost for New Orleans' tourism trade, aid local law enforcement and aid returning businesses.
Riiiight free internet. That'll get me down there.

I see it working is if it's for communication and the underground and aerial cables are fucked. Maybe even VOIP (but the capacity seems rather low).

Government owned internet usually doesn't last because of the money drain.

[Cheese]

Seems pretty stupid not to set up a wireless network in my opinion. The wi-fi network is being set up at a nominal cost as most of the equipment is from donations and can only help the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. The network will also give a valuable boost for New Orleans' tourism trade, aid local law enforcement and aid returning businesses. Riiiight free internet. That'll get me down there.


Fortunately New Orleans' tourism trade doesn't rely solely on where the Busyman clan intend to spend their holidays.:P




Government owned internet usually doesn't last because of the money drain.

I read somewhere that they will be outsourcing the service to a private company when it is set up and running.




Another use for the future: Emergency responders can be equipped with wireless devices that enable them to direct evacuees from the city in times of weather emergencies or environmental disasters. Traffic lights and billboards posting evacuation messages can also be controlled remotely over a wireless network. (That sounds to me like something they need within the year).

Also now is probably the best time to set up this network as due to the state of emergency in New Orleans they can bypass trouble with the phone companies.

[Busyman]

Riiiight free internet. That'll get me down there.


Fortunately New Orleans' tourism trade doesn't rely solely on where the Busyman clan intend to spend their holidays.:P




Government owned internet usually doesn't last because of the money drain.

I read somewhere that they will be outsourcing the service to a private company when it is set up and running.
I read that's how it's always done irregardless to government owned interent.