Sen. Hillary Clinton supported grants for a nonprofit to extend broadband into South Bronx: In a speech on site, the senator suggested that in areas that private firms find it unprofitable to install and operate broadband networks that communities could create their own networks. She backs a federal grant for one such network in the South Bronx that would bring in fiber and Wi-Fi.

While it might seem unlikely that the South Bronx would suddenly turn into a high-tech haven, stranger things have happened. An affordable local work force coupled with low real-estate prices and fiber optic lines has turned many rural and urban blighted communities into enclaves of good-paying jobs. I saw this in Maine, where service jobs started popping up along fiber routes.

1:41:23 PM    

The Detroit News reports that the efforts to install wireless network access across Oakland County includes Cisco: The enormous scope of providing a variety of public wireless data services across this area adjoining the county that contains Detroit obviously worried some in the community. MichTel Communications was taking on an estimated $100 million project, including raising the funds, as no taxpayer dollars are being spent on capital expense. Cisco's involvement as a technology provider seems to have calmed nerves.

The service will offer free 128 Kbps symmetrical access and charge for higher speeds. They will also sell advertising and "naming rights," which in this context is a bit confusing. It sounds more like sponsorship of a splash screen, but I'm sure that will become clearer. The county has 1.2 million households and 40,000 businesses that will be passed by the Wi-Fi network.

1:33:08 PM