Nuff said.

Technorati Tags: broadband, politics, wireless, USIW, Minneapolis, Wi-fi, municipal

We are fortunate indeed to host the National Conference on Media Reform here in Minneapolis next week. The speaker lineup is great and includes folks like Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman, Arianna Huffington, Dan Gillmor, Dan Rather, Harold Feld, Lawrence Lessig, Micah Sifry, Phil Donahue, and Susan Crawford. I am just skimming the list (alphabetized by first name?); go see it for yourself as there are lots of other great folk, national and local.

Given my interest in open and ubiquitous internet, I'm excited about the open internet debate that will be part of the three-day conference.

I'm late with this heads up and online registration has closed. You can call 1-877-888-1533 x210 thru June 2 with on-site registration at the Convention Center starting at 5 p.m. June 5.


PF Hyper has applied for blogger credentials so you can check here (and Twitter) for my updates.

Technorati Tags: NCMR2008, internet, Minneapolis

Earthlink announced Tuesday that they are going to discontinue operation of its muni Wi-Fi network in Philadelphia. They say that they tried to transfer ownership of the network to Philadelphia or to a nonprofit (Wireless Philadelphia, I assume) for free but that the transfer "unraveled due to unresolved issues among the City, Wireless Philadelphia and the non-profit." Holy WAP Batman!

According to Earthlink that's $17M worth of equipment plus they would pay some cash and donate new Wi-Fi equipment. Since they can't transfer, Earthlink says they will remove the network at their cost and try to find alternative Internet connections for customers.

Meanwhile, the Wireless Philadelphia Blog says:

Philadelphia's Wi-Fi network continues to operate in the roughly 80% of the City in which it has been deployed (see map). Nothing in the ten-year Network Agreement permits EarthLink to unilaterally impose deadlines for the network's transfer, turn off the network or remove network equipment.

Metro Philadelphia and CNET have stories.

Meanwhile, back at the Minneapolis ranch, the USIW progress map says the network is scheduled to be completed in April, 2008. The tiny map on the page indicates the network is live in most of the city but there are several large "challenge areas" where it's not working. It would be nice to see an update as to what's going on especially since the Digital Inclusion Fund is waiting on $200,000 from USIW once the network is done and the City signs off.

Thanks to Ed Kohler for a heads up on the Philadelphia situation. He blogs at The Deets and Technology Evangelist.

Technorati Tags: broadband, politics, USIW, Wi-Fi, wireless, municipal, Philadelphia, Minneapolis

Saturday, May 10, Minnebar returns to Minneapolis with new host University of Minnesota Software Engineering Center. As a U of MN employee, I want to say that I'm very proud that we are hosting this event. We talk a lot over at the U about community engagement but sadly we don't walk the walk often enough. This Saturday will be an exception as over 300 geeky types invade the Coffman Student Union. Sessions start at 8:30 a.m. but you will want to get there at 8 to register.

There is a pre-event mixer Friday night (8 p.m.) at the Bulldog NE (401 E. Hennepin). The Refactr bunch will feed you. You pay for the booze. Pfhyper has to babysit grandsons that night but they go to bed early so he's hoping to make an appearance wearing an old Minnebar T. Wave to him.

Presenters please remember that this is an unconference. Powerpoint is tolerated but if the discussion gets going forget about the damn slides and go with the flow.

Bonus links!

@graemethickins somehow found a tentative Minnebar schedule and posted it for us.

A pfhyper tweet from Minnebar 2007.

Technorati Tags: minnebar, conference, 2008, minnebar08, minnebar2008