Bureaucrats, oversight, Administrators
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Tunabananas (talk | contribs) (Logging some notes from the broadband feasibility study) |
Tunabananas (talk | contribs) (added recent research on broadband access in oakland) |
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According to the [http://www.internetaccesslocal.com/states/california/oakland US Bureau of Labor Statistics & Bureau of Census], 32% of Oakland residents lack internet connectivity in their home and at work. | |||
The [http://freepress.net Free Press] published a short report on media inequality in the Bay Area in January of 2014. From the [http://www.freepress.net/sites/default/files/resources/Media_Inequality_in_the_Bay_Area.pdf report]: | |||
* "AT&T and Comcast are the dominant telecommunications service providers in the Bay Area, though competitive providers like Sonic.net serve small pockets in the North Bay and the peninsula. Broadband adoption in the Bay Area is high relative to the state and national averages. As of June 2011 (the most recent data-reporting period), most portions of the Bay Area had broadband-adoption levels near or above 80 percent of households. But there are numerous neighborhoods in areas like Alameda, Oakland, Richmond and San Jose where broadband adoption is well below the state and national averages. Over the past decade, the California Public Utilities Commission has removed regulations and oversight of the state’s major telecom providers. This deregulation was supposed to lower prices and improve consumer choices, but the rates for basic services tripled in just a few short years." | |||
[http://www.media-alliance.org/downloads/TVA-Oakland-Broadband-Study.pdf City of Oakland Wireless Broadband Feasibility Study] (2009) - Lengthy report on the feasibility of providing free municipal wifi throughout the city of Oakland. Research included focus groups with representatives from the various districts of Oakland, public comments, and extensive mapping of a wireless network operating on the 2.4GHz and 4.9Mz bands. | [http://www.media-alliance.org/downloads/TVA-Oakland-Broadband-Study.pdf City of Oakland Wireless Broadband Feasibility Study] (2009) - Lengthy report on the feasibility of providing free municipal wifi throughout the city of Oakland. Research included focus groups with representatives from the various districts of Oakland, public comments, and extensive mapping of a wireless network operating on the 2.4GHz and 4.9Mz bands. | ||
*"Participants made a distinction between "free" and "affordable" service, and overwhelmingly chose not to endorse the provision of free Internet access to businesses and residences. Providing public access, free or otherwise, at public facilities, such as libraries and community centers, or high traffic areas, such as bus shelters, the convention center or | *"Participants made a distinction between "free" and "affordable" service, and overwhelmingly chose not to endorse the provision of free Internet access to businesses and residences. Providing public access, free or otherwise, at public facilities, such as libraries and community centers, or high traffic areas, such as bus shelters, the convention center or |