Straight Talk And Opinions About Digital Access And Inclusion And How Communities Can Reinvent Themselves
Digital Access U P D A T E—Englewood Edition
Volume 1 * Issue 1 * July 2006
Copyright 2006 * Pierre Clark.
All Rights Reserved.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Page 1: Demystifying The Wi-
Fi Internet Access Rush
Page 2: Focus On Communi-
ties: The Philadelphia Exam-
ple
Page 3: The Intelligent Com-
munity—How We Can Rein-
vent Ourselves
Page 3: Community Technol-
ogy Centers And Digital Ac-
cess
Page 3: AT & T’s 50,000
Computers—A Drop In The
Bucket Or The Start Of A
Flood?
Page 4: Digital Access In
Chicago—Englewood
Page 4: Upcoming In Digital
Access Update—Englewood
Edition
Demystifying The Wi-Fi
Internet Access Rush—Pt.1
Let’s start with
some straight talk about
the whole digital access
question in communities
and where the mass
movement toward wireless
connectivity fits into the
mix.
With all the atten-
tion of city municipal gov-
ernments on establishing
wireless Internet access
to, they say, promote digi-
tal inclusion for all their
citizens, especially the
technologically discon-
nected, you might ask the
question: Are cities sud-
denly dipping themselves
in the equality holy water?
Did someone col-
lectively visit the mayors of
these cities in the night
like Dickens’ Ghost of
Christmas past and say,
“Repent for the sins of
neighborhood disinvest-
ment, municipal corrup-
tion, and cronyism/
favoritism that have di-
vided your cities into feast
or famine war zones?” Or
is there something more
basic and venal at work
that is driving these cities
to provide this equal ac-
cess? Why would people
start talking about giving
us something for free that
we were paying hundreds
of dollars a year to have
and use? Why would
companies pay for the
right to give us free ser-
vices?
And assuming
that these free connec-
tivity services actually be-
come as widely available
as the evidence suggests
they will be, how can we
(meaning those of us who
live and work in tradition-
ally disconnected commu-
nities) understand and
take advantage of this
digital windfall?
If you look at the
City of Chicago’s recent
wi-fi Request For Pro-
posal, you’ll note some
buzz words right away
that should give you a
clue as to what the inten-
tions of the City of Chi-
cago are in issuing this
wi-fi RFP. Those words
are “world class city”,
‘competitiveness” and
“economic benefits.” As
noted in a recent article
on the Get Illinois Online
listserv, more than 400
cities are moving toward
establishing wireless
Internet access, so Chi-
cago could hardly allow
itself to be left behind in
the race to be considered
a competitive city. As
Richard Florida points out
in his groundbreaking
2002 book, “The Rise Of
The Creative Class”, and
his new book, “The Flight
Of The Creative Class:
The New Global Competi-
tion For Talent”, (http://
www.creativeclass.org),
Florida argues persua-
sively that the fight of cit-
ies—not only in the U.S.
but around the world—will
be for the 38 million
Americans—and their
counterparts around the
world—who make a living
creating the tools-
information based strate-
gic information manage-
ment tools—that the rest
of us use in our daily lives.
As the Mayor of
Paris declared in an-
nouncing his city’s intent
to establish total wi-fi
Internet access in the
Eternal City, “This is about
solidifying our reputation
as a world-class city.”
That’s the motiva-
tion behind Chicago’s wi-fi
move, Philadelphia’s wi-fi
move, San Francisco’s wi-
fi move. It’s about main-
taining a competitive ad-
(Continued on page 2)
 Straight Talk And Opinions About Digital Access And Inclusion And How Communities Can Reinvent Themselves
One of the wi-fi antennas set up at the Norris Wireless Gallery to bring wireless
services to Philadelphia neighborhoods in a historic wireless access initiative.
(Photo Courtesy Wirelessphiladelphia.org).
The Philadelphia Wi-Fi Initiative—
An Example Of Neighborhood Based Inclusion And
Economic Development
When you look at
the examples from around
the country of planning for
a citywide wi-fi implemen-
tation, it is hard for some-
one grounded in commu-
nity development princi-
ples not to be impressed
with the Wireless Phila-
delphia plan (http://
www.wirelessphiladelph
ia.gov).
According to its mission
statement:
Wireless Philadelphia aims
to strengthen the economy
and transform Philadel-
phia’s neighborhoods by
providing wireless Internet
access throughout the city.
Wireless Philadelphia will
create a digital infrastruc-
ture to help citizens, busi-
nesses, schools and commu-
nity organizations make ef-
fective use of this technology
to achieve their goals while
providing a greater experi-
ence for visitors to the city.
Note the empha-
sis on “neighborhoods” in
the mission statement.
That emphasis is
strengthened by the exis-
tence of six separate not-
for-profit agencies deliver-
ing the wireless services
to neighborhood areas—
agencies with their corpo-
rate and non-profit spon-
sors and each repre-
sented by a web portal
that delivers information
and essential services to
its neighborhood constitu-
ents.
Clearly, Philadel-
phia officials understood
that the specific character
of each of Philadelphia’s
neighborhood areas
would impact the types of
uses each neighborhood
would make of wireless
services. They realized
that the maximum usage
and economic benefits
would only accrue to
neighborhoods where
THEY (the residents)
were locally in control of
the services usage and
distribution.
This lesson is one
that Chicagoans need to
keep in mind as we con-
sider the best, most equi-
table configurations for
wireless service deploy-
ment in Chicago.
vantage in attracting the ing wi-fi access.
kinds of innovators and So cities are mov-
thinkers that keep cities ing toward wi-fi not be-
ahead of the game. cause they want to save
In the current us, but because they want
Newsweek Magazine, to save themselves. They
Florida also discusses the want to remain competi-
rising importance of The tive and they know that to
New Megalopolis, the do so, they must reinvent
growth of urban corridors their cities as places
as centers of influence where the innovators want
that few of us (especially to live and work.
within communities) pay Of course there
attention to as we talk are other advantages to
cities adopting the wi-fi
about economic develop-
ment. Chicago, according mantra—wi-fi connectivity
to Florida, is part of the means cities can lower
Chi-Pitts mega (stretching their cost of communicat-
from Chicago to Detroit, ing with city workers and
Cleveland and Pittsburgh), delivering city services via
the second-largest Mega- the Internet—but those
Florida describes a society in which the creative ethos is
increasingly dominant. Millions of us are beginning to
work and live much as creative types like artists and sci-
entists always have - with the result that our values and
tastes, our personal relationships, our choices of where
to live, and even our sense and use of time are chang-
ing. Leading the shift are the nearly 38 million Americans
in many diverse fields who create for a living — the Crea-
tive Class.
The Rise of the Creative Class chronicles the ongo-
ing sea of change in people's choices and attitudes, and
shows not only what's happening but also how it stems
from a fundamental economic change. The Creative
Class now comprises more than thirty percent of the en-
tire workforce. The choices these people make already
had a huge economic impact, and in the future they will
determine how the workplace is organized, what compa-
nies will prosper or go bankrupt, and even which cities
will thrive or wither.
From The Website: http://www.creativeclass.org
lopolis in the world in are the peripheral advan-
terms of urban activity tages. Cities are looking
($2.3 trillion dollars in eco- for the competitive advan-
nomic activity). Economic tage that differentiates
growth in this century is them in the battle for
about regional growth, knowledge workers—and
with central cities like Chi- wi-fi access is the most
cago driving an explosion visible symbol of friendli-
in activity throughout the ness toward the knowl-
Chi-Pitts corridor that ex- edge worker class. The
plains the debate about growth of urban corridors
O’Hare, Peotone and means that there will be
many other issues includ- (Continued on page 4)
 Straight Talk And Opinions About Digital Access And Inclusion And How Communities Can Reinvent Themselves
The Intelligent Community—Five Indicators For
How Communities Can Reinvent Themselves
What are the criti-
cal success factors for the
creation of intelligent com-
munities? And can those
factors be acquired and
applied to active engage-
ment in community devel-
opment? The answers to
these questions are cru-
cial for the health and fu-
ture of low-income com-
munities and those who
live in them.
We are in the 21st
century and as noted else-
where in this newsletter
the rules of engagement
for being a competitive
CTCs—Community Technology
Centers As Public Technology
Spaces
Teacher Antonia
Stone created the first
public access computer
lab, Playing To Win, in
Harlem in 1984, and at the
same time launched the
community technology
center movement and the
notion of CTCs as bridges
across what was then rec-
ognized as an ever-
expanding “digital divide”.
The Benton Foun-
dation/MCI-sponsored
1995 report on technology
access and non-profits
confirmed what Stone re-
alized more than a decade
earlier—non-profit public
technology spaces were
important points of contact
for introducing discon-
nected residents to com-
puters, software and the
community have changed.
The website http://
www.intellientcommunity.o
rg, citing a study by the
Province of Ontario, Can-
ada, identified five key
factors that characterize
the intelligent community
of the 21st century. Those
five factors—broadband
infrastructure, a knowl-
edge workforce, innova-
tion, a digital democracy,
Internet. In today’s broad-
band economy, of course,
community technology
centers play a different
role, as public spaces for
introducing technology
tools, as hubs from which
technology resources
and marketing strate-
gies—are remarkably the
factors that come into play
in the urban megalopo-
lises of this millennium that
attract the creative think-
ers Richard Florida identi-
fied as the trendsetters
that create the tools of the
lives we live.
In Chicago com-
munities, we can work to
become competitive and
spread into communities,
and as training centers
providing residents with
marketable skills that
opened the door to lucra-
tive job opportunities.
Stone’s confed-
eration of eastern-coast-
based CTCs became the
1200 member Community
Technology Centers Net-
work (http://
www.ctcnet.org), which is
intelligent communities.
The proposed wi-fi initia-
tive will bring 24/7 access
to communities. A dis-
tance-learning based
training program promises
to deliver training in mar-
ketable tech skills to resi-
dents. As the hip-hop
revolution proved, we can
innovate when poverty is
the alternative. The digital
democracy will level the
communications playing
field, making all of us citi-
zen journalists. The only
thing left is to market who
we are, and what we want
to be.
hosting its 15th Commu-
nity Technology Centers
Conference in Washing-
ton D.C. in late July 2006.
And now that we
understand that public
access technology spaces
are really the framework
that a CTC inhabits, we
know that schools, librar-
ies, non-profit agencies,
Kinko’s copy centers,
churches and public/
private spaces besides
standalone tech centers
can also be termed
“community technology
centers”. The future for
CTCs as the growth of the
broadband economy ac-
celerates will only grow in
importance because mil-
lions of disconnected resi-
dents over the next dec-
ade will surf or design
their first website, record
their first podcast, or com-
plete their first podcast at
a public technology
(Continued on page 4)
 Straight Talk And Opinions About Digital Access And Inclusion And How Communities Can Reinvent Themselves

and West Englewood as prehensive plan with four

Digital Access In Chicago “intelligent communities”
had been moving forward
components: (a) surveying
Englewood’s current digi-

Englewood—The Plan, The as well. More than 25

Mission, The Objectives
Two senseless
murders refocused atten-
tion on Chicago’s Engle-
wood community. Politi-
cians came, spoke and
promised action. For the
people on the ground
working in Englewood
over the years, the sense
was “We’ve heard it be-
fore”, but the difference
was, as noted on the
Teamwork Englewood
website, that for two
years, residents had been
developing a focused
plan of action.
Englewood community
tal assets; (b) organizing a
committee of 100 with an
technology centers, 15 interest in digital access/
located within churches, 4
of them in Englewood
inclusion for Englewood;
(c) establishing a non-
parks, had commenced profit agency to manage
The LISC/New
operation in the past four the Englewood digital ac-
Communities Initiative
years. A small team of cess process; and (d)
funded Teamwork Engle-
community-based tech launching a plan of dem-
wood, an organization
professionals assembled onstration projects, com-
which, under the charis-
in Englewood laid plans munity outreach and
matic and principled lead-
for bringing access to digi- “proof of concept” initia-
ership of Wanda White-
tal resources. tives. Where can you learn
Gills, brought together
The June 2006 wi- more about the Digital Ac-
700 Englewood residents
fi RFP spurred some new cess/Inclusion Planning
and 80 organizations to
activity around the forma- Initiative? Here are some
50-plus meetings over 2
tion of a digital access/ contact persons: Johnnie
years to conceived a 10-
inclusion movement. At a Muhammad, Teamwork
point plan with 46 sepa-
mid-June meeting hosted Englewood, 773-602-
rate projects.
by Morgan Carter of The 4512; Bruce Montgomery,
An ambitious plan
Chicago Communicator, 773-410-0608; Pierre
for remaking Englewood
activists discussed a com- Clark, 1-773-309-4479.

Demystifying the Wi-Fi Community Technology Access

Upcoming In Digital Access Internet Access Rush—

Continued From P.1
Centers—Public Tech Spaces
—Continued From Page 3

Update—Englewood Edition an influx of resources and

investment into central
There are 25 CTCs in Englewood and West Englewood—You’ll cities. Those investments
Learn Where They Are—One Site At A Time will include access to digi-
It’s Been Talked About For Four Years—A Community Wi-Fi Net- tal resources like wi-fi ac-
cess.
work For Englewood. Will It Happen Now? Find Out Which
How do we as
Churches Will Be Access Points For Chicago’s First Blanket-Coverage
communities position our-
Wi-Fi Network
selves to benefit? The
The Committee Of 100—Helping Transform Englewood Into An
good news is, we CAN
“Intelligent Community”. Find out how to join the committee.
position ourselves. We
100 Free Websites For Englewood Non-Profit Agencies—Are you have the power to make
an Englewood non-profit agency? Find out how to get online! the choices that can em-
Who Is Bruce Montgomery And How Is He Trying To Change The power a community trans-
Way You Create And Store Your Documents? Learn about Sim- formation. The idea is to
Desk software. It’s free—and in someways it’s better than Microsoft learn what these choices
Office. are and how we can begin
Can A Neighborhood Economy Portal Really Spark Englewood’s to actualize them.
Economy and deliver more services to Englewood residents? Find Next issue, we’ll
out the answer here. talk about the first steps
Can you create and broadcast your own podcast or videocast? YOU can take to capitalize
Find out how! on the wi-fi Internet ac-
cess that is about to
DIGITAL ACCESS UPDATE—Englewood Edition spread throughout the
Published By Pierre Clark—pclark@englewoodlink.org country, starting from right
1-773-309-4479/1-866-593-4117 here in Chicago.
space. In Chicago there
are an estimated 600
public technology spaces
used by tens of thou-
sands of people each
year. The City of Chicago
in 2001 once hosted a
meeting at IIT where they
unveiled a glossy plan to
create 1,200 CTCs. (Let’s
hope the 18-month old wi-
fi access initiative doesn’t
become a stillborn event
like that one or the ill-
fated CivicNet).
Fortunately, hun-
dreds of people con-
cerned about the future of
public technology spaces
in Chicago didn’t wait for
the city. For the tens of
thousands of people who
use these public spaces,
they are the true unsung
heroes of the community
technology access move-
ment.