Several wireless companies were competing to implement wireless networks in Silicon Valley. MetroFi won the contract and started to deploy a free wireless solution about 3 years ago. They offered free wireless - that was supposed to be supported by browser ads and a premium service that had no ads. They leased telephone and light poles in the cities they served for their antennas.
They just folded due to the costs involved and are trying to sell their infrastructure to the cities they served. I was an early adopter and had them install a wireless antenna (on a DirecTV mount) to the side of my house as the nearest telephone pole was basically too far away. Even with the antenna, I still had spotty service. Some of the local cities are thinking of buying the service. Foster City said "NFW" as the infrastructure was for sale for $200,000 with an estimated yearly maintenance cost of $125,000. Others are looking into it. Wireless of any sort (free or "premium") is pretty much on life support in the SF Bay Area. Larry -----Original Message----- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rev. Stewart Marshall Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 10:29 AM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] US is access loser It is my understanding that at present most wireless companies lease space on towers and do not own the towers. Plus you need to have a tower about every 20 miles. Stewart At 12:23 PM 6/30/2008, you wrote: >Problem with wireless is the rollout is not complete so there is little room >for the ultimate solution to reliability; redundancy. Rev. Stewart A. Marshall mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Prince of Peace www.princeofpeaceozark.org Ozark, AL SL 82 ************************************************************************ * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** ************************************************************************ * ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
