PhilaPhile

Convention Center WiFi

This post from Andy Carvin is disconcerting. He's attending the National Educational Computing Conference at the Convention Center and is unable to blog the conference as it is happening because of limited wireless access. Does this mean when the city unveils the citywide wireless program that you'll only have access when your outside of your house not inside?

By the way Andy is the coordinator of the Digital Divide Network.

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RecycleBank

A couple of months ago the City of Philadelphia began testing a new recycling program in Chestnut Hill and one other neighborhood. They hired RecycleBank, to manage and implement the program. So far it's working great.

They provided large, blue recycling cans where you place all of your glass, plastic and paper. City trucks come around and weigh your container. Based on the weight of your recyclables you receive RecycleBank Dollars. You can exchange your dollars for coupons at local stores, e.g., Reading Terminal Market, Acme, and/or Starbucks. It's an excellent incentive for people who don't normally recycle. As many of us already know recycling is not only good for the environment but also cuts down on the city's cost for disposing of our trash in landfills. The city has to pay a certain amount for every ton of trash that goes to a landfill. But the city is paid a certain amount for every ton that it recycles. And every ton that is recycled is that much less that goes to a landfill. The city, meaning us, benefits in many different ways.

To redeem your coupons or find out how much you have in your account you can either call a phone number or review your account online. The limit for each month is 25 RecycleBank dollars. I've experienced only one problem. I received my first coupon with no trouble at all. After ordering my second set of coupons I never received them. I emailed RecycleBank but got no response. I finally called and the problem was resolved within an hour. My coupons were sent and were received a few days later.

I hope that the pilot program is successful, increases the amount of recyclable material and is expanded throughout the city. It's a cool program that makes it fun to recycle.

Philadelphia Wi-Fi

Last night I attended a public forum sponsored by Media Tank held at the main branch of the Free Library. The title was, "Why Wi-FI?: An Educational Forum on Wireless in Philadelphia." It consisted of two panels. The first panel included: Harold Feld, Associate Director, Media Access Project; Mark Cooper, Director of Research, Consumer Federation of America; Tom Armstrong, Business Information Group; and absent was Dianah Neff, Chief Information Officer, City of Philadelphia; I can't remember the moderator's name.

The second panel included: Dharma Dailey, Director of Spectrum Research, Prometheus Radio Project; Anthony Townsend, Executive Director, NYC Wireless; Antwuan Wallace, Senior Research Associate, BCT Partners; Tan Vu, Program Manager, People's Emergency Center; and moderator, Steve Rockwell.

I came away feeling I needed answers to a few questions before the city goes ahead with the project:
What is the motivation behind this endeavor?
Who will actually build the infrastructure?
Who will maintain the network?
What role will the citizens have in the design and implementation of the project?
Do we really want a Wi-Fi infrastructure maintained by the local government?

It was also made very clear that all of us absolutely have the right to seek answers to these questions as well as insisting on a role in the design, implementation, and maintenance of the project. I plan on keeping close tabs on how the city proceeds with this project.

It was also mentioned that a bill (House Bll #30?) was reintroduced in Harrisburg that would make this project, and any others like it, illegal in Pennsylvania. More information about that later.