Boston

Location(s)

Boston has formed a nonprofit organization that will construct, own and operate a citywide wireless broadband network. The nonprofit will need to raise between $16 and $20 million to fund the network's construction and initial operations. The City of Boston will grant the nonprofit access to necessary infrastructure to build network, but no city funds will be used in this project. The network will operate on an open access model, meaning that multiple providers can provide services over the network. This should encourage competition, and, ultimately, better services and prices for users. The network’s proposed architecture is remarkably forward-thinking in terms of openness and neutrality. See the Wireless Task Force report for a detailed overview of the business model, and results of the city’s feasibility assessment.

Learn More:

Open Air Boston
http://openairboston.net/

Boston Wireless Task Force – Official Site and Report
http://cityofboston.gov/wireless/

Wireless Task Force Report (2006). Boston for Boston. City of Boston.
www.cityofboston.gov/wireless/Boston%20Wireless%20Task%20Force%20Report%...

Recent Press. Open Air Boston.
http://openairboston.net/press/index.html

Wireless Task Force Report (2006). Broadband for Boston. City of
Boston.
www.cityofboston.gov/wireless/Boston%20Wireless%20Task%20Force%20Report%...
This detailed report by Boston’s Wireless Task Force investigates
options for a municipal broadband (wireless and fiber) network and
recommends that the city facilitate a carrier-neutral, open access,
wholesale-only broadband network, which will be run by a non-profit
organization. This model is important because, unlike the majority of
US municipal broadband projects, especially large-scale ones, it is not