Online Media Cultist

I’ve spent way more time than I would like over the past year trying to figure out how to get consistent Internet connection to my apartment. Like way more time. In talking to people about the vagaries of cable broadband, DSL, fiber optic services, and the like, I’ve come to learn that there’s a real hunger for better and more consistent Internet services out there. Just to speak for myself, I’m more than willing to pay a little bit more just to get a consistent connection.

Therefore, hearing about the spread of municipal wireless broadband service in California – to Riverside in this case, located in Southern California’s Inland Empire – is tantalizing, to say the least. In this case, AT&T will offer free ad-supported wireless broadband service to residents and fee-based weekly passes to visitors.

There’s no doubt that muni broadband will have its own issues delivering consistent service. But the best news is that it will at least offer people another option. I also think that unless the advertising is overly intrusive, people won’t mind working around them to receive free broadband service.

If anyone at AT&T ends up reading this, please know that Pasadena is more than ready to try muni WiFi broadband!

In light of the Internet troubles that plagued me for so many months (things seem to be better over the last week or so, fingers double and crossed!) this GigaOM piece covering the dream of “100-megabit-per-second broadband connection” really struck a power chord.

Apparently, in order to move toward such an advance, the President has to take action soon. Knowing how proactive Mr. Bush has been on science and technology during his tenure – stem cells, the Mars (lack of) initiative, and so on – I’m sure we can expect that old series of tubes to start jamming with hyper speeds any minute now.

Meanwhile, I keep waiting for the Google Overlords to come on down to Pasadena to get the free wi-fi flowing.