Meet MetroNetIQ, Raise Your Network IQ, Feed Your Head

I urge you to check out the START HERE!! sections on either side of the website homepage. These will give you a quick overview of the website, and then you can just hop around. There's a lot to keep you busy!

Check out this document first, which provides a good overview of the industry and the value propostion of municipal wireless: MetroNetIQ Explains Metropolitan Broadband.

To understand the potential of radio and wireless in general, I'm particularly fond of this whitepaper from Kevin Werbach, a former senior staffer with the FCC, entitled Radio Revolution. You will be a genius on the arcane aspects of wireless after you digest this, making you very impressive at cocktail parties! Meet new friends and influence people with your newfound knowledge of radio spectrum!

This whitepaper written nearly two years ago provides my analysis of the structural changes in our economy and in telecommunications in tthe past few years, which are driving new opportunities like municipal wireless: UnwireMyCity on Structural Change

I especially like this Planning Document post - Planning and Engagement: A MetroNet in Ten Easy Steps - written nearly two years ago, but updated February 5, 2006. It provides these 10+2 steps for would-be MetroNet city officials to kick off a MetroNet project.

1. Get informed on metropolitan broadband technology options.
2. Evaluate your community needs regarding broadband services.
3. Produce and file a preliminary plan to make government policymakers aware of your actions and intentions.
4. Get on the same page with other community leaders with a Regional Collaboration Event.
5. Launch a Pilot Program.
6. Broaden your community base of support.
7. Determine your business model.
8. Prioritize the implementation of broadband applications that will become available from your new MetroNet.
9. Determine a funding strategy.
10. Spread the word in your community.
11. Launch your plan, use someone else's network, build your network.
12. Enjoy the benefits and brag on your success.

Next, I recommend this post from September 2005, What's In Store for Community Broadband?, which covers my keynote address at a PTI seminar on Wireless and has my assessment of Why and How Community Broadband will happen. Check it out 18 months later and see how accurate I was. You can access the Powerpoint slides and text here as well.

Stay tuned and read my coverage of the upcoming conference, and if you want to talk about getting a network started in your town, drop me a line by clicking here!