There seems to be many obstacles in forming a movement in San Francisco’s 21st century atmosphere (money, time, lunatic demonstrations, corporate hi-jinx, and a general ‘whatever’ blaise attitude towards progress ).

Google didn’t seem to have ‘too’ many obstacles:

Free citywide WiFi in Mountain View

by Minnie Ingersoll

8/16/2006

Today, Google launched a WiFi network in our hometown of Mountain View. Radios hanging on lampposts throughout the city are now broadcasting a “GoogleWiFi” wireless (802.11b/g) signal that brings wireless Internet access to the city’s residents, businesses, and visitors. All anyone needs is a laptop or other wireless-enabled device and a web browser to get online. Then Mountain View users can select the “GoogleWiFi” signal, open their web browser and sign in with a free Google Account. To learn more about the network’s coverage area and the location of the WiFi radios, we’ve published a map.

Though problems of overindulgence seem to be the biggest problems in more metropolitan areas, as is elequently touched upon in

The citywide Wi-Fi reality check

Wireless technology tempts cities that want to offer low-cost broadband to residents, but operating a network is no walk in the park.

By Marguerite Reardon
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: May 27, 2005

….

The spectrum crunch
Even though a wireless network can be built relatively inexpensively, experts say there are many challenges to providing reliable service.

One of the biggest technical issues that cities face in deploying municipal Wi-Fi is that it can suffer interference from other wireless devices trying to transmit signals in the same channel. Because wireless networks run on unregulated spectrum, many devices can interfere with transmission. For example, microwave ovens, hand-held phones, garage door openers and devices using Bluetooth applications all use the same 2.4MHz frequency used by Wi-Fi networks. What’s more, thousands of computer users have installed their own Wi-Fi networks in their homes.

“The 2.4MHz spectrum is already very crowded,” said Lindsay Schroth, a senior analyst at The Yankee Group. “When you have a large deployment such as Philadelphia also using that spectrum there’s a lot of potential for overcrowding and interference.”….

OR maybe our struggling dead tree media overlords such as the San Francisco Chronicle toss out some scraps of condolence….

“The city Wi-Fi movement is noticeably slowing down on some levels, but leaders say it’s progressing with a refined sense of purpose and a clearer perspective on the challenges that face these projects.”

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