New York set for citywide wireless

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
Date: August 21, 2004 3:54:49 PM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net () warpspeed com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] New York set for citywide wireless
Reply-To: dewayne () warpspeed com

New York set for citywide wireless
By Matt Wells
BBC, New York

New York City is on the verge of going fully wireless, according to a 
deal being finalised this month between authorities and a group of six 
technology companies.

In exchange for being able to mount up to 18,000 new lamp post-based 
antennas, to strengthen coverage around the five boroughs, the 
companies will pay the city government around $25m each year.
Anyone who uses a mobile phone regularly in the city knows that it is a 
much-needed development.

Reception black-spots are common, and calls are often lost. A host of 
different carrier companies operate here but everyone grumbles about 
the unpredictability of service.

"I can't use my cell phone in my house, so I have to use my internet 
connection as a phone," one young man said commenting on the new plans, 
in downtown Union Square park.

"You'd think we had everything the best here, that we'd have the best 
cell service, but we don't," he added.

"I never know when I'm going to be able to hear someone, it seems 
sometimes that cell service cuts out," said another exasperated 
Brooklynite.

'Aesthetically appropriate'

The man in charge of seeing through the new wireless deal is Gino 
Menchini, the suave city commissioner in charge of the Department of 
Information Technology and Telecommunications.

The city sanctioned a similar deal back in 1996, but the single company 
involved then went bust after installing only a few thousand antennas.

"The antennas themselves are low-profile, the designs themselves have 
to be reviewed by the New York City art commission to make sure they 
are aesthetically appropriate," said Commissioner Menchini in an 
interview at City Hall.

He said that barring unforeseen obstacles, the enhanced wireless 
coverage should be operational by January at the latest.

But not everyone in the city is welcoming the new era with open arms.

In the borough of Queens, local activist John Campos has set up a 
protest group which is lobbying for what he describes as a more 
responsible placing of wireless transmitters and antennas.
He thinks the city is failing to place any effective regulatory 
restraint, or safety controls, on companies whose bottom line is 
profit, not public service.

"Within where I live, over a mile radius, there are over 300 antennas 
already," said Mr Campos, pointing at a cluster of small masts on a 
rooftop across the street.

Based on individual wireless mast technology studies in Europe and 
Asia, he believes New York needs to think harder about the lack of 
conclusive data so far.

"What happens if in 20 years, there's even a minor adverse reaction to 
human beings?" he asked.

"Why not build in a more responsible manner, using a precautionary 
principle, so that we know we can establish this communication and 
technology in a way that will stand the test of time?

"I don't think that's too much to ask for."

At least one local politician shares those concerns. Peter Vallone Jr 
is a Queens council member and chairman of the city's safety committee.

He is annoyed that even the current concerns of his constituents are 
not being addressed, let alone a new era of expansion.

"The city was in the papers when I first came out against this, saying 
there's less radiation than from a microwave (oven) from these 
antennas, and that may be true," said councilman Vallone.

"But nobody runs a microwave 24 hours a day, seven days a week, outside 
their bedroom door when they are sleeping. That's why it's important we 
study this," he added.

Ideal glimpse

Commissioner Menchini is aware of the criticisms and points out that in 
the franchises, the onus is on companies to pay for, and carry out, any 
future health studies that the city deems necessary.

"We've had industry experts come in and advise us on this and 
everything I've heard, from our health commissioner to the industry 
experts, says there's no health risk associated with these antennas and 
these devices," he said.


"This is something that makes sense," he added. "The companies are 
anxious to do it, and we think it will improve service for New 
Yorkers."
There is already one patch of midtown Manhattan that provides an ideal 
glimpse of what a more wireless-friendly New York will be like.

Bryant Park has been providing a free service to any laptop user who 
wants access for many months now.

People come from all over the city to log-on and work in the sunshine, 
and naturally, everyone I spoke to welcomed the idea of extending this 
kind of coverage.

But when it came to the longer-term health effects, there was more 
scepticism than perhaps the city would like to hear.

Lilly Martinez, from Brooklyn, was using the service for the first 
time, and found it slow with the sheer volume of users logged on.

She said she was "freaked out" by the idea of a huge microwave 
expansion.

"What does this mean for my brain?" she asked.

"The service is not for me, it's going to be all about them, and what 
they can get out of it."

Story from BBC NEWS:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/3578982.stm>

Published: 2004/08/21 06:41:19 GMT


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