[Imc-wireless] DETROIT COALITION PLANS LOW-COST BROADBAND

[denis]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [municable] DETROIT COALITION PLANS LOW-COST BROADBAND
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:15:19 -0500
From: "Neil J. Lehto" <nlehto at municable.com>
Reply-To: municable at yahoogroups.com
To: "municable" <municable at yahoogroups.com>,"'Michigan Association of
Municipal Attorneys'" <MAMA at LISTSERV.MML.ORG>

-- A coalition of Detroit-area nonprofits calling itself
DetroitConnected
this week announced plans to use faith-based and secular non-profit
neighborhood centers to deliver broadband Internet to Detroit homes
using
WiFi wireless technology. The project, led by the Center for Urban
Innovation at the University of Michigan Social Work, also offers
low-cost
recycled computers. DetroitConnected says it can make a go of offering
250
kilobit-per-second Web access for $100 a year, and a recycled computer
for
$150. Members of DetroitConnected include UM; Goodwill Industries;
ClearLink.org, a non-profit that recycles corporate surplus goods,
including
computers; the Cultural Cluster, a group of churches in the city's
Cultural
Center area, and The Family Place, a social services agency on Woodward
Avenue. Garrett Myers, community broadband activist and CEO of
ClearLink,
said his organization offers packs of 10 Pentium computers with Windows
licenses for less than $1,000 to churches and community centers. It also
coordinates free technology training available through a variety of
agencies. To contact Myers, e-mail gmyers at clearlink.org, or contact
Larry
Gant at the UM School of Social Work, lmgant at umich.edu.