At a joint session of the Committees of Finance
and Economic, Capital & Technology Development
earlier today, a resolution was passed to
conduct a study deployment of a city-wide
high-speed wireless network based on Wi-Fi in
Chicago. The number given was 60-90 days to
finish the study, as estimated by the City's CIO,
Chris O'Brien.

Co-Chairs Burke and Laurino acknowledged the
current political climate and urged quick action
given the pending anti-muni legislation in
Springfield. Chairman Burke suggested passing a
shell resolution soon that would state that the
City retains its right to explore a
city-wide wireless network. (It's not clear what
that resolution would mean if the legislation did
pass.)

While CNT applauds the Joint Committee actions,
unfortunately they did not hear public testimony
on the issue: both CNT and the Ministers
Against the Digital Divide had comments to make
that were not aired (though our pro/con positions
were entered into the record). This
appeared to be an oversight but we want the
opportunity to brief the aldermen on existing
community wireless network projects in North
Lawndale and Pilsen and emphasize the digital
divide component of the study.