February 20, 2005
Lebkowsky - Wireless, Innovation, and Politics

Jon Lebkowsky has a brilliant post on the conflict between profit, economic development and the digital divide.

WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Municipal Wireless, Innovation, and Politics

"My question, though, is that if a significant percentage of the population lacks access to information services that could provide a significant foundation for other forms of innovation, who is going to bridge the gap, and how? If the delivery of information services is strictly the business of private companies, incumbent providers, that provide service only where a clear market opportunity exists, and only to a market that will pay top dollar for service, how will services be delivered to underserved populations. (As Clay Shirky once said to David Isenberg, "I distrust people who call for less regulation unlessthey also call for less scarcity.")

And if services are provided by subscription only, and different providers offer services in different areas, to what extent will that constrain economic development and innovation, compared to free and open wireless access in public places?"

Posted by Dave at February 20, 2005 10:32 PM