[Cu-wireless] NSF RFP Partnerships in Innovation

[Danielle Chynoweth]

hi all -

Here are notes I made as I combed through the RFP.  I tried to lay out 
some preliminary answers for their questions.  Let me know when we should 
meet again to discuss and review the letter of intent.
- Danielle

Notes on NSF RFP - Partnerships in Innovation

Possible Outcomes:
- access to communication infrastructure in areas without access: Lakeside 
Terrace, King School neighborhood, Douglas center neighborhood
- neighborhood networks - they will have ubiquitous access to the net and 
the project will get user feedback 
- wireless cloud in downtown - support small businesses, downtown 
residents

Messages:
What happens when you make internet ubiquitous in a town?
Internet Everywhere
Return the power to the community.

What is the money for?
- city infrastructure - X computer spaced X feet apart mounted on street 
lights throughout X miles of streets (Urbana)
- commercialization activities
- software and hardware development 
- hardware to expand network
- database to collect and store bugs

Q: How will we sustain innovation in the long term?
A: 1) By partnering with the city to develop wireless as a municipal 
utility, capitalizing on the cost savings to all of a municipal utility.
     2) By building the base technology in the open source domain.

Q: How will we stimulate economic growth and viability?
A: 1) By offering networks of communication to residents and businesses 
that increase efficiency and communication.
     2) By identifying opportunities for commercialization and taking 
those opportunities throughout the process.

Q: How will we develop the workforce?
A: 1) For users on the network: by bridging the digital divide. 
     2) For developers: a pool of university and private sector people who 
have cultivated wireless knowledge in a high tech town with lots of 
synergies with existing technology producers: NCSA, Wolfram, research 
park.

Q: What technology is being transferred?
A: Wireless technology developed independently and with Threshold and OSI 
grant funds, furthered by NSF funding: hardware and software for 

Possible roles for
CUWiN: programming, hardware development, distributing nodes
College of Communication: research
City: create backbone for permanent municipal wireless infrastructure; 
provide ROW access outside backbone as needed
OJC: identifying with the team opportunities for commercialization and 
pursuing them, programming, help desk
Prairienet: building and distributing used computers
CLAM?: computer training in target areas
others?


Questions:
- 10% match - is it okay it came through a partner not the U of I


Municipal Utility Concept:
- infrastructure but not end user support
- public works and IT support the backbone and nothing else
- hire a non profit to support 
- community group has membership
- partnerships with businesses and orgs providing support services
- NO requirement to join
- seed networks
- ensuring universal access
- concern:- will the city have to provide equal access to mccleod and sbc.  
can illinois century network compete with others?




-- 
| Danielle Chynoweth
|
| Art Director * OJC Technologies * ojctech.com
| City Council Member * Urbana City Council * city.urbana.il.us