[CWN-Summit] [CUWiN Press Release] National Summit for Community Wireless Networks, March 31-April 2, St. Louis/St. Charles.

[Sascha Meinrath]

*** PLEASE FORWARD ***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 24, 2006

CONTACT:
Sascha Meinrath, CUWiN, (217) 278-3933
Ben Scott, Free Press, (202) 265-1490, x 23
Craig Aaron, Free Press, (202) 265-1490, x 25

National Summit for Community Wireless Networks to Explore the Future of
Internet Access

Network developers, policy experts and community activists to gather at
Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., March 31 to April 2


ST CHARLES, Missouri - March 24 - In one week, the Champaign-Urbana Community 
Wireless Network (CUWiN), Free Press and Mid-Rivers Community Wireless Network 
will host the second National Summit for Community Wireless Networks from March 
31 to April 2 at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

The summit is the largest gathering of wireless network developers, technology 
and policy experts, and community organizers working to build universal, 
low-cost broadband networks around the world.

"The National Summit for Community Wireless Networks will explore the 
opportunities and challenges facing the growing movement to build nonprofit, 
open-source broadband networks," said Sascha Meinrath, co-founder and project 
coordinator of CUWiN. "The event will showcase cutting-edge technologies and 
develop political strategies to increase digital inclusion."

Since the first National Summit for Community Wireless Networks in 2004, nearly 
400 Community Internet and municipal broadband projects have sprung up in the 
United States alone. The summit will discuss how the networks can better serve 
their target populations, the policies needed to support broader deployment of 
community wireless systems, and the latest technological and software innovations.

Presenters at the summit will include Annie Collins of Fiber for Our Future, 
Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America, Harold Feld of Media Access 
Project, Robert W. McChesney of Free Press, Matt Rantanen of Tribal Digital 
Village, Greg Richardson of Civitium LLC, Paul Smith of the Center for 
Neighborhood Technologies, Jim Snider of the New America Foundation, Dana 
Spiegel of NYC Wireless, Esme Vos of Muniwireless.com and many other luminaries.

"High-speed broadband access is the electricity of the 21st century, yet many 
rural and poorer urban communities are being left off the grid," said Ben Scott, 
policy director of Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform 
organization. "The innovators and organizers at the National Summit for 
Community Wireless Networks are blazing the trail to make broadband affordable 
and available to everyone."

For more information on the summit or to register, visit www.wirelesssummit.org

-- 
Sascha Meinrath
Policy Analyst    *  Project Coordinator  *  President
Free Press       *** CUWiN               *** Acorn Active Media
www.freepress.net *  www.cuwireless.net   *  www.acornactivemedia.com



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