Boston Divests From Wireless, Moves Forward in Nonprofit Form

The Globe reported yesterday that wireless Internet access in Boston won't be coming form a city-funded agency but from a newly formed nonprofit organization. Papers were filed with the Commonwealth to establish "openairboston.net" a nonprofit group to bring wireless internet access to Boston. They've got a bare bones website up and running already describing the intent of the operation. The nonprofit model was selected after the Wireless Task Force submitted their report on providing wireless access city-wide in Boston. After Menino announced his plan to bring wifi city wide in early 2006 he convened the task force to create a plan to realize the goal. Months and months of debate resulted in a final report with some ideas on how to proceed.

openairboston (we're using the lowercase one-word version on purpose, it seems to be their current branding) is the nonprofit charged with creating the network and access. They're starting with a square mile area in the Dudley Square area, traditionally an area underserved by technology – essentially defining the digital divide. The nonprofit model for providing wifi access to the city faces challenges. The Wireless Task Force noted that a nonprofit model must "assume some market, technology, demand and funding risks." And that there will be "significant political, legal, and execution risk" involved with the model rather than a for profit method of delivery. The Globe cites a $16 to $20 million funding goal to get the initiative off the ground to achieve the 2008 wifi goal. The benefit of a nonprofit organization is that it will always be mission focused, never profit driven. Because openairboston will not be allowed to make a profit any income they derive will be rolled back into operation of the organization and any surplus will assist in innovation. Internet access that doesn't rely on Comcast or Verizon can't be all that bad.

Map of Dudley Square pilot wifi coverage area from openairboston