Downtown wireless

Calling it another facet in economic development, a free public wireless network is up and running in a swath of downtown Pittsfield.

[Legal 1]

I think this is a great idea. It won't make me visit downtown more frequesntly, but it is a nice service to those who may need it.

[Steve R]

It's important for everyone to have access to the internet - as important as rural electrification.

Wireless however, is not ideal for a number of reasons, the most serious ofwhich are the documented health consequences of long-term exposure: http://www.bioinitiative.org/report/index.htm

[Sanity]

Steve R wrote:

It's important for everyone to have access to the internet - as important as rural electrification.
Wireless however, is not ideal for a number of reasons, the most serious ofwhich are the documented health consequences of long-term exposure: http://www.bioinitiative.org/report/index.htm

The EMF scare has been thoroughly debunked, by WHO, NRC, and numerous studies. The real scary part about EMF is how little the general population understands physics (and science in general) and can easily be fooled by anecdotal stories.
http://www.skepdic.com/emf.html

[Insanity]

Three things:

1. I'm surprised that this project is championed as a move for economic development since, as I understand it, the city chose to pay an eastern Mass. company to develop the network. Anyone have any more information on this? Isn't Richmond Networx in downtown Pittsfield? What about other local businesses?

2. Has anyone read the Verizon Terms of Service? This network is in a grey area. Hopefully, they don't try and shut the network down. It would fuel our love to hate the big telco!

2. In regards to wireless as a health threat...
"People react to fear, not love; they don't teach that in Sunday School, but it's true." Richard M. Nixon

[just me]

whats next give free phone service to the downtown merchants in a hope that maybe they will dial 911 when witnessing a drug deal. NOT VERY LIKELY seems how most crack dealers are their best customers.

[Brandon Vera]

just me wrote:

whats next give free phone service to the downtown merchants in a hope that maybe they will dial 911 when witnessing a drug deal. NOT VERY LIKELY seems how most crack dealers are their best customers.

Yeah. It is just you.

[Steve R]

Sanity wrote:

<quoted text>
The EMF scare has been thoroughly debunked, by WHO, NRC, and numerous studies. The real scary part about EMF is how little the general population understands physics (and science in general) and can easily be fooled by anecdotal stories.
http://www.skepdic.com/emf.html

Actually, it has never been thoroughly debunked, but there is alarming scientific research (inconvenient as it is) that shows EMFs likely promote (not necessarily cause) certain types of cancer, and the physiological effects of EMFs on cells in vitro are widely accepted. There is also evidence of suppression of research, coersion of researches and serious research design flaws in studies proving they are safe. No surprise there, since the acceptance of the science would create a situation for telecoms and electric companies not unlike the tobacco and asbestos liabilities.

Of course, I am not basing my opinion on anecdotal stories, and by the same token, hope others are not basing theirs on their friends telling them "WiFi is totally safe."

Here are some links to real scientific info, including a report with irrefutable evidence from an international panel released just two days ago:
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/...
http://www.bioinitiative.org/report/index.htm

[JIMMY G PITTSFIELD MA]

Brandon Vera wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah. It is just you.

No,I agree with "just me", so it's me too.

[JIMMY G PITTSFIELD MA]

Now that the city has gone wireless, does the mayor think we can go gunless and knifeless and maybe old person mugging-less or maybe floodless at Wahconah Park or maye just violent crime-less?