Module 3 - Case
WIRELESS NETWORKS AND PERVASIVE COMPUTING
Assignment Overview
The Case for this module involves the struggles for municipal Wi-Fi. There are many benefits to providing free municipal Wi-Fi as evidenced by the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the state of emergency there. Here are two stories describing the situation:
Hayes, F. Big Easy Wi-Fi. (2005, December 5). Retrieved from http://www.computerworld.com/article/2560747/government-it/big-easy-wi-fi.html
Tim Greene. VON: New Orleans` crime-fighting Wi-Fi network is now the city�s lifeline. NetworkWorld.com, 03/16/06.
But more recently the effort to provide free municipal Wi-Fi has fallen on hard times. Municipalities have largely relied upon the private sector to deploy the networks. The private sector vendor would offer a low-cost or free tier of service but gain the prospect off adding faster broadband revenues and Wi-Fi advertising revenues. Unfortunately, this business model hasn�t materialized as expected. But the effort to provide municipal wi-fi continues. Please read the following background:
Sam Churchill (2009). Top 10 Municipal WiFi Stories of the Decade. DailyWireless.org. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://www.dailywireless.org/2009/12/18/top-ten-municipal-wifi-stories-of-the-decade/.
Christopher Mims (2010). Where`s All the Free Wi-Fi We Were Promised? Technology Review. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/mimssbits/25819/.
Geoff Duncan (2009). Philadelphia Buys Earthlink`s Failed Municipal Wi-Fi Network. Digital Trends. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/philadelphia-buys-earthlinks-failed-municipal-wi-fi-network/.
Andy Opsahl (2009). Municipal Broadband Efforts Succeed Despite Wi-Fi Meltdown. PublicCIO. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://www.govtech.com/pcio/Municipal-Broadband-Efforts-Succeed-Despite-Wi-Fi.html.
Lynnette Luna (2009). A Municipal Wi-Fi Model That Actually Works. Urgent Communications. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/news/oklahoma-city-wifi-mesh-20091202/.
Case Assignment
When you have reviewed these materials and done your own research (please be sure to use appropriate citations for any material that you collect on their own), please write a 3-5 page paper addressing the question:
Should municipal Wi-Fi continue to be pursued? If so, should this be left to the private sector, government sector, or both?
Assignment Expectations
Your paper should be between three and five pages. Take a definite stand on the issues, and develop your supporting argument carefully. Using material from the background information and any other sources you can find to support specific points in your argument is highly recommended; try to avoid making assertions for which you can find no support other than your own opinion.
You will be particularly assessed on:
Precision: Your draw on a range of sources, and to establish your understanding of the historical context of the question. You carried out the exercise as assigned, or carefully explained the limitations that might have prevented your completing some parts (running out of time isn�t generally considered an adequate limitation).
Support for assertions: You use examples, citations (especially to the required readings), and elaboration to support assertions. You provide evidence that you have read the required background materials.
Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic. You see what the module is all about and to structure your paper accordingly.
Breadth and Depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.
Critical thinking: The paper incorporates YOUR reactions, examples, and applications of the material to business that illustrate your reflective judgment and good understanding of the concepts. It is important to read the "required readings" posted in the background material plus others you find relevant. Your informed commentary and analysis is vital -- simply repeating what your sources say does not constitute an adequate paper.
Overall quality: Your paper is well written and the references, where needed, are properly cited and listed (refer to the Student Guide to Writing a High-Quality Academic Paper) if you are uncertain about formats or other issues.