Hey All,
Just a reminder that we are having a public forum on the future of Philly'S WIFI initiative next Wednesday night at Temple. Information Below:

When: Wednesday, June 18, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Tuttleman Learning Center, Room 105,
Corner of 13th St. and Montgomery Ave. Temple University

Panelists Include:
Mark Rupp, Principle, Boathouse Communications
Beth McConnell, Executive Director, Media and Democracy Coalition
Karl Garcia, Technical Staff, Google's Wireless network, Mountainview, Calif.
Greg Goldman, CEO of Wireless Philadelphia
Phuong Ninh, Philadelphia Student Union's Youth Leadership Team
Bill Green City Councilman-At Large
Invited, representative from the Nutter administration

The Media Mobilizing Project and Temple University's School of Communications and Theater are co-hosting a public forum to discuss the future of affordable broadband Internet access in Philadelphia. Please join us in helping to shape the future of the network and ensuring that all Philadelphians-regardless of their income or education levels-have access to affordable, high-speed Internet.

Under Earthlink's management, Philadelphia's wireless network faced both technical and customer service challenges. As a result, the much-touted initiative failed to achieve many of its digital inclusion goals-from helping local residents research information online to bolstering civic engagement. As the press reports, Earthlink is in negotiations to transfer the 135-square mile network to a local group of investors. Along with a change in ownership, an exciting opportunity may exist for Philadelphia's WiFi initiative to serve as a national model for community media. The promise of low-cost Internet access for all Philadelphians could finally be fulfilled, but only if local residents publicly demand it.

The event will be held Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m., in 105 Tuttleman Learning Center. The building is located at 1809 N. 13th St. on the main campus of Temple University. Concetta Stewart, dean of Temple University's School of Communications and Theater, will provide opening remarks. Nijmie Dzurinko, co-founder of the Media Mobilizing Project, will moderate the panel discussion.

While an exciting opportunity exists with new ownership of Philadelphia's WiFi network, local residents need to share their ideas for making digital inclusion a reality. This event will, ideally, be the start of an ongoing dialogue about the city's promise to provide affordable broadband connections to all residents, as well as skills training and computers


The event is co-sponsored by: Wireless Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Student Union, Casino Free Philadelphia, Juntos, Philadelphia FIGHT/Critical Path Project, Geoclan, The Unified Taxi Workers Alliance, The Philadelphia Unemployment Project, Prometheus Radio Project, The Media and Democracy Coalition, Solutions for Progress, Scribe Video Center,
Philadelphia Community Access Coalition, The People's Emergency Center, and UNITE-HERE Philadelphia Joint Board.