I have a question for the techie people. Just after Katrina when no one in the city had telephone service or internet access and therefore couldn't do business (couldn't run credit cards, etc.), the city set up an open access network in the CBD. It took them about two weeks to set it up, so it can't be too difficult. At the time, part of the recovery plan included expanding the wi-fi network to the whole city. I remember the mayor saying something about this being a great service for the city to provide because instead of $30-$40 per month, the city could provide the service for about $0.17 per home. He went on to talk about how internet access at home would put poor kids on a level playing field with kids who had access, benefits to tourism, etc. The signal was strong, the speed fast.
Then, suddenly, Bellsouth announced they were no longer willing to donate their big building downtown for the use of the police and first responders. They put the screws to the mayor. The open access wouldn't be expanded to all areas of the city after all. Once phone and cable service had been restored to our area, the signal strength dropped and it slowed considerably.
My question -- is it pretty inexpensive to set up a open access connection, and if so why don't the HOAs do this?