Internet communities research Essay Example

to the internet as crucial as any other basic need. Despite the high demand for internet access, especially in developed countries, many individuals cannot afford it due to expensive cell phone contracts. This emphasizes the need for free public Wi-Fi. Therefore, this paper seeks to address the question: Who should assume responsibility for funding public internet services? Three main options are presented in response to this issue.

There are three options for funding internet utility expenses: local or state government, public residents, or a combination of both. It is important to mention that free public Wi-Fi is not a new idea and already exists in numerous cities.

Various businesses, including restaurants, rental houses, public transports, shopping malls, coffee houses, gyms, and libraries, provide free Wi-Fi to improve their competitiveness in their industries. The intention is for customers to pay for internet services alongside their primary purchases. However, it is important to recognize that this form of Wi-Fi is not publicly available as it is restricted to customers only. A more effective method involves the placement of hotspots in cities for convenient and unrestricted immediate internet access. This approach entails substantial costs for router installations and internet services.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the best option for incurring the aforementioned costs. Despite some concerns about the safety of public Wi-Fi, the Philippine Information and Communication Technology Office asserts that it is a worthwhile venture when paired with high levels of security and managed by expert state operators specializing in internal cybersecurity (DOST Information and Communication Office, 2016). Additionally, the ICT ministry of the Filipino government argues that public internet is important for improving social, economic, and

educational status (DOST Information and Communication Office, 2016). Consequently, the main debates in many jurisdictions revolve around the cost of implementing these services rather than the necessity of public internet. The focus of this paper is on implementing public internet in the Norfolk, Virginia community.

Free public wifi in the city

According to GovTech (2016), the Municipal council plans to introduce free public Wi-Fi in the city this year.

The article mentions that the project will begin by implementing free Wi-Fi in the Park Place neighborhood, granting around 7800 individuals access to this service. This initial installation serves as a test run for the broader objective of offering free Wi-Fi across Norfolk, Virginia City. Furthermore, the project intends to create Wi-Fi hotspots in public spaces such as libraries and collaborate with local businesses to utilize their establishments. Currently, free Wi-Fi is already available in Norfolk libraries and the MacArthur train station.

It is unclear who will pay for the services, but it is assumed that the city municipal will cover the costs. It is important for the government to secure financing independently to avoid discrimination against those who cannot afford the services. Therefore, strategies should be developed by the government to obtain sufficient funds for the project.

The government, whether at the state or local level, obtains its funds from taxpayers, making their expenditures essentially the residents' own expenses (Stiglitz and Rosengard, 2015). Hence, it is crucial for Norfolk, Virginia to find ways to increase tax revenue, such as raising tax rates or broadening the range of taxable items. Additionally, the local government should reduce budget allocation for nonessential projects in order to allocate more funds to free public internet

initiatives. Furthermore, the city should seek funding from the state government to support its free Wi-Fi projects (Chimboi, 2016). According to Chimboi (2016), government income sources encompass fines and penalties, borrowing, self-generated revenue, currency creation, service fees, taxation, and fund reallocation.

Penalties and fines serve as a reliable method for generating revenue based on crime frequency. However, relying solely on them is not feasible to sustain government income due to efforts made to decrease crime rates.

Printing money

The action of printing money is unsuitable in this context as it falls under the responsibility of the State government rather than local authorities. Moreover, increasing currency circulation poses risks such as higher inflation rates and currency devaluation. Instead, an alternative funding option for the government's free Wi-Fi project could involve borrowing from banks or issuing bonds to the public.

Alternative sources of income can help avoid the high interest rates associated with borrowing, making it a last resort option. The government has the ability to generate revenue through various businesses such as public transportation, advertising, and renting housing and business premises.

Sources of funding for the free Wi-Fi initiative

The municipal council is responsible for ensuring equal internet access for all citizens, as it is considered essential across socio-economic classes. Therefore, adequate funds must be secured for Norfolk, Virginia's free Wi-Fi initiative. This can be achieved by increasing tax revenue, obtaining funding from the state government, and implementing revenue-generating projects.

The primary funding source for the free Wi-Fi project should primarily be generated income. However, government support is crucial, especially in the early stages before profitability is achieved. Taxation can help address budget limitations associated with the free Wi-Fi services, but it also

presents a significant investment risk by increasing business expenses. Moreover, companies may increase prices to offset these high costs. To overcome these challenges, the government should avoid raising tax rates and instead allocate funds to cover only 10% of the project. Furthermore, Norfolk City should seek financial assistance from the state government since they receive most of the nation's tax returns. It would be reasonable for the government to contribute up to 20% of the initial project cost.

According to a U.S. News report in 2016, the Norfolk, Virginia project should primarily rely on self-generated income for funding. A successful model to emulate is that of New York City, which earns around $500 million annually by advertising on their 1000 kiosks offering free Wi-Fi. By adopting a similar approach, Norfolk can generate sufficient funds to support internet services and maintenance as its key goal.

The city council should consider implementing kiosks with internet hotspots for advertising on public screens or user screens. Additionally, the local government should establish a public transportation system with free Wi-Fi to generate revenue and provide internet access to residents.

Public internet options

The Canadian Government provides public internet through various methods, including large-scale network spaces, public transportation, enterprise hotspots, and closed networks (ACMA, 2016). This includes municipal spaces like parks, libraries, city centers, tourist attractions, museums, and galleries. Instead of offering free Wi-Fi everywhere, the Norfolk government should focus on specific locations and collaborate with the state government on implementing their own public internet service projects.

According to the ACMA (2016) article, it is recommended that the city installs 3000 hotspots in various Municipal spaces. The libraries listed below should have free Wi-Fi hotspots installed:
-

Blyden Branch Library
- Norfolk Public Library (Van Wyck Branch)
- Norfolk Public Library (Horace M. Downing Branch)
- Norfolk Public Library (Park Place Branch)
- Norfolk Public Library (Anthony Branch)
- Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Public Library
- Norfolk Public Library (Larchmont Branch)
- Norfolk Public Library (Janaf Branch)
- Slover Library
- Norfolk Public Library (Lafayette Branch)
- Norfolk Public Library (Barron F. Black)
- Virginia Library Association
- South Norfolk Memorial Library
- Portsmouth Public Libary
-Norfolk State University Lyman Beecher
-Norfolk Pubic library City Hall Avenue

The number of routers required for each library may range from 2 to 4, depending on their size.

Therefore, the libraries require approximately 100 hotspots. The City centres will have the majority of the hot spots due to the high population that transits in these areas daily. Therefore, 2000 hotspots with advertising screens will be strategically placed in the city centres. These hotspots will be located in various business premises such as restaurants, shops, and shopping malls. Additionally, 500 hotspots should be situated in different parks within the jurisdiction, while the remaining hotspots should be installed in public transportation, particularly city buses which generate revenue for the municipal council (400 buses).

Costs of the Free Wi-Fi Project

There are two aspects of the project expenses: 1) Installation processes, and 2) Internet services and system maintenance. The installation process includes purchasing routers and subscribing to internet services.

The internet services expenditures refer to the monthly utility bills for internet services. The maintenance expenditures are the finances used to repair routers and other technical defaults. Cost of Installation Process:

• Cost of One Router - $39
• Cost of 5000 routers - $195,000
• Cost of 1 advertisement screen (1500 square feet) - $175,000
• Cost
  

of 500 advertisement screens - $87,500,000

The installation of the advertisement screen and the process of advertisement will be a partnership with Titan and the Designer Control Group.

1. Cost of Internet Services per month: The Municipal council should have a partnership with one of the internet providers in the service providers to settle on a fixed rate despite the amount of internet consumption.

This paper advocates for the use of Charter communication due to its specialization in high-speed internet services. The monthly charges for internet access are $1,000,000. As for maintenance expenses, the cost is uncertain and can vary, so this paper will only provide approximate figures. The estimated maintenance fees amount to $10,000. Therefore, the initial installation costs for the free Wi-Fi project will be $88,795,000, with recurring monthly expenditures of approximately $1,010,000.

Benefits of the free wi-fi project

According to Digital Economy (2016), providing free public internet enhances residents' education and digital literacy. A study conducted by Bertot, McClure, and Jaeger (2008) confirmed that communities with public internet experienced a continuous increase in literacy levels once easy access to the internet was available. The research primarily focused on public libraries that had installed public internet.

From the perspective that libraries only occupy a small portion of a city's physical area, increasing access to the internet will greatly enhance the literacy of the city. This is because students will have convenient access to information for their assignments and personal enrichment. Consequently, education in Norfolk will improve. In addition to academic resources, the public will have access to materials on business and society, thereby enhancing the city's literacy.

Digital Economy (2016)

suggests that public internet can enhance tourism and town promotion, as it creates the perception of reduced expenses. This can attract individuals from various regions to reside in the city, leading to population growth and increased investments, which in turn result in economic advantages. The Municipal council can generate substantial revenue and profits through the advertisement project. The advertisement industry is experiencing significant growth due to technological advancements and widespread internet consumption.

According to Zhao (2015), video advertisement is gaining popularity due to its ability to improve memory and capture the attention of the target group through visual or audio features.

Free wifi hotspot

The implementation of this project will also allow the Municipal council to enhance communication with Norfolk, Virginia residents, leading to reduced costs for advertising and public announcements. Furthermore, these hotspots can provide valuable assistance during disasters like earthquakes. For instance, local authorities can inform affected individuals about relief areas. Moreover, the project will have a positive impact on employment by offering unemployed individuals access to job advertisements. Additionally, the availability of virtual positions such as freelance writing, blogs, and internet sales and marketing will contribute to increased employment rates.

Offering free Wi-Fi in rural areas will not only encourage innovation on the internet but also provide a wealth of knowledge that can be used to create job opportunities and products. It is the responsibility of Norfolk, Virginia's Municipal council to bear the cost of implementing free Wi-Fi, as the residents have already contributed through taxes. This project aims to offer internet services to the public without any discrimination. To finance this initiative, the local government can utilize tax revenue, obtain loans from the state

government, and invest in advertising and public transportation. The estimated initial investment for this project is $88,795,000, with monthly expenses amounting to approximately $1,010,000.

The project brings several benefits which include improved public education and literacy, promotion of the city, profits from advertisement and public transport services, better and cheaper platforms of government-public investments, increased innovation, and increased employment rate (ACMA, 2016; Bertot et al.).

T. (2008). The impacts of free public Internet access on public library patrons and communities. The Library, 78(3).

Chimobi, O. P. (2016) conducted a study titled "Government expenditure and national income: A causality test for Nigeria" which was published in the European Journal of Economic and Political Studies. The study investigated the relationship between government expenditure and national income in Nigeria, using a causality test. The article can be found in Volume 2, Issue 2 of the journal, spanning pages 1-11.

The benefits of public internet access can be found on the website for Digital Economy (2016), at http://vtrural.org/programs/digital-economy/updates/benefits-of-public-internet-access. Additionally, the DOST Information and Communication Office (2016) provides information on free WiFi access in public places.

References:

• Retrieved from http://icto.dost.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Free-Wi-Fi-Project-TOR.pdf
• GovTech. (2016). Norfolk, Va., to launch Free Public WiFi. Retrieved from http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/Norfolk-Va-to-Launch-Free-Public-Wi-Fi-.html
• Netivist. (2016). Should Cities Offer Free Public WiFi Access to Their Citizens Despite Its High Cost? Retrieved from https://netivist.org/debate/free-public-wifi-access-should-cities-offer-this-service
• Stiglitz, J. E., & Rosengard, J.

K. (2015). Economics of the Public Sector: Fourth International Student Edition. WW Norton & Company.

U.S. News. (2016).The Heavy Price We Pay For ‘Free Wi’. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-01-25/the-heavy-price-we-pay-for-free-wi-fi Zhao, W. A.

N. G. (2015). Diversion of Video Advertisement in a Mobile Internet Era. Journal of Henan Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 1, 014.