The Government Audit and Oversight Committee held a hearing yesterday to listen to the public’s concerns about San Francisco’s Wireless Broadband Initiative,TechConnect, which was created by Gavin Newsom in August. A large number of local organizations convened to express themselves, including Caminos, The Media Alliance, and the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR). Overall, representatives from these and other groups present expressed concerns over privacy, potential health issues caused by radiation, and secrecy.
In addition, questions were raised about whether or not the Government has lost sight of one of its original goals: to bridge the digital divide that exists in San Francisco. The hearing was initiated by the Committee, according to Supervisor Chris Daly, for lack of any better community-based forum for discussion on the TechConnect initiative.
“If we had a CAC, it would have served to demystify this,” said Daly to executive director of San Francisco’s Telecommunications Department (DTIS) Chris Vein during the hearing. “Perhaps we wouldn’t even be holding this meeting.”
Vein’s answers to the Supervisor’s questions were not enough to satiate public concern.
“TechConnect is a strategy right now,” Vein said in defense of the Mayor’s initiative. During the public commentary, many speakers stated a need that is exactly the opposite of Vein’s statement. The public wants more than just a strategy.
“Everything does not have to be solved at the same time, but we want to make sure the city works with us to make a plan, not just anecdotal projects here and there,” said Sydney Levy of the Media Alliance.
Levy is referring to numerous areas where Wi-Fi is being testing in order to determine the best way to go about implementing it to the entire city.
However, according to Kimo Crossman, these tests have revealed that Wi-Fi will not be what the “common man” was lead to believe it will be.
Crossman says that buildings with Wi-FI will most likely only have a good connection on the first and second floors, and then only around the perimeters of the building. If subscribers want better service, they are still going to have to pay premium rates, said Crossman.
In a telephone interview after the meeting, Levy emphasized what he thought was the main point of the hearing – the digital divide. In addition, he said, “we are working together because all of us want the same thing. The meeting was a good showcase of the expertise in the community and I hope the city listens.”
Many other people at the hearing emphasized Levy’s point – that there are plenty of groups who are willing to help with the project, especially with the educational aspect.
“There are many people here with specialized knowledge and they want to apply it,” said Greg Wagner of SPUR. “I don’t think that there is anything malicious going on here. I just think there is ia lack of communication.”
Wagner’s comment touched on another main concern of the hearing – that the proposals given to the government by potential Wi-Fi vendors are not being shared with the public,which many see as a government that has something to hide. As a result of these complaints, there will be a community meeting held this Thursday, December 15 at 1155 Market Street from 6 to 8 PM before the Request for Proposal is issued and the process is under way.
“I’m realizing a few things,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin halfway through the public commentary. “There needs to be a commission of public input. There is a community of people who we should embrace and engage and learn from and participate with.”
