My name is Glenn Llopis, President / CEO of The Wireless City (TWC) in Irvine, CA, a business/technology consultancy. Our organization has recently learned about the City of Los Angeles’ initiative to support Municipal Wi-Fi. We have been integrally involved in the “municipal wireless movement” for over 2 years. As business/technology leaders, our organization has witnessed “the hype” and it amazes me how the only thing that people want to focus on is “the technology,” or what we call the pre-deployment side of the initiative.

Becoming a wireless city is a groundbreaking effort that if managed properly will redefine the way a city governs and the manner in which communities are built. The use of technology should not define a city, but rather serve to reshape the values, cultures and identity of a city. From our perspective, The Municipal Wireless Initiative has not focused enough on the end-game and what it will mean to the community, to its schools, and to its citizens and the safety of their children. Our primary focus at TWC has been to remind local government leaders that their RFP’s must address the value-added benefits of what the end-game of technology use means to citizens and the adverse effects of a citywide deployment if they don’t embrace nor understand it’s value. Our emphasis in delivering this message has focused on safety – not only public safety - but on “grass-roots” community safety. Our research indicates that too many “garage doors are closed” because citizens don’t feel safe and secure about who their neighbors are and the risks posed to their safety and that of their children. At TWC, we have aligned ourselves with Denise Brown (www.denisebrown.com) to serve as our community safety advocate in an effort to focus more on the “post-deployment” factors & benefits of how a wireless city can increase safety by not only making its citizens more aware (through technology) of the incidences of domestic violence, school/teen violence, child abduction, etc. that occur in their community, but also, and more importantly, how the technology can serve as a tool to provide solutions and remedies for these dangers. Through the design of compelling, city specific software applications that will operate from the wireless network - such as community intranet portals (see www.lsicommunities.com) and other technology applications such as interactive digital signage (that will replace traditional billboards) – wireless technology will serve as a valuable tool to support “real-time” continuing education for the citizens of communities.

Gentlemen, it is all about creating identity and purpose for cities by utilizing technology as a strategic tool to unite community and commerce as part of an infrastructure that will support the attraction of new businesses, talented people and the investments in schools and universities. This is how “real” economic development is shaped and sustained from within; not through service provider subscriber-based “incentive programs.” This should be the focus of the key stakeholders (the municipal wireless service providers and equipment manufacturers) when they make their “pitch” to local government leaders. It’s about creating a strong collaboration between technology, business and city leaders to find the best strategic use for technology. It’s not just about providing internet access. Believe me, this end-game approach will close the digital divide and create the ultimate development platform to foster growth & prosperity in our cities and “open the garage doors” once again.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to our viewpoint. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Glenn Llopis