Overview

WasabiNet: Low-Cost WiFi along Cherokee St. in St. Louis, MO.  We have secured grant funding to begin building out the service to reach 50-100 people.  Check back here soon for more updates!

We've already started a small network to prove the concept.  Please consider donating to our start-up fund.

Do you want $9.99/month wireless Internet without needing a telephone line, cable TV, or satellite?  Do you want free email? Do you want to own your community's Internet network with your neighbors?  Are you a local business owner looking to advertise and provide your customers convenient Internet access?  Then drop us a line!  We will use new Mesh Node technology to bring WiFi to Cherokee Street using inexpensive routers that you just hang on a wall, no wires!  Plus, the network will have a multi-lingual information portal with events, community updates, and ads from local businesses (including yours!), along with a public touch screen kiosk.  The network will be as fast as DSL, but since you will help own it, you can have a say in upgrading it in the future.  Help us put Cherokee on the Grid!

Costs (proposed)...
Other communities who use Mesh Node Wifi...
Strengths...
  • 1st Mesh Node Wifi Network in St. Louis city
  • Bridge the Digital Divide
  • Multi-Lingual Portal and Public Kiosks
  • Self-Sustaining Funding Model: $9.99/mo Subscription & Portal Ad Revenue
  • Could Replace Analog TV as Information Outlet
  • Enhance Community Appeal
(This is an interim site until we can get WasabiNet.org up and running.)
Subpages (17): Abstract Additional Services Budget Competitive Analysis Contact Coverage Area Digital Divide files Frequently Asked Questions Funding How Do I Sign Up? Issue Tracker Outreach References Technology Timeline Updates

Attachments (3)

  • 3-ballot_for_3_neighborhood_proposals-1[1].pub - on Dec 3, 2008 7:21 AM by Minerva Lopez (version 1)
    1333k Download
  • WasabiNetPrpoposal.pdf - on Dec 19, 2008 2:46 PM by Ben West (version 2 / earlier versions)
    763k View Download
  • WasabiNet Prpoposal.ppt - on Dec 19, 2008 1:04 PM by Ben West (version 3 / earlier versions)
    893k Download

Comments (3)

Ben West - Nov 21, 2008 11:52 AM

-need info on digital divide - tangible real st louis based info, preferably in GIS form
-need case studies of free/low-cost wi-fi and tangible benefits it has brought urban communities
-needs to be more directly connected to a digital literacy/computer deployment program
-needs to be directly connected to community building -- lots of possible NSF grants floating around right now looking at the capacity of social networking and other digital communities to build stronger in-place communities
-needs to be connected to developing world case studies of benefits of wi-fi deployment
-need to bring schools on board

Minerva Lopez - Nov 25, 2008 1:24 PM

Read PEW Charitable trust papers on Internet and American Life Project. References to Latino, African American, Refugees

Search for neighborhood demographics.

Ben West - Feb 2, 2009 3:24 PM

Comments from electronic ballots...

All these proposals sound great, but I think that WasabiNet will help to bridge the community.

WasabiNet = immediate economic & social impact

This was tough. My deciding factor was listening to Obama speak about posting government spending online. Obviously, the Obama team is going to use the Internet as a tool and I think we need to show this to the kids who may be influenced by him.
Also, students have been key to many of St. Louis’ growing neighborhoods. In the past, when I talked to people about Cherokee, they said that the area wouldn’t grow since there isn’t a college close. I believe this proposal will attract more students, and students have resources, no matter what.
All of these proposals are wonderful and I know they will come to fruition.

I’m afraid the other proposals, while very good ideas, may fall into dis-repair. This (WasabiNet) is a true service to everyone who lives and works along Cherokee.