Is an Ultra-Fast 2013 in store for The Emerald City?
While other cities have tried and failed to create a high-speed, municipal Wi-Fi network (Google and SFO or Earthlink and Philadelphia are among the notable mishaps), the city of Seattle is hoping 2013 is the inaugural year for Gigabit Seattle, a system that will provide data transfer speeds ranging from 100 to 1,000 times faster than typcial Internet access for Americans today, according to sponsor company Gigabit Squared or GB2 for short.
Seattle is the second city chosen for GB2’s multi-million dollar Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program (after Chicago) which aims to bring similar projects to a total of six selected university communities across the country.
In Seattle’s case, the massively-hyphenated-project called the “fiber-to-the-home/fiber-to-the-business broadband network” has the assistance of the University of Washington for its role in “community leadership” as part of the Gig. U initiative.
GB2 plans to utilize Seattle’s excess fiber infrastructure for a triple-prongd solution. First, the wired fiber network, second, a “dedicated gigabit broadband wireless umbrella” for beaming up to 1 Gbps from radio transmitters to others in direct view, and third, a municipal WiFi-like service.
The project will begin with a “demonstration” fiber network for more than 50,000 households and businesses in 12 Seattle neighborhoods.
Project developers described the program as intended to “stimulate business opportunities, spur advancements in health care, education, and public safety, and enhance quality of life for the residents and businesses of Seattle.
“This is a very promising proposal that can help bring 21st century infrastructure to Seattle. I’ve heard from residents and businesses that Seattle needs better broadband service, and this agreement lays the groundwork for building that network,” said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.
Following the initial rollout, Gigabit Seattle hopes to place fiber transmitters on top of 38 buildings across the city, effectively creating a dedicated gigabit broadband wireless “umbrella” covering the city. The final phase would provide next-generation mobile wireless Internet service to the dozen neighborhoods in the pilot program.
The initial 12 neighborhoods include: the University of Washington’s West Campus District; South Lake Union; First Hill/Capitol Hill/Central Area; the University of Washington’s Metropolitan Tract in downtown Seattle; the University of Washington’s Family Housing at Sand Point; Northgate; Volunteer Park Area; Beacon Hill and SODO Light Rail Station; Mount Baker; Columbia City; Othello; and Rainier Beach.
Area 1: the University of Washington’s West Campus District, Area 2: South Lake Union, Area 3: First Hill/Capitol Hill/Central Area, Area 4: the University of Washington’s Metropolitan Tract in downtown Seattle, Area 5: the University of Washington’s Family Housing at Sand Point, Area 6: Northgate, Area 7: Volunteer Park Area, Area 8: Beacon Hill and SODO Light Rail Station and Areas 9-12: Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello, and Rainier Beach. [24×7]
Seattle Sluggers Win National 2012 USCL Chess Team Championship
Seattle24x7 knows very well that Seattle is a thinking person’s city, a chess master’s refuge. So following the playbook of the Seahawks, the Sounders, there is now the Seattle Sluggers have come to dominated the Fall and Winter seasons on the national championship scene, only this time the game, and the Sport of Kings , is Chess.
Seven Seattle-area players, ranging in rank from International Grandmaster to International Master and National Master, the dark horse, fourth seeded entry representing Seattle in the United Sates Chess League outmaneuvered all other cities to take the crown.
Seattle’s players had to overcome draw odds twice in the postseason before defeating a formidable Philadelphia team. Overcoming such long odds makes Seattle a very deserving Championship Team indeed. Congratulations to the 2012 USCL Champion Seattle Sluggers. [24×7]
