[OPLINTECH] TV Whitespace

[Stephen Hedges]

Hi, Ed -

It's all a question of how you use it.

Are you providing Internet connectivity to the local historical society, hardware store, etc. etc. by giving them IP addresses from OPLIN? That'd be a policy problem.

Are you providing Internet access to a local park, swimming pool, etc. and people land on a library page before they get to the Internet? Then that's library usage of the OPLIN connection and not a policy problem.

Stephen
 -- 
Stephen Hedges, Director 
Ohio Public Library Information Network 
2323 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 130, Columbus 43204 
614-728-5252    



From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org <oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org> on behalf of Ed Liddle <eliddle at marysvillelib.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2015 11:53 AM
To: Knapp, Mandy; oplintech at lists.oplin.org
Cc: holly.klingler at neo-rls.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] TV Whitespace
  
If our oplin internet connection were to be used to provide the internet connection, would it go against this policy? 
http://oplin.org/content/policy-extending-oplin-other-public-institutions​ 







-Ed Liddle 

Marysville Public Library
http://marysvillelib.org    

From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org <oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org> on behalf of Knapp, Mandy <aknapp at library.ohio.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 11:02 AM
To: oplintech at lists.oplin.org
Cc: holly.klingler at neo-rls.org
Subject: [OPLINTECH] TV Whitespace
  

What if there could be “The Mentor Library @ the Beach,” “The Columbus Library @ the Zoo,” or “The Dover Public Library @ the Park” ? What if  the most remote location in your service area could get a connection? 
 
This is actually very possible and it could benefit Ohio communities in a new and revolutionary way.
 
It’s called TV White Space and what it does is take old, unused channels from TV broadcasts and uses them to broadcast Wi-Fi to distances farther  than what normal Wi-Fi can go now.  Currently, most patrons must be in the building to receive adequate Wi-Fi strength, though as we know some hover closely outside during off-hours to try and tap in.  With TV White Space, libraries could bring Wi-Fi to areas  two, five or even ten miles outside the library’s walls!  Click here to see an interactive map of how far the signal could potentially reach for your library system.
 
What could this mean for both Ohio libraries and their communities? Ohio libraries would be seen as providing full, open and free access all around  town.  Community meeting places could be provided with open and free internet access for everyone.  Parks, town halls, and other public spaces could be places where people could log on freely, thanks to the public library. Talk about closing the technology  gap! Library staff could check out materials at festivals and fairs without worrying about a cell signal.  Moreover, schools and school children who are less affluent could be provided with internet access around town in order to learn more in an increasingly  digital age.  Finally, this could be a crucial survival tool for your city to open communication during potential emergency situations. Look for more information and webinars about this technology in the coming months. Contact Holly Klingler at NEO-RLS or Mandy Knapp at State Library to learn more.
 
These are just a few of the potential possibilities libraries could introduce by offering this new technology. But, we want to hear from you:  if you could implement WIFI anywhere in your area where would you? What would you use the signal for?
 
 
Mandy Knapp
Library Consultant
274 E. 1st Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Tel: 614-466-1710
Toll Free:800-686-1532 (Ohio Only)
Fax: 614-466-3584
library.ohio.gov
      
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