All locations listed are at the Spellmann Campus Center unless otherwise specified. Times provided are Central Daylight Time. You can click on panelists' names for biographical information. Attire is casual to business casual, but feel free to dress up if you'd rather.

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Friday Pre-Summit

THE PRE-SUMMIT IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL!!

All Pre-Summit activities will be held at the St. Charles Convention Center.

9:00am-4:00pm

Registration 9:00-9:30am
9:30pm Welcome
Opening
Overview Introduction		 James Evans, Provost, Lindenwood University
Rick Dearborn, Tech-Zone Radio Show Host
TBA, City of St. Charles
9:45am Municipal Wireless Broadband providing "Free WiFi" in St. Cloud, Florida Glenn Sangiovanni, Mayor of St. Cloud
Jonathan Baltuch, Founding Partner, MRI
Ken DiPietro, Senior Network Engineer, Conxx
Break 10:45-11:00am
11:00pm Municipal Wireless: What, Why & How - The Corpus Christi Wireless Initiative Jeffrey King, Northrop Grumman IT
Ken DiPietro, Senior Network Engineer, Conxx
Lunch 12:00-1:30pm
1:30pm Building Municipal Multi-Application Networks Bruce Alexander, Cisco
Ken DiPietro, Senior Network Engineer, Conxx
Break 2:30-2:45pm
2:45pm Municipal Wireless Technologies & Strategies Ken DiPietro, Senior Network Engineer, Conxx
3:45pm Wrap-up and Closing Rick Dearborn, Tech-Zone Radio Show Host
Steve Schwendemann, Tech-Zone Radio Show Host
Ron Bauer, Founder, Mid Rivers Wireless Initiative

Summit Kick-off

St. Charles Convention Center

4:00pm-6:00pm

Check-in/Registration, Open House, & Social.

6:00pm-7:30pm -- Opening Plenary

Sascha Meinrath, Summit Director: Summit Legistics

7:30pm-9:00pm

Dinner (on your own).

9:00pm-???

Friday Night Social -- Maryland Yards at the Water Works: a 19th Century city waterworks building converted into a 3-story bar with outdoor deck overlooking the river.

Saturday Sessions

ALL SESSIONS ON SATURDAY ARE AT THE SPELLMANN CENTER ON THE LINDENWOOD CAMPUS.

9:00am-10:30am

Saturday Breakfast, Social, Registration, and Demonstrations -- 2nd Floor Commons.

10:30am-12:30pm

1st Session.

Tech Track
I. Introduction to Wireless Technologies

While wired technologies have become commonplace in the world of information technology, wireless technologies represent a rapidly expanding range of possibilities for IT new-comers. This session will engage the novice user with the exciting field of wireless technologies.

View the notes (31KB)
II. Open Source Wireless

Open Source technologies utilize a dispersed development model in order to provide software that is more flexible to diverse situations on the ground. This session will discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing this model.
Implementation Track
I. Community Wireless Networks 101

Imagine a free wireless networking system that any municipality, company, or group of neighbors could easily set up themselves. This panel addresses the fundamentals of getting community wireless networks off the ground. A great panel for those just getting their feet wet.

View the notes (52KB)
II. International Wireless Networks

Wireless Networks are flexible enough to meet the demands of diverse communities, whether in “old Europe” or developing areas like Mamelodi, South Africa, and Apirede, Ghana. This panel focuses on international implementations of wireless networks and the possibilities for international cooperation on these projects.

View the notes (39KB)
Policy & Outreach Track
I. National Wireless Policy 101

Interested in the state of wireless networking from a legislative point of view? Curious about what is happening in the development of wireless networking legislation but don't know where to begin? National Wireless Policy 101 will introduce the players and agendas at work in Washington.

Download the notes (23.5KB).
II. How to Put the Community in Your Community Wireless Network

Setting up a wireless infrastructure is the easy part. How do you get the local community to take ownership of it? How can you organize people to fight for better policy or healthy municipal involvement? We'll discuss some strategies for community organizing as they apply to the wireless world.

View the notes (25KB)

12:30pm-2:00pm

Saturday Lunch, Social, & Exhibitors - 2nd Floor Commons.

2:00pm-4:00pm

2nd Session.

Tech Track
I. Tech Focus: WiFiDog, Île Sans Fil, and Hacking Your City

An 80 minute discussion of how community wireless networks can be a way to make an impact in your community on matters of social cohesion, art, culture, and civic information. Lead by Michael Lenczner (Île Sans Fil) and Jo Walsh (World Summit of Free Information Infrastructures). Following, a 40 minute explanation and Q+A on WifiDog--a captive portal designed for these uses--with lead developer, Benoit Grégoire.

View the WiFi Dog presentation (33KB).
II. Community Wireless During Post-Katrina Disaster Recovery

Community Wireless networks provided emergency communication services when information infrastructure was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In the post-Katrina reconstruction, community wireless networks continue to provide a robust and cost-effective alternative to traditional media.

Download the notes (28KB).
Implementation Track
I. Municipal Wireless Business Models

Municipal wireless networks challenge major telecommunications companies, but how should municipal wireless programs organize the work they do? Do existing business models work? What about non-profit models, or are new models required for municipal wireless?

II. Alternative Internet Connectivity for Rural Community Wireless Networks

Rural communities suffered from the deregulation of the 1996 Federal Communications Act, often being cut-off from the broadband developments of the last decade. Community wireless networks present a valuable alternative to high-priced, high-speed connections in rural areas. Presentations will include a primer on satellite communications, a discussion on the use of 900 MHz point-to-point wireless links in community wireless systems, and a demonstration of providing broadband access to remote locations using a small satellite station.
View the presentation (21.1MB)

Download the notes (23.5KB).
Policy & Organizing Track
I. State Wireless Policy 101

As recent legislation in Pennsylvania suggests, state policy presents opportunities for and challenges to wireless communication. How do state wireless policies differ from federal policies? In what ways can states become partners in developing wireless community networks? What special challenges do state policies present to community wireless networks?

Download the notes (35.5KB).
II. Get involved:
Open House Part I

Whether you're just getting started or want to learn how to get people started, this is an open space for sharing beginner-level tips and tools. It's an open house, meaning you can come and go throughout the session period and there's space for one-on-one interaction. Part I will focus on questions, answers, and straightforward explanations of wireless policy and technology. Organized by the Prometheus Radio Project and Media Tank

Make Your Own Wireless Antenna & Ethernet Cables

Tech Questions Answered Here

Sharing the Work, Sharing the Fun: Volunteers, Outreach, Activism and Excitement

4:00pm-4:30pm

Break.

4:30pm-6:30pm

3rd Session.

Tech Track
I. Advanced Wireless Technologies (Protocols, Routing, etc.)

Discuss the latest developments in wireless technologies, including routing, protocols, and hardware developments.

II. Angel Investment and Venture Capital for Open-Source Wireless Technologies

The challenges that wireless networks pose to major telecom companies make wireless technologies prime targets for investors and venture capitalists. Learn more about the investment opportunities available to wireless technology developers.

  • Ron Bauer, Founder, Mid Rivers Wireless Initiative
    + To Be Confirmed
Implementation Track
I. Regional Municipal Broadband Projects

Regional municipal broadband networks demonstrate the scalability of wireless networks. Discuss the experiences of current regional municipal broadband projects.

II. Multimedia Applications & Wireless Integration

Community wireless networks provide exciting multimedia possibilities. Interact with wireless professionals who are developing multimedia applications.

Download the notes (21KB).
Policy & Organizing Track
I. Network Neutrality

The success of the Internet is in some part due to network neutrality, an implied understanding that proprietary data should not be prioritized on networks. Will Congress act to ensure network neutrality or bend to the will of telecom giants?

II. Get Into It: Open House Part II

Whether you're just getting started or want to learn how to get people started, this is an open space for sharing beginner-level tips and tools. It's an open house, meaning you can come and go throughout the session period and there's space for one-on-one interaction. Part II will focus on the kinds of hands-on how-tos that get people excited, like making a cantenna, crimping cable, or hacking a wireless router. Organized by the Prometheus Radio Project and Media Tank

Make Your Own Wireless Antenna & Ethernet Cables

Tech Questions Answered Here

Sharing the Work, Sharing the Fun: Volunteers, Outreach, Activism and Excitement

View the notes (3KB)

6:30pm-8:00pm

Dinner (on your own).

8:00pm-???

Saturday Evening Social -- Trailhead Brewery: Nestled in the historic district of Old St. Charles, Trailhead offers traditional hand-crafted beers in their brewery located in the Old Grist Mill at the corner of Boone’s Lick and Main Street.

Sunday Sessions

9:00am - 10:30am

Sunday Breakfast, Social, Registration, and Demonstrations -- 2nd Floor Commons.

10:30am-12:50pm

Plenary: Strategizing & Next Steps.

  • Breakout into tracks (20 minutes)
  • Tracks prioritize ideas/action items (60 minutes)
    • Implementation notes (24KB)
    • Policy and Outreach notes (11KB)
  • Reconvene to discuss issues as a whole (60 minutes)

View the notes (14KB)

1:00pm-1:50pm

Sunday Lunch, Social, & Demonstrations - 2nd Floor Commons.

2:00pm-3:30pm

Closing Plenary.