I loved the following idea- the NYC Broadband Bold Ideas. The Blandin Broadband Communities initiative is similar – get people in the community to propose projects. (Although the BBCs also get some coaching and technical assistance.)

THE CHALLENGE:

Many of us take Internet access for granted. It can be hard to imagine going a day without it. Yet for large numbers of New Yorkers, broadband service – at current rates of roughly $1,000 per year – is simply too expensive to bear.

It’s time to change this.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES:

In 2015, New York City will take an important leap forward toward closing this digital divide with the launch of LinkNYC, the largest and fastest municipal Wi-Fi network in the world. In addition to providing New Yorkers with free Internet access at up to gigabit speeds, LinkNYC will also generate new revenue that can be invested in complementary efforts to extend free or low-cost broadband to the home.