Ok so we don’t want to commercialise the consumer end of the wifi mesh network … firstly because one of the major drivers underpinning this initiative is rolling out free broadband access as is reflected in the name “Free Canberra Wireless”, and also because collecting money for the use of a wireless Internet service or indeed any wireless radio service has implications for licensing with ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
However we do need to work out how to subsidise the cost of Merakis and their implementation plus other supporting activities including promotion and information dissemination.
So - how about we invited companies to advertise through the Meraki splash page and persistent browser toolbar that all users see upon connecting to a public Meraki mesh network and browsing the Internet while connected? I’m surely we could capitalise on that potential advertising space and secure the necessary funding to continue the mesh network roll out.
The only problem is having enough of a network in place and a feasibility plan to make the offer attractive to potential advertisers.