This study was prepared for the Harlem Business Summit, New York City in September 2005. Harlem is probably the most famous and coolest inner-city spaces in America. Currently Harlem residents spend, at the very least, $100 million a year for their telephone connection. With a Harlem-wide broadband wireless internet network all residents could have access to broadband, internet and telephone (Voice Over Internet Protocol) for less than half a million dollars a year.

World renowned artists, musicians, athletes, and political leaders come from Harlem. Tourists from all over the world visit this major Black-American and Hispanic cultural and business center. Wireless distribution is now widely seen as the easiest and most cost effective way to make broadband internet available to all. It only requires a few antennas to spread the network. Many public and commercial spaces in New York City provide free access. Cities increasingly provide free wireless internet access to their citizens, from Philadelphia to Tokyo, passing by Rome and Honk Kong. Providing wireless access is not a technical or economic issue, but a political one. The i-Harlem projects lays out a plan for a community takeover of its communication infrastructure and business.

www.i-harlem.com