Track: Internet and the Digital Economy
Minitrack: Community Wireless Networks: Technical, Economic,
--------------- and Social Issues

The community/municipal wireless networks mintrack is a venue for researchers, academicians, professionals, application developers and community activists to discuss community/municipal wireless networks' related issues. Community wireless networks are usually confused with municipal wireless networks and commercial public WiFi hotspots. It is essential to distinguish community wireless networks for similar system in order for researchers to advance this research stream.

We are primarily interested in position papers, vision papers, case studies, and papers that address developing theories, frameworks, models, and best design considerations for developing and operating these networks. Multidisciplinary research that deals with the cross area between open access wireless systems and non-profit organizations, volunteerism, civic engagement, digital divide, and development is encouraged. This mintrack is a unique opportunity to obtain insights and hypothesis related to best practices, design considerations, learning lessons, best case studies, and suggestions in this regard.

Topics and research areas include, but are not limited to:
* What is the difference between community wireless networks and municipal & public WiFi networks?
* Who are the main stakeholders of these different systems?
* How these different networks are created and sustained?
* What are their main, implementation and management issues?
* How can we aggregate and measure the contributions and benefits of different stakeholders?
* How can we parse out the social, economic, and technical factors of these systems?
* How can community and municipal wireless networks enhance social and economic development?
* How can we identify the implementation model that best suits specific social settings?

Co-chairs:
Hesham H. Ali (Primary Contact)
College of Information Science and Technology
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE 68182, USA
Phone: +1-402-554-3623
Fax: +1-402-554-3284
Email: hesham@unomaha.edu

Abdelnasser Abdelaal
College of Information Science and Technology
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE 68182, USA
Phone: +1-402-554-4906
Fax: +1-402-554-3284
Email: aabdelaal@mail.unomaha.edu