GUERILLA WI-FI
INEXPENSIVE COMMUNITY INTERNET MAY BE THE FUTURE
If you live in a middle-class or wealthy neighborhood, you probably have multiple options for internet providers. However, in rural towns and underfunded areas, Americans can be limited to only one or two internet provider options. With such a limited selection, these providers can often charge any kind of price they want.
rate internet plans for $50 a month in large urban markets across the country, including New York City. And the principle is the same: to provide more affordable internet options to the nearly 46% of impoverished U.S. households without a home connection. Will the Trend Continue? And Does It ReallyWork? For now, it’s safe to say that community Wi-Fi is here to stay. The Internet Master Plan released by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio offers free use of rooftops on public buildings and street light poles to providers, large and small, to build their network infrastructures. This is a huge boon to grassroots groups like NYC Mesh, which depend on rooftop access for installations. Like other fixed-wireless Wi-Fi connections, many households have been pleased with NYC Mesh. Some even raise their monthly donation after signing on just to support the cause. Although some community Wi-Fi solutions are crushed under regulation and corporate interests, it seems like DIY internet technology continues to adapt and evolve.
But what if smaller volunteer groups could provide high-speed internet for affordable prices? That’s exactly what volunteer network NYC Mesh is doing!
How It Works A fiber connection is the gold standard for internet providers; however, NYC Mesh finds that using “fixed wireless” options, like rooftop routers, can deliver a signal strong enough for residential use. It’s also much faster and cheaper to deploy than a fiber connection. For residents who are still nervous, NYC Mesh not only has a subsidized option for installations but also a low suggested monthly donation of $20–$60.
NYC Mesh is one of many fixed-wireless groups in New York City — another small for-profit, Starry, which is a Boston-based start-up, is rolling out flat-
In the upcoming years, maybe all our communities will adopt a similar solution, too!
How an Estate Plan Can Help You Control Dementia
3 THINGS TO CONSIDER
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating diagnosis that degrades a person’s memory, cognitive function, and physical abilities, at times transforming our loved ones into unrecognizable people. By properly preparing your estate plan now, you can create a road map for a potential diagnosis. We hope this is a plan you never have to use, but being prepared is half the battle with this disease. So in honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, here are a few points to keep in mind. Creating Your Living Will A living will is a binding legal document that outlines your wishes for medical care should you become incapacitated and unable to make decisions. It sets forth your desires for what you would want to happen in certain situations, like slipping into a coma. For Alzheimer’s patients, this document can be a valuable tool. A living will can provide families with peace of mind that their loved one’s wishes are carried out with respect to critical decisions which may arise, like whether or not you wish to continue to receive artificial nourishment in the event you are deemed by your treating physician to be in a permanent vegetative state. Deciding on Durable Powers of Attorney Similar to a living will, durable powers of attorney allow your wishes to be met when you cannot physically or mentally make these decisions for yourself. Durable powers of attorney are legally binding documents you may execute which designate individuals you trust to make medical and financial decisions on
your behalf during periods of incapacitation. These appointments can come with a tremendous responsibility, but executing durable powers of attorney while you are in good health will ensure you have someone in place to handle your affairs in the event you are ever unable to do so by virtue of physical or mental infirmity. Knowing When It’s Time A dementia diagnosis can happen to anyone at any time, so it’s important to regularly update your estate plan as your life changes. Meet with your attorney once every year to outline potential life changes, like the birth of a grandchild or a new job. This will ensure that a dementia diagnosis can be met with the most up-to-date plans. If you have recently been diagnosed with dementia, it isn’t necessarily too late to create your estate plan. An experienced attorney will be able to ascertain whether or not you still have the legal capacity to create or update estate planning documents. Meet with an attorney right away to discuss your options, and ask a trusted relative or friend to join you for support. Our team at Douglass & Runger knows that dementia can be a difficult disease to battle, but we know doing so without an updated and legal estate plan can be extra challenging. You can learn more about our estate planning options and our other legal services online at DouglassRunger.com.
Alzheimer’s resources can be found at Alz.org.
2 • DouglassRunger.com
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