The CMJ Tech Connection Blog

Summer Jobs in Chicago for young people ages 19-24

2009-05-21T15:44:00Z

I obtained the following information from the Bronzecomm Newsletter and just would like to pass it on.

The City Colleges of Chicago in partnership with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services will offer 450 summer jobs this year for 19 to 24 year old low-income Chicago Residents.

CCC is committed to offering valuable work experiences for young people to encourage academic advancement while providing opportunities to serve the colleges and the surrounding communities. Jobs will be available for at 15 work sites throughout the district, with a variety of exciting job openings including, Web Design Intern, Laboratory Assistant, Marketing and Communications Assistant, Customer Service Representative, Community Advocate, Peer Tutor, and many more...

All jobs will begin June 22, 2009 and the last day of work will be August 7, 2009. Youth employees will earn a minimum of $9.00 per/ hour.

To be eligible for the program, candidates must:

- Be 19-24 at the time of eligibility appointment.

- Have Proof of Chicago residency, i.e. Utility bill, state I.D.

- Poses a social security card/ official print out

- Be authorized to work in the U.S. (i.e. U.S. Birth Certificate)

- Show proof of Selective Service Registrant (Males between the ages 18-24 only!)

- Must show proof of income if employed. Note: If the youth’s parents are employed youth must provide the parent’s most recent check stub

- Youth who are Wards of the state; Foster child, food stamps recipient, homeless, or lives with a family member who is receiving cash welfare (TANF) will automatically be income eligible

If you know anyone who may be interested in a summer employment opportunity with CCC, please encourage them to follow the application steps as indicated below.

Step 1: Complete the online application at www.youthreadychicago.org and retain a printed copy.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to record the Application ID# you will be given.

Candidates without Application ID#s will be disqualified.

Step 2: Log on to www.ccc.edu and click the Summer Youth Employment link.

Complete the CCC Youth Employment Questionnaire. You will receive an email

regarding upcoming information sessions.

Step 3: Make a reservation for an Information Session.

Upon receipt of email notification, candidates will be prompted to click on a link. Make a reservation for an information session. Attendance at one of the scheduled information sessions is required.

Step 4: Attend an information session.

CCC will host multiple information sessions at locations across the city.

These events will serve a dual purpose to determine eligibility and provide information regarding employment opportunities. Those candidates who qualify will be notified for an interview within 3-5 business days.

Step 5: Attend an interview at the specific work site.

Questions regarding the CCC Summer Youth Employment Project should be directed to

2009summeryouthjobs@ccc.edu

Thank You!!!

Collins C. Milhouse, Jr.

RF Solutions for the Wireless Market

2009-05-21T15:12:00Z

Prescient Wireless is an well established supplier of Radio Frequency (RF) products and design services commited to servicing the wireless market with state of the art RF products that are targeted to a specific need as well as providing platforms for generalized and customized use.

Two of their featured products include:
WiMAX Radio Development Platform
100 Watt Linear Power Amplifier for 2500-2700 MHz WiMAX and LTE Applications

WiMAX Radio Development Platform

The PW-1100 series WiMAX Radio Development Platform (RDP) is a fully capable, dual antenna, RF to baseband converter unit, featuring an OBSAI RP3-01 compliant fiber interface. The RDP's unique capabilities and rich feature set make it well suited to support a number of WiMAX initiatives:

Key Features

Product Development
Technology Evaluation
Channel Monitoring
System Evaluation / Field Trials
Test and Debug Applications

100 Watt Linear Power Amplifier for 2500-2700 MHz WiMAX and LTE Applications

The PW-1204 is a solid state linear power amplifier that is designed for wireless applications in the 2500 to 2700 MHz frequency range. Utilizing state of the art LDMOS technology it is well suited for WiMAX or LTE applications. The typical output power of the PW1204 is 100 Watts, at the 1 dB compression point, with a typical gain of 35 dB. The amplifier has been optimized for maximum linearity with either a WiMAX or LTE modulated carrier and can be used with an external Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) system to achieve maximum output power and efficiency.

Key Features

Rugged LDMOS Design
Optimized for use with DPD
Integral Output Isolator
Single Power Supply
Over Voltage Protection
Fault Indicators
Compact and Lightweight
Shielded Enclosure

Wake Forest - attend their MBA program for FREE

2009-05-11T13:37:00Z

The following is from an email I recieved today:
From: Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D.

I wanted to let you know about a great opportunity here at Wake Forest where you can get
a FREE education and get PAID while you're doing it.. Our Dean of the Schools of
Business is the former CEO of PepsiCo and very committed to diversity. He's gone around
to his CEO friends, who have agreed to donate a bunch of money to pay tuition and fees,
provide a stipend, and a job, to diverse students. The details are below. The problem is,
response to the program has been dismal! As a faculty member, I would be embarrassed
for him to have to tell his CEO friends, "thanks so much for your donation, but
unfortunately I have to give it back because we couldn't find any students who wanted it."

So, I need your help. Please contact me if you, or ANYONE you know
is interested in the program. I know TO has a long reach, and I want to take
advantage of it and help out as many young scholars as I can.

Don't worry about whether or not you (or they) have taken the GMAT, etc.
All you need to do at this point is JUST APPLY. In business, you have
o act when the opportunity is presented, and that is now.

Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marketing
Room 3139 Worrell Professional Center
Babcock Graduate School of Management
Wake Forest University
1834 Wake Forest Drive
Winston-Salem , NC 27109-8758
derrick.boone@ mba.wfu.edu
p 336.758..4475
f 336.758.4514

The Master of Art in Management program is designed specifically for liberal arts majors only.
The MA degree program is a 10 month intense study of the basic functional areas of business.
After graduation and working for approximately two years, all MA graduates are eligible to
apply to Wake Forest as part of the MA/MBA joint degree program and get the MBA in one
year. The new Dean, Steve Reinemund, has created a new scholarship for diverse students
pursuing the MA degree called the Corporate Fellowship..

The Corporate Fellowship provides full tuition and a $21,000 stipend to cover living expenses.
Additionally, each Corporate Fellow will participate in a practicum. The practicum has two
components, educational and professional development. Each student will be assigned a
mentor that is a high level executive with their sponsor corporation. The mentor will oversee
an educational project covering 4 of the functional areas of business using their own
corporation as the subject. The student will visit the corporation 3 - 4 times during the
program to present his/her results of their research project.

Additionally, the "professional development" component of the fellowship provides career
coaching and leadership development for the students. The goal for the corporation is to
be able to groom and hopefully, hire a top candidate from a diverse background for their
organization. Of course, there is no obligation that the students accept any offer of
employment. Still, the student benefits, even if they are not ultimately hired by their
sponsor corporation in that they have the MA degree and the type of experience that will
make them more marketable.

Remember the shoe bomber?

2009-03-27T15:27:00Z

A friend sent this to me by email regarding the shoe bomber. I had forgot all about this person.

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?

Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?

Didn't think so.!!!

Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

--------------------------------------------------------

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.

Judge Young: 'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal.'

You are no big deal.

What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.

Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refin e our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.

So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject. Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home. God Bless America

Please SEND this----so that every American has a chance to read it.

Scholarship Information

2009-02-02T15:28:00Z

Received this information from one of my CAPS associates and thought I would pass it on.

Florida A & M University is providing an outstanding opportunity for Black women entering college in the fall of 2009. It is designed to address their absence in the field of computer technology.

Dr. Jason Black is the Principal Investigator of a recently awarded $552,000 NSF Grant entitled African-American Women in Computer Science . The grant provides scholarships from $4000 to $10,000 per year for female African American students .

We need your help to get the word out about this great opportunity to build back up the enrollment of women in the CIS Department. Pass this information along to high school or community college students , their parents, and to guidance counselors you may know. The full text of the press release can be found at

http://www.famu. edu/index. cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=602&archive.

You can also contact Dr. Black by email at jblack@cis.famu. edu

Early Voting For Chicago Starts Monday October 13!

2008-10-09T17:45:00Z

Early voting for the 2008 General Election starts Oct. 13 for Chicago voters. Early Voting will be offered
from Oct. 13-30, 2008, seven days a week.

Mon. - Sat.
9am til 5pm
Chicago voters will be able to use any of 51 sites:
one in each ward, plus the Chicago Election Board office at 69 W. Washington St.
All other Early Voting locations are closed on Sunday, except the Election Board Office

Sun.
Early Voting will be offered only at the Election Board Office at
69 W. Washington St., Lower Level, and only from 9 a.m. to noon.

During Early Voting, you must present a government photo ID.
Once you cast a ballot during Early Voting, you cannot return during Early Voting
or on Election Day to change your ballot for any reason.

Locations for early voting:
1. Goldblatts Building                1615 W Chicago Ave
2. Mabel Manning Library          6 S. Hoyne Ave.
3. Chicago Bee Library              3647 S. State St.
4. M L King Community Ctr         4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
5. Jackson Park                          6401 S. Stony Island Ave.
6. Whitney Young Library          7901 S ML. King Jr. Dr.
7. Jeffery Manor Library             2401 E. 100th St.
8. Olive Harvey College             10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.
9. Palmer Park                           201 E 111th St.
10. Vodak/East Side Library       3710 E. 106th St.
11. McKinley Park                       2210 W. Pershing Rd.
12. Back of the Yards Library     4650 S. Damen Ave.
13. West Lawn Park                  4233 W. 65 St.
14. Archer Heights Library         5055 S. Archer Ave.
15. Lindbloom Park                    6054 S. Damen Ave.
16. Sherman Park Library          5440 S. Racine Ave.
17. Thurgood Marshall Library    7506 S. Racine Ave.
18. Wrightwood-Ashburn Library 8530 S. Kedzie Ave.
19. 22nd Police District                 1900 W. Monterey Ave.
20. Coleman Library                     731 E. 63rd St.
21. Woodson Regional Library      9525 S. Halsted St.
22. Piotrowski Park                     4247 W. 31st St.
23. Clearing Library                     6423 W. 63rd Pl.
24. Douglass Library                    3353 W. 13th St.
25. Chinatown Library                 2353 S. Wentworth Ave.
26. Humboldt Park Library           1605 N. Troy St.
27. Union Park                             1501 W. Randolph St.
28. West Side Learning Ctr         4624 W. Madison St.
29. Amundsen Park                     6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave.
30. Portage Cragin Library          5108 W. Belmont Ave.
31. Blackhawk Park                     2318 N. Lavergne Ave.
32. Pulaski Park                         1419 W. Blackhawk St.
33. Independence Library         3548 W. Irving Park Rd.
34. West Pullman Library            830 W. 119th St.
35. Logan Square Library         3030 W. Fullerton Ave.
36. Hiawatha Park                    8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
37. West Chicago Library         4856 W. Chicago Ave.
38. Wright College - Science Bldg     4300 N. Narragansett Ave.
39. N. Park Village Admn Bldg            5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
40. Budlong Woods Library               5630 N. Lincoln Ave.
41. Roden Library                             6083 N. Northwest Hwy.
42. Access Living                              115 W. Chicago Ave.
43. Lincoln Park Library                    1150 W. Fullerton Ave.
44. Merlo Library                               644 W. Belmont Ave.
45. Edgebrook Library                     5331 W. Devon Ave.
46. Truman College                         1145 W. Wilson Ave.
47. Welles Park                                2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
48. Edgewater Library                     1210 W. Elmdale Ave.
49. Pottawattomie Park                    7340 N. Rogers Ave.
50. Warren Park                               6601 N. Western Ave.

51. Board of Election Commissioners 69 W. Washington St.

This information was gathered from Illinois State Board of Elections website: http://www.elections.il.gov

Questions? Call 312-269-7900 / TTY 312-269-0027

What I think about the $700 Billion bailout

2008-09-30T19:26:00Z

After reading a few articles yesterday, I am not unhappy that the bailout bill was not voted in. To me it looked like there was not help for the taxpayers and all the money would be going to the financial institutions. How was the economy going to improve by giving money to the banks so that they will be able to lend us more money? To me, that does not make sense.
If the $700 Billions is taxpayer money, then why don't they bail out the taxpayer. That makes sense seeing that it is the taxpayer that is hurting the most. Why can't they give the taxpayers a couple hundred thousand each, so that they can pay their mortgages back to the banks. Then the banks can go back to lending money to each other and us. If I got back all the money I have paid into taxes since I started working, and I have been working since I was 16, that's what I would do. I would pay my mortgage down and any other debts that I may have. Now that makes since to me. If the banks are mismanaging money then, why give them more money to possible mismanage.

Here's another option:
According to the wikipedia, there is about 138 millions taxpayers in the US. If they would have just divided the $700 billion up among the 138 million taxpayers, we each would have gotten around $5072.46.
I know that is not a lot but I could still work with that amount.
If I got a $5076 bailout check, here is a list of my options on how to use it:
1. Help pay the mortgage for 5 months.
2. Pay my car loans for 7 months for both cars.
3. Pay my People's gas bill for an entire year. And maybe the telephone bill, since the furnace is only on from January til May.
4. Buy gas for both cars for entire year.

Attention Sony Vaio Owners!

2008-09-09T18:10:00Z

Sony has issued a recall of certain VAIO TZ-series notebook computers

I found this information on the US consumer product safety commisions website: www.cpsc.gov

Details of the recall are below:

Units sold: About 73,000

Manufacturer: Sony Electronics Inc., of San Diego, Calif.

Hazard: Irregularly positioned wires near the computer’s hinge and/or a dislodged screw inside the hinge can cause a short circuit and overheating. This poses a burn hazard to consumers. (OUCH!)

Incidents/Injuries: Sony has received 15 reports of overheating, including one consumer who suffered a minor burn.

Description: The recalled notebook computer models are the VAIO VGN-TZ100 series, VGN-TZ200 series, VGN-TZ300 series and VGN-TZ2000 series. The computers’ screen size is about 11.1" measured diagonally. Not all units are affected; consumers should contact Sony to determine if their unit is included in the recall.

Sold by: The SonyStyle stores and Web site, authorized electronics retailers, and authorized business-to-business dealers nationwide from July 2007 through August 2008 for between $1,700 and $4,000.

Manufactured in: Japan and United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled notebook computers immediately and contact Sony to determine if their notebook is affected. The firm will arrange for an inspection and repair, if needed.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Sony toll-free at (888) 526-6219 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.sony.com/support

You can also contact the US consumer product safety commisions recall hotline: (800) 638-2772

Free Software download!

2008-09-09T17:29:00Z

There are not to many things free in the world, so when I find something for free, especially software, I try to take advantage of it. Even if I just download and use it once, I'll just save it because you never know when one of these software tools will come in handy.

Wink

Wink is a Tutorial and Presentation creation software. Its main purpose is for creating tutorials on how to use software, with step by step instructions. You can capture screenshots of your software using Wink and create a step by step walkthrough with images, buttons and text explaining the procedure. Wink can export your tutorials into Flash, PDF, HTML and even self-playing Flash executables. Advanced features include custom buttons for navigating the presentation, templates, balloon callouts, an inbuilt callout editor, cursor editor, palettes for the generated images and much more. Comes with two tutorials created using itself showing how to use Wink. Wink is a good tool for any developer/documentation creator/teacher's toolbox.

Features

Freeware: Distributed as freeware for business or personal use. However if you want to redistribute Wink, you need to get permission from the author.

Cross-Platform: Available for all flavours of Windows and various versions of Linux (x86 only).

Audio: Record voice as you create the tutorial for explaining better.

Input formats: Capture screenshots from your PC, or use images in BMP/JPG/PNG/TIFF/GIF formats.

Output formats: Macromedia Flash, Standalone EXE, PDF, PostScript, HTML or any of the above image formats. Use Flash/html for the web, EXE for distributing to PC users and PDF for printable manuals.

Multilingual support: Works in English, French, German, Italian, Danish, Spanish, Serbian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese and Simplified/Traditional Chinese.

Smart Capture Tools: Capture screenshots automatically as you use your PC, based on mouse and keyboard input (great time saver and generates professional captures).

Performance/Quality: Creates highly compressed Flash presentations (few kbs to few hundreds of kbs, much smaller than competing commercial products) ideal for using on the web

You can download Wink at the authors website: http://www.debugmode.com/wink/

City of Chicago IPRA

2008-09-08T21:56:00Z

Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA)

I found out about the IPRA when I attended one of the Chicago Budget Hearings. When I go to my local Caps meeting for my beat, I often hear a lot of complaints from people about the service they receive from Chicago Police Officers. We are often told at the beat meetings that if we are not satisfied with the service we receive from an officer that we should call back and ask to speak to a supervisor or request for a supervisor to come out to resolve the issue. My wife and I have experienced bad police service and we have call back 911 to ask to speak to a supervisor and we have requested that a supervisor come out to resolve our issue we had. Sometime we get a good supervisor and then sometime we don’t. I think the one time we got a good supervisor, we called the district commander and they sent the supervisor out to see us. Nowadays, it is not as easy to call and talk with the district commander, which lead me to seek out other ways to voice my dissatisfaction with the service I might receive from the Chicago Police. The one thing that I have learned is that if you do not complain to the right people, you will continue to get bad service. If the people that give bad service know that you will complain and that they will be held accountable for their actions, they will change the way they interact with you and will be more professional with you. So, if you experience poor police service and you have called back for a supervisor and you are still unsatisfied, then I would suggest you contact the IPRA. The IPRA takes all complaints, but they only handle or investigate allegations of the use of excessive force, police shootings where an officer discharges their weapon and strikes someone, deaths while in custody of the police, domestic violence, verbal abuse including bias and coercion. All other complaints once registered with the IPRA are forward to the Internal Affairs Division (IAD). Complaints not handled by IPRA would be allegations of drug use, theft, and procedural violations.

Once a complaint is received, it is given a complaint log number. If the complaint is within IPRA jurisdiction, they will retain it and conduct an investigation. All other complaints will be forwarded to the CPD Internal Affairs Division for resolution. Either way you should expect IPRA to send a letter to you acknowledging the complaint within 5 to 7 working days.

If you need to file a complaint against a CPD officer, you have 5 ways to do it:

1. Call IPRA at 312-745-3594 from 7am to 10:30pm, 7 days a week. Voicemail available 24 hours a day.

2. Visit the IPRA office located on the 12^{th floor of the IIT tower (10 west 35th street) between 8am and 10pm,

3. Write a letter to IPRA:
    IPRA
    10 West 35th Street, 12th Floor
    Chicago, IL 60616}

4. Visit the IPRA’s website: www.IPRAChicago.org^{5. Visit any Chicago Police Department district station and register a complaint with the desk sergeant. Complaints received at the district stations "are supposed" to be immediately forward to IPRA.}

Also, if you would like to compliment an officer you have 4 ways to do it:
1. Visit the IPRA’s website: ^{www.IPRAChicago.org}
^{2. Call IPRA at 312-745-3594

3. Write a letter to IPRA at:
IPRA
10 West 35th Street, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60616

4. Write a letter to CPD at:
The Office of Superintendent
Chicago Police Department
3510 S. Michigan ave.
Chicago, IL 60653}

2009 Preliminary Budget Hearings For The City Of Chicago

2008-08-15T16:11:00Z

I received a call from the Office of Budget and Management for the City of Chicago today at 10:46am. I was invited to the public hearings for the 2009 Preliminary Budget of the City of Chicago. I was glad to get the phone invitations, but I feel that it was kind of last minutesince the hearings are just 4 days away.
These are the hearings that if you have any problems or concerns with the City, you get a chance to stand up in front of the mayor and the heads of all the departments of the city and air your grievances.

The times and locations for the public hearings are listed below:

6:00 to 7:00 pm	Registration
7:00 pm	Public Hearing begins
AUGUST 19, 2008	Falconer Elementary School 3020 N. Lamon Avenue
AUGUST 20, 2008	Central West Regional Center 2102 W. Ogden
AUGUST 21, 2008	South Shore Cultural Center 7059 S. South Shore Drive

Air-conditioned facilities
Accessible to the mobility impaired.
Interpreters for the hearing impaired and Spanish speaking.
If you have any questions please call (312) 744-6670 or 311.
Speakers must register in person.
Due to time constraints, individual testimony will be limited to three minutes.

How To Create Your Own Pop-Up Reminders

2008-08-14T19:49:00Z

We all have a need to be reminded about important events, be it birthdays, aniversaries, or whatever a simple “set it and forget it” reminder is a great way to make sure you don’t forget. Rather than installing an application (if you don’t have one already) to create these reminders, simply use Notepad along with the Scheduled Tasks Windows component. Here is how:

1. In Notepad, create and save a new text document for your reminder message.
2. Open Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks.
3. Set the task executable as the text file you created in step 1. Note, you might have to change the file extension to “All Files” in order to select a text document.
4. Set the date and time to run.
5. When the date and time in step is reached, the text document will open.

Yes, this isn’t a fancy method at all, but it works great and it is available to you know at the low low cost of FREE.
This would also work using MicroSoft Word or Wordperfect. You are not limited to just Notepad.

Attention Grillmasters!

2008-08-14T19:28:00Z

A voluntary recall has been issued for the following product. This information was gathered from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website (www.cpsc.gov).

Fire and Burn Hazards Prompt Recall of Gas Grills Sold at Lowe’s Stores

Name of Product: Perfect Flame Double Lid Four Burner Gas Grills

Units: About 24,000

Retailer: Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc., of North Wilkesboro, N.C. and Lowe’s HIW, Inc., of Tukwila, Wash.

Manufacturer: Lucas Innovation Inc., of China

Hazard: The cooking chamber of the grill can melt and/or ignite, posing a risk of fires and burn injuries to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been 175 reports of grill fires and 25 reports of grills melting, some of which resulted in minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Perfect Flame brand grills, Model GAC3615 four burner LP gas grills. The grill has two lids. "Perfect Flame" is printed on the larger lid. The model number, serial number, and date code are printed on a label on the right side cart frame panel.




Sold exclusively at: Lowe’s stores nationwide from October 2007 through July 2008 for about $300.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled grills, disconnect the propane tanks, and return the grills without the propane tanks to any Lowe’s store to receive a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lucas Innovation toll-free at (877) 385-8226 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit www.gac3615grillrecall.com

Red-Light Camera’s In Chicago

2008-08-13T20:38:00Z

According to the City of Chicago accidents are down 30 percent in the camera-covered intersections, and red-light running is also down 60 percent. And since the cameras also stand watch against illegal right turns on red, pedestrian injuries from such turns have also decreased.

I am OK with making it safe to drive and walk around in the city, but did they have to turn it into a cash cow. They expect to make $50 million this year along from the collection of fines from camera generated violations. That’s up from $35 million total from the last four years. O MY! That’s like winning the sweepstakes!

Personally, I like the intersections that have the count down to when the light is going to turn red. That way I can better judge if I need to be slowing down as I get close to an intersection.

The following information regarding how the red-light camera’s work and the locations were taken from the City of Chicago website.

How it Works
• Digital cameras are tied into the traffic signal system and sensors beneath the pavement. When the light turns red, the system is ready. (From the ticket I got, I think the system is ready when the light turns yellow.)

• When triggered by a vehicle passing over the sensors above a minimum speed, the cameras take still and video pictures of the rear of a vehicle, including the license plate.

• The images are sent to the company for initial review.

• The images are then forwarded to Dept. of Revenue for review. Revenue then processes the citation.

• The citations are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle shown in the pictures.

• The entire process, from alleged violation to violation issuance, will take an average of a few days. (This tells me that they do not do much reviewing when the images are forwarded to Dept. of Revenue)

112 Red-Light Camera Locations Listing
(Alpha Order)
Archer & Cicero
Archer & Pulaski
Archer/Narragansett & 55th
Ashland & 63rd
Ashland & 71st
Ashland & 87th
Ashland & Archer
Ashland & Cortland
Ashland & Division
Ashland & Garfield
Ashland & Madison
Ashland & Roosevelt
Austin & Addison
Austin & Belmont
Austin & Diversey
Austin & Irving Park
Belmont & Kedzie
Broadway, Sheridan & Devon
California & 31st
California & 35th
California & Devon
California & Diversey
Central & Fullerton
Central & Irving Park
Cermak & Pulaski
Cicero & 47th
Cicero & Belmont
Cicero & Chicago
Cicero & Fullerton
Cicero & Lawrence
Cicero & North
Cicero & Washington
Clark & Cermak
Clark & Fullerton
Clark & Irving Park
Clark & Ridge
Cottage Grove & 71st
Cottage Grove & 79th
Damen & 63rd
Damen & Fullerton
Damen, Diversey & Clybourn
Elston & Addison
Elston, LaPorte & Foster
Foster & Broadway
Foster & Nagle
Fullerton & Kedzie
Grand & Kostner
Halsted & 111th
Halsted & 115th
Halsted & 119th
Halsted & 79th
Halsted & 95th
Halsted & 99th
Halsted & Belmont
Halsted & Division
Halsted & Madison
Halsted & Roosevelt
Hamlin & Lake
Harlem & Belmont
Harlem & NW Hwy
Hollywood & Sheridan
Homan, Kimball & North
Irving Park & Narragansett
Jeffery & 95th
Kimball, Lincoln & McCormick
Kedzie & 31st
Kedzie & 47th
Kedzie & 63rd
Kedzie & 79th
Kostner & North
Kostner & Ogden
Kostner & Roosevelt
Lake Shore Drive Dr & Belmont
Laramie & Fullerton
LaSalle & Kinzie
Madison & Western
Martin Luther King & 31st
Ontario & Kingsbury
Peterson & Western
Pulaski & 55th
Pulaski & 63rd
Pulaski & Armitage
Pulaski & Belmont
Pulaski & Foster
Pulaski & Fullerton
Pulaski & Lawrence
Sheridan & Foster
South Chicago & 79th
State & 63rd
State & Roosevelt
Stony Island & 79th
Stony Island & 83rd
Stony Island / Cornell & 67th
Vincennes & 111th
Vincennes & 87th
Wentworth & Garfield
Western & 35th
Western & 47th
Western & 51st
Western & 55th
Western & 63rd
Western & 79th
Western & Armitage
Western & Chicago
Western & Devon
Western & Foster
Western & Irving Park
Western & Lawrence
Western & North
Western & Pershing
Western & Van Buren
Western, Diversey & Elston

List Current as of August 4, 2008

One Way To Speed Up Internet Explorer 7

2008-08-13T16:36:00Z

IE7 has a new security feature called “Phishing Filter”. This feature helps protect you by verifying every site you visit against a database of know phishing websites. I agree that this is a great feature that will help you feel more secure online, but it is very terrible for performance. That is because every website you pull up has to wait for a response from the phishing database before it will display to you.

By disabling the setting you can greatly increase the speed of IE7, but you will lose the security that the feature gives you. If you consider yourself to be a super internet guru, the having this feature set really doesn’t help you because you probably already know how to spot a bogus site anyway. You can disable via: Tools > Phishing Filter > Turn (on/off) Automatic Website Checking.

But remember, even if you have this feature turned off, you can still check a site you are unsure of manually through the Tools> Phishing Filter menu.

2008-2009 Flu Vaccines Have Been Approved By The FDA

2008-08-13T15:49:00Z

The FDA has announced that this year’s seasonal influenza vaccines include new strains of the virus that are likely to hit the US during the 2008-2009 season.

The manufacturers of the vaccines and the name of their vaccine are as following:

CSL Limited
Vaccine: Afluria

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Vaccine: Fluarix

ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec
Vaccine: Flulaval

Medimmune Vaccines, Inc.
Vaccine: FluMist

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited
Vaccine: Fluvirin

Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
Vaccine: Fluzone

Those are some pretty interesting vaccine names. J

To check out the approval information and specifics indications click over to: www.fda.gov/cber/flu/flu2008.htm

The FDA changed all 3 strains for this year’s influenza vaccine. This is unusual because normally only one or two strains are updated from year to year. You can view a list of the strains in the 2008-2009 vaccine at the link listed above in this article. The vaccines are modified each season to reflect the virus strains that are most likely to be going around. The closer the match between the circulating strain and the strains in the vaccine, the better the protection. But even if the vaccines and the circulating strains are not an perfect match, they will provide some protection and may reduce the severity of the illness or prevent flu-related complications.

I wonder if they are taking odds in Vegas if the strains in the vaccine will match the strains circulating. Now that's gambling!

Two of the three strains that were recommended for the US this year are now in use in the Southern Hemisphere’s 2008 Flu season, which is underway now.

According to the CDC, every year 5 to 20 percent of the US population gets the Flu; more than 200,000 are hospitalized from Flu complications and about 36,000 Flu-related deaths. Elderly, young children and people with chronic medical conditions at higher risk for Flu-related complications, which makes it important that they get vaccinated.

Currently 40 percent of health care workers in the US are vaccinated against the Flu. It is considered important that health care workers are vaccinated so they can set an example for their patients as well as decrease the possibility of them contracting and transmitting the virus.

It is too early to tell if there will be enough vaccine to go around for everyone who wants to get one. Since I am not elderly, a young child, or have a chronic medical condition, I do not get a flu vaccine. But if you are worried about a shortage, just email me and I will mail you my Flu Stimulus Voucher in the mail.

Attention Satellite TV Subscribers! Your Help Is Needed!

2008-08-11T20:07:00Z

States across the US are trying to impose an unfair sales tax on direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service. If you have DirectTV or Dish Network, then this would apply to you.
This sales tax would be charged to anyone with satellite service, but would not be applied to cable TV service.

That is not fair!

States that have already applied discriminatory DBS taxes are: Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennesse, and Utah.

A bi-partisan group of members in Congress have introduced H.R. 3679, " State Video Tax Fairness Act" to stop this unfair tax.

To take action against this unfair tax, contact your member of Congress at 202-225-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 3679

For information about this and other ways to take action, please visit : www.stopsatellitetax.com

Winlaunch

2008-08-11T14:42:00Z

Source: PC World

Cost: Free

Operating Systems: Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 98

Description:Winlaunch allows you to create keyboard shortcuts to speed common tasks, such as opening your Web browser or sending an e-mail to a particular address, but it takes some manual tweaking to get it set up properly. It's relatively quick to set up a shortcut. For a program or document, browse to the relevant file on your hard drive, or drag and drop it from Explorer to create a shortcut. You can also create a key binding to send an e-mail or open a Web site, reboot your PC, execute Winlaunch commands or perform a range of other tasks. Choose a key or key combination (such as Ctrl+F4) for the shortcut, and you're done.

--Erik Larkin

Go to the download page now:

Winlaunch

Deep Discounts and Great Selection on Cingular, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint/Nextel

Deployed WiMAX Networks

2008-08-08T21:53:00Z

The following is a list of companies that have WiMAX deplpyed and in what Country. The information was gathered from the Wikipedia and Maravedis.

Angola

MSTelcom is deploying a nationwide project at 2.5 GHz. About 60% of Luanda is covered. Data and voice over IP are among the services to be supplied to the end-users.

Australia

Unwired holds licenses in the 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz bands, and has plans to build a mobile WiMax network on the 2.3 GHz band once WiMax-Forum-certified hardware is available. This will be a replacement to its proprietary fixed wireless system which uses the 3.5 GHz band.

Austar holds licenses in the 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz bands. Austar has been using a pre-WiMAX proprietary solution in Wagga Wagga. The services provider more recently ran an extensive trial of a standard mobile WiMAX solution provided by Nortel. The trials included WiMAX Voice over IP calls with guaranteed quality of service. Austar picks Nortel for regional WiMAX rollout

Digital River Networks are further deploying fixed WiMAX network in areas of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with extensive field trials operating in the suburbs of Melbourne. The company has existing wireless network platforms in 34 regional areas of Australia which will be converted to WiMAX before June 2009.

Optus & Elders joint venture OPEL Networks recently won a government tender to roll out a $2bn ADSL2+ & WiMAX regional network utilizing 5 GHz class allocated band. This Deal was subsequently canceled.

Emerge Technologies has deployed a 3.5 GHz regional network in Kalgoorlie & Kambalda of Western Australia, they are currently offering internet access to business & domestic users over a proprietary fixed system.

Internode Systems are deploying a 3.4 GHz fixed WiMAX network in the Yorke Peninsula region of South Australia.

Austria

WiMAX Telecom holds 3.5 GHz licenses for the entire country.

Azerbaijan

AZQTEL [6] holds the 3.5 GHz license in Azerbaijan, and is deploying in Baku, Q1 of 2008, and a nationwide rollout throughout 2020.

Bahrain

Zain Covers the Kingdom of Bahrain and has used WiMAX for High Speed Internet under the product "Zain@Home".

Belgium

Clearwire covers mainly Brussels.

Bolivia

Telecel S.A holds a license in the 3.5a GHz band and will deploy a WiMAX network in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in 2007 for Internet broadband services.

Bulgaria

Max Telecom Ltd. holds a class A license in the 3.5 GHz band (2 x 21 MHz) and has deployed nation-wide network moving towards mobile WiMAX technology

TransTelecom holds a class A license in the 3.5 GHz band (2 x 21 MHz) and has deployed a national WiMAX network in Bulgaria moving towards mobile WiMAX technology

Nexcom Bulgaria holds a class B license in the 3.5 GHz band (2 x 10,5 MHz) and has deployed a national WiMAX network in Bulgaria.

Mtel holds a class B license in the 3.5 GHz (2 x 10,5 MHz) band and has deployed a national WiMAX network in Bulgaria

Carrier BG holds a class B license in the 3.5 GHz band (2 x 10,5 MHz) and has deployed a national WiMAX network in Bulgaria

Brazil

Brazilian Agency of Telecommunications to sell licenses for WiMAX.[7] A few Brazilian companies already have rights to important parts of the WiMAX spectrum, both at 2.5 GHz (MMDS band) and 3.5 GHz.

Canada

MetroBridge Networks serves businesses in British Columbia with connections up to 3 Mbit/s with >7500 km² of coverage area.

Rogers Communications and Bell Canada have formed a joint venture called Inukshuk Wireless. Services provided via Inukshuk include Sympatico High Speed Unplugged from Bell Canada and Rogers Portable Internet from Rogers Communications.

Sogetel offer WiMAX connection for Nicolet-Yamaska and St-Hyacinthe (MRC Maskoutain) in Quebec.

Primus Canada and Mipps Inc. are now (May'07) jointly conducting WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 (3.5 GHz) trials in Hamilton, Ontario, using Alcatel-Lucent's new WiMAX equipment

Picanoc.net is offering services in Lac-Ste-Marie, QC

MDS Wireless owns and operates one of the largest WiMax networks in Southern Ontario providing internet services to residential and business users.

Cayman Islands

Digicel is using WiMax as the underlying technology for his Digicel Broadband solution.

China

Spectrum is the impediment to deployments in China. However some progress has been made but deployments are being made under the radar of government supervision of spectrum regulation and sponsorship of TD-SCDMA

Cyprus

Colombia

In July 2006 Orbitel launched in Cali the first WiMAX network of Colombia.

In January 20, 2006, Colombian company Telecom launched a PRE-WiMAX network in Bucaramanga. Orbitel, ETB and Telecom hold 3.5 GHz licenses for the entire country. Nowadays other cities with WiMax are Cali, Bogotá, Cúcuta, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Medellín.

In November 23, 2006 Cable Union de Occidente, Avantel and others won licenses to operate WiMax in several regions of Colombia.

Congo

Elix has deployed a citywide WiMAX network in the city of Kinshasa, using licensed spectrum at 3.5 GHz.

Congo, Democratic Republic of

GLNet operates a citywide 802.16d Fixed WiMAX network in the city of Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, using the licensed spectrum of 3.5 GHz. GLNet also provides high-bandwidth access (22Mbit/s+), video conferencing, HotSpot & Y5Zone Access and SCPC based dedicated bandwidth services over its metro-backbone in both cities. 802.16e Mobile WiMAX services will be available in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Kolwezi before the 3rd Quarter of 2008. GLNet also provides InterSat Africa's VSAT based SkyDSL (Ku-Band) and SkyNET/SkySTAR (C-Band) services for Residential and Commercial Broadband Access as well as InterSat Africa's Low Latency SkySwitch Satellite based VPN services. GLNet has a ready solution for your Residential & Commercial requirement for Low Latency Tier 1 QoS for Data Transfer and Broadband Internet Services covering Data, Voice, Multi-Media and Video Streaming/Conferencing requirements, anywhere in Africa. GLNet with its sister concern, i-CRITS, is Microsoft Gold Partner and Cisco Gold Partner, where both entities are GSA/DUNS certified.

Costa Rica

Radiografica Costarricense S.A. (RACSA, a part of the state owned Grupo ICE) started offering the service on the second week of 2008.

QTEL Costa Rica has deployed a national long-haul backbone throughout the entire country. They are converting last mile access from older point-to-point systems to WiMAX beginning Q2 of 2007.

Croatia

Divided into 20 counties and capital Zagreb, in every county 4 frequency blocks

VIPnet and OiV hold 3.5 GHz licenses for the capital, Zagreb.

Optima Telekom, Portus, WiMAX Telecom and OiV hold 3.5 GHz licenses for most regions.

Smaller operators in some counties like Novi-net offers WiMAX in Međimurje county, Dubrovnik telekom in Dubrovnik and so on.

Denmark

Despite of government reluctance to allow private companies to use the WiMAX frequency ranges, a few companies are using the WiMAX technologies with different frequencies. For private customers, the largest cities are covered by ClearWire, while Butler Networks delivers WiMAX access to business customers through other telecommunication providers.

Dominican Republic

Since October 2007, the first WiMAX ISP delivers both telephony and internet access, using licensed spectrum at 3.5 GHz, to both home and business customers in Santo Domingo. Also, TRICOM it's currently offering WiMAX services to its business customers, on a first implementation phase (town Bavaro; also the municipalities of Haina, Santo Domingo Oeste, Santo Domingo Norte and Greater Santo Domingo). Recently, there's a third WiMAX provider, Wind Telecom, that offers not only telephony and data, but also subscription-based digital television broadcasting.

Egypt

The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) issues WiMax licensed bands to companies requiring license for using the technology for data transfer.

Estonia

A total of 4 licenses in the 3.5-3.6 GHz range have been issued to 5 companies. Three of them (Norby Telecom, Baltic Broadband and Tele2) have national-wide licenses and two companies (Levira and Elion) share the same frequency, but Elion can use it only in Tallinn and Harjumaa region and Levira in the whole country except of Tallinn and Harjumaa.

Norby Telecom was the first WiMAX operator in Estonia, started in September, 2005. At the moment Norby covers more than 50% of the country, mostly in rural regions, but has partial coverage in Tallinn and its suburbs. Norby utilizes fixed wireless equipment provided by Alvarion and offers speeds up to 2 Mbit/s with external antenna.

Baltic Broadband AS - develops BaltMAX brand for its WiMAX network, started it in November, 2005. Network covers almost all of Tallinn with some neighbour districts and residential suburb (Coverage Map). BaltMAX offers fixed and nomadic internet access on Navini Networks equipment, which includes desktop modems without external antennas and PC cards. The highest speed BaltMAX can suggest is 768 kbit/s.

Ethiopia

The incumbent operator ETC has deployed a fixed WiMAX network in the capital city of Addis Abeba using the 3.5 GHz band.

Finland

There are some 15 WiMAX operators in Finland spread throughout the country. The coverage is mainly concentrated on the rural areas and Lapland, but SuomiCom has partial coverage also in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

France

Iliad, owner of the Free (French ISP), is currently, and since 2005, the only owner of a national level license.

Altitude Telecom as deployed WiMAX in rural areas of France, covering several French departments. One of such successful deployments is ZeVillage.

Maxtel also has an offer.

Any-Port Uses unlicensed 2.4 and 5.4 GHz bands to provide wireless broadband to the yachting community on the French, Italian and Spanish Rivieras.

HDRR, a subsidiary of TDF has announced the deployment of mobile WiMAX in the Loiret region of France.

Supernet Technologies (An RT Networx Company) has announced the deployment of 5.8 GHz WiMAX in the city of St. Medard southern region of France.

Georgia

QTEL Georgia[15], has deployed a 5.8 GHz WiMAX in Tbilisi. It will expand coverage throughout Tbilisi in Q1 and Q2 of 2007, with a national rollout throughout 2007.

VTEL-Georgia, The company utilizes spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band to operate a WiMAX network. The company currently operates in technical mode in Batumi. Full coverage and rollout through year 2008 is planned. VTEL-Georgia has embarked on a three-year plan to cover the country under the brand name Maximali.

ServiceLine, working in 5.3 GHz band, currently operates in Batumi, for now in technical mode. Full commercial operation and rollout is estimated in 2008.

Germany

Deutsche Breitband Dienste (DBD), started its commercial WiMAX operation in Berlin in November 2005 under its brand MAXXonair using Wimax equipment from Airspan Networks. Several networks in Wuppertal, Dresden, Leipzig, Laatzen were deployed in 2006, other cities followed in 2007: Magdeburg, Dessau. The same company has deployed networks in rural areas under its brand DSLonair. German telco Arcor operates a commercial WiMAX network in Kaiserslautern since December 2005. Both companies use 3.5 GHz WLL licenses with WiMAX technology.

In December 2006 3.4-3.6 GHz band broadband wireless access (BWA) licenses were issued through an auction by the federal regulator Bundesnetzagentur. Clearwire, Inquam and DBD now hold licences for the entire country, 2 smaller companies hold regional licenses. These licenses are designed for the use with WiMAX technology.

Greece

OTE has a pilot WiMAX network in operation in Mount Athos and is planning nationwide deployment.

India

Though India does not have any B2C WiMax network few companies are doing on experimental basis, some of them are:

Reliance Launches WiMAX Services for consumers in Bangalore & Pune on July 4th VSNL launched India's First WiMAX services (for Business right now)

BSNL launches WiMax services in 10 cities across India. They plan to further launch services in 1,000 cities by 2007 end

VSNL Tata Indicom WiMAX Broadband available for consumers

Jaipur is all set to go the WiMax way

Iran

Laser Telecom Based on 802.16d

The first WiMAX Network deployed in Iran, with 80% coverage of Tehran. Provides VPN Service to Banks and Insurance companies.

Pars-Online Based on 802.16e

Ireland

Irish Broadband

National University of Ireland, Maynooth Public Mobile WiMAX (802.16e) Network (July 2008)

Intel Ireland WiMAX Trials

Italy

Italian Ministry of Defense currently holds the 3.5 GHz band, and is about to free the band through auctions in order to let the Government sell licenses. Bloggers and members of consumers associations have started protests against this way of assigning the frequencies. The members of the unofficial Italian Pirate Party are currently organizing a Google bombing. The Ministry of Defense released the band and recently Ministry of Communications has announced that WIMAX licenses contest will be in September 2007 or nearly. All licenses available were awarded to different operators in an auction ended on 27 February 2008. Public services should start soon.

Japan

YOZAN Inc. uses WiMAX as a backbone for its public Wi-Fi service.

Jordan

Umniah Mobile Company recently acquired a WiMAX license in the 3.5 band.

Kenya

AccessKenya has used WiMAX for its broadband residential service, Access@Home in the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa. AccessKenya has currently deployed one of the largest WiMax Network in East Africa .

Kenya Data Networks has used WiMAX for schools in remote areas and plans to provide WiMAX service in several cities.

Wananchi Online is currently deploying a WiMAX network targeting the SOHO and residential internet market in the country.

Korea (South)

WiBro is served by KT and SK Telecom.

Liberia

Comium offers internet service over WiMAX using Navini Networks in the Monrovia area.

Libya

Libya Telecom & Technology, the national Internet Service Provider in Libya plans to deploy the first commercial WIMAX network based on the 802.16e-2005 WiMAX standard in Libya. LTT plans to launch the commercial service on the network in September 2008.

Malaysia

Packet One Networks

Packet One is ready to lead the market by being the first to deploy on the WiMAX 2.3 GHz spectrum in the region and to establish one of the world’s largest mobile WiMAX 2.3 GHz networks. Our WiMAX product called P1 W1MAX.

Packet One Malaysia Calls on Alcatel-Lucent for 2.3 GHz WiMAX Network

Packet One to deploy 3,500 WiFi hotpots in Kuala Lumpur

WiMAX Forum Member Companies

Licenses have been awarded to 4 operators, Green Packet Bhd, REDtone International Bhd, YTL E-Solutions Bhd and Asiaspace Dotcom Sdn Bhd to provide WiMAX services, service rollout targeted by 2nd quarter of 2008.

Other players which hold WIMAX license include Maxis, Telekom, Jaring, Atlasone, Nasioncom and Timedotcom

Macedonia

National licenses have been awarded to 2 operators, Cosmoline Greece and Nexcom Macedonia www.nexcom.com.mk to provide fixed WiMAX services, service roll out targeted by end of 2007.

Malta

Three licenses in 3.5 GHz band awarded by the Malta Communications Authority to Vodafone, Go Mobile, Cellcom in Oct 2005. Only Vodafone has commercially launched a broadband and VOIP service over WiMax in July 2007 and will have country wide coverage by end November 2007.

Mexico

In October 2005 Axtel commercialized WiMAX for Monterrey city.

Ultranet2go provides WiMAX services in four states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tamaulipas and Aguascalientes.

Montenegro

Licences have been awarded to 4 operators: T-Mobile, Broadband Montenegro, m:tel and ProMonte to provide WiMAX services; service rollout began in October 2007(m:tel).

Namibia

MWEB Namibia started (December 2006) deploying WiMAX in the 3.3 GHz spectrum, currently covering the Windhoek area. Expanding to the coastal cities of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

The Netherlands

Worldmax has announced that it will deploy mobile WiMAX in the 3.5 GHz band.

New Zealand

nzwireless is deploying WiMAX in the 3.5 GHz spectrum for fixed installation, currently covering the Wellington CBD

CallPlus have purchased nationwide 3.5 GHz WiMAX frequency in the recent Government auction. This is run under the wholesale brand Blue Reach.

Natcom is deploying a nationwide 2.5 GHz WiMAX

Nigeria

XS Broadband has WiMAX licenses for 24 of the 36 Nigerian states, including the major cities. Networks have been deployed in most major cities to serve banks, enterprises and other applications.

Pakistan

Currently, Pakistan has the largest fully functional Wimax network in the world. Wateen Telecom installed the network (with an initial rollout in seventeen cities) throughout Pakistan using Motorola hardware.

Wateen Deployed world's first and largest nationwide WiMAX network.

Mobilink Infinity Pakistan's Second WiMax network.

Pakistan plans largest mobile WiMAX rollout

Dancom to establish Pakistan’s first WiMAX Network with Redline’s RedMAX

Pakistan to Get 'World's Largest' WiMAX Network

WiMAX trial in Pakistan

Panama

WIPET is the first Company to deploy a WiMax network in Panama beginning in January of 2008 and covering Panama City and Coronado Beach. Wipet is using IEEE 802.16e.

Paraguay

Tigo Banda Ancha is currently using a WiMAX network, with a minimum plan of 41US$ per 64 kbit/s 24x7. They use Alvarion.

Hipuu / Nucleo was the first to deploy a WiMax network in Paraguay. They use RedMAX from Redline Communications.

Peru

Telmex x-plor@ is currently using a WiMAX network offering voice and data services from $ 62 (300 min local/long distance, 400 kbit/s internet) in many cities.

Poland

- Netia networks in about 50 Cities; - NASK ~5 Cities; - Crowley Data Poland; - SferaNET; - and many more...

Puerto Rico

Volare PR has deployed a WiMAX network over the western part of the island starting in Mayaguez and Cabo Rojo.

Russia

Enforta Russian leader of wireless broadband. Operates the network in 35 largest capitals of Russia with total population 50M (50 km². footprint). Uses Alvarion and InfiNet Wireless equipment for its WiMAX network. Invested by Sumitomo Corporation, Barring Vostok Privete Equity Found. Broadband Internet access plans start from $20 US per month.

Mirkin Group with registrations in U.S., Russia, and China - the company aims to provide Free WiMAX connection for individual use. Company uses unlicensed spectrum in remote exurban cities. It has a content distribution as a long-term business model.

Summa Telecom currently holds national 2.5—2.7 GHz license. Now companies are deploying first WiMAX Network in Dagestan.

Synterra WiMAX uses equipment from Nextnet Wireless (acquired by Motorola in July 2006) for its WiMAX network in Moscow region. Synterra holds 2.5-2.7 GHz license valid until 2015. Unlimited Internet access plans start from $85 US per month.

Saudi Arabia

Bayanat Al Oula

Integrated Telecom Company

Serbia

Media Works holds 3.5 GHz licenses and has deployed fixed WiMAX network in late 2006. Mobile WiMAX has been deployed on 20th February 2008, and its commercial use is expected by the end of March, 2008.

Singapore

QMax has deployed and commercialized on 2.3 GHz licenses.

Pacific Internet has launched @irpower for enterprise users on 2.5 GHz licenses.

Slovakia

WiMAX Telecom holds 3.5 GHz licenses.

Slovenia

On October 3rd 2006 APEK has issued two WiMax licenses:

Telekom Slovenije - Telekom connected first WiMax bradband user on March 30th 2007.

Tok telekomunikacije, which was acquired by TUŠ Telekom (former Volja.net) and then sold to the American company Winvest Inc.

South Africa

Telecoms Regulator ICASA has only issued four licenses for commercial WiMax services: to wireless broadband solutions provider iBurst, state-owned signal distributor Sentech, second network operator Neotel, [Amatole Telecommunication Services] (under serviced area license holder in S.A. and Telkom, all on the 3.5 GHz band.

Telkom has begun a customer trial.

Internet Solutions (the biggest Commercial ISP in South Africa) and M-Web have also completed independent trials and await ICACA's license issuing.

Spain

Euskaltel, the cable operator from the Basque Country. The initial project includes broadband to rural areas with prices between 22 euros a month for 300 kbit/s and 39 euros for 1 Mbit/s. A phone line costs additional 13.75 euros. [9] (in Spanish).

Iberbanda recently bought by Telefónica, has the largest number of customers. Their contract free price is 39 euros for 512 kbit/s, 70 euros for 1 Mbit/s and additional 10 euros for a phone line. Iberbanda offers three contract options Avi (only internet for 39 euro/month), AviPack (internet and phone line for 39 euro/month) and AviPlus (internet and phone service only for businesses for 70 euro/month). [10].

In the past, aLÓ offered WiMax to corporate customers.

Sri Lanka

Dialog Telekom began commercial operations in late 2006 and offers speeds of up to 4 Mbit/s. Sri Lanka Telecom has also launched test transmission in certain areas. However there are problems as the local pay television operator Comet Cable uses some of the WiMAX bandwidths.

Lanka Bell launched commercial operations in early 2008.

Sweden

Telia Sonera has installed WiMAX in 21 counties.

Taiwan

Chunghwa Telecom announced it will partner with Nortel to build Taiwan's first integrated local government mobile WiMAX network in Yilan, providing county-wide broadband wireless access. It will be based on IEEE 802.16e.

UAE

etisalatUAE based provider currently has Wi-max in the Umm-Suqeim region of Dubai. However this is not yet a public service and is only given to those customers who the tele-communications provider can not allocate an ISDN or Broadband service.

Wi-Manx Isle of Man based service provider, holds a 3.6-3.8 GHz license and was the first to launch a commercial, licensed WiMAX service in the UK.

FREEDOM4 (formerly known as Pipex Wireless), holds 3.6 GHz licensed spectrum and is deploying WiMAX throughout the UK. Their first launch took place in Milton Keynes in December 2007

UK Broadband a subsidiary of PCCW, owns 3.5 GHz licences.

Urban WiMAX Plc Urban WiMAX, A London based operator using the 5.4 and 5.8 GHz bands to sell from 2 Mbit/s to 10 Mbit/s symmetrical access to businesses with next day delivery. The network is resilient and completely separated from BT's. They have funding and aggressive plans to roll out across the UK.

BT is planning to install six WiMAX antennas and associated equipment on the tallest building in Newcastle upon Tyne.

On the London to Brighton railway line, Nomad Digital and T-Mobile have implemented a trackside WiMAX network that supports Passenger Internet Communications through on train Wi-Fi Access Points. A similar system is expected to be deployed soon on the West Coast Main Line.

Metranet, Brighton provide connectivity to Brighton and Hove City Council and the University of Sussex amongst others.

Ukraine

Ukrainian High Technologies Ltd (the trade mark AlterNet) holds the license for 3.4-3.7 GHz range and currently operates WiMAX networks in Kiev and Kharkiv based on Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 client terminals. AlterNet plans to cover all Ukraine's regional centers (26 cities) by 2007.

USA

DigitalBridge Communications launched the first commercially available WiMAX network in the United States in 2007 under the name BridgeMAXX and holds 2.5 GHz licenses in several regions. Current Deployments are in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Indiana, South Dakota, and Virginia.

MetroBridge Networks serves businesses in Arizona and Greater Seattle with connections up to 2500 Mbit/s with >8000 square miles of coverage area.

Nth Air holds a nationwide 3.65 GHz license. Nth Air is currently deployed in California and Nevada with expanding footprint across the nation.http://www.wimax.com/commentary/blog/blog-2008/nth-air-takes-3-65-ghz-wimax-to-the-nth-degree Nthair

Sprint Nextel holds licenses in the 2.5 GHz band covering most of the U.S. Sprint plans to build a "Nationwide advanced wireless broadband network expected to cover 100 million people in 2008." [23] Chicago, Baltimore and Washington D.C. are named as U.S. cities scheduled to be online by the end of 2008 under the brand name Xohm. [24] Clearwire holds 2.5 GHz licenses in several regions, and is running a test market in the Northwestern United States in preparation to deploy a nationwide network to rival the other nationwide carriers. In May 2008, Sprint Nextel announced a plan to merge their WiMax operation under the Clearwire name, with additional investment from five other technology companies.

NextWave Wireless holds licenses in the 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz band.

NextPhase Wireless holds a national WiMAX license and LMDS in broad coverage areas over Atlanta, Southern California (Los Angeles), Miami/Fort Lauderdale and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Wilmington, Delaware/Trenton, New Jersey.

Xanadoo operates Navini Networks-based pre-WiMax networks in the 2.5 GHz spectrum in 6 markets in the midwest.

Open Range Communications will build a 17-state WiMAX network providing wireless broadband to 500+ un-served and underserved rural American communities.

Conterra in Columbia, SC, Charlotte, NC, and nearby areas.

Quad-Cities Online will use 2.5 GHz spectrum in Illinois.

RazzoLink carries WiMax and pre WiMax throughout Monterey County, California on the 2.5/2.6 GHz band.

Uzbekistan

Max Line offers WiMAX-based Internet access and VPN service for corporate clients in Tashkent.

Venezuela

Movilmax has deployed WiMAX to the IEEE 802.16e standard in Caracas and is the first which operates in 2.5 GHz in the world. Movilmax has a strategic alliance with Samsung Electronics Co. and started commercialization in July 2007 with CPE modem and PCMCIA laptop cards.

What is WiMAX?

2008-08-08T18:13:00Z

I gathered the following information from WiMAX.com.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard.
802.16-2004 for fixed wireless applications
802.16e-2005 for mobile wireless

Fixed WiMAX offer cost effective point to point and point to multi-point solutions
Mobile WiMAX allows any telecommunications to go mobile.

It has the potential to replace existing telecommunications infrastructures. For example, it can replace the telephone’s company copper wire networks, the cable TV’s coaxial cable infrastructure, and the mobile variant has the potential to replace cellular networks.

WiMAX is not Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi
Range: 100 yards, covers a coffee shop, home, one floor of an office building.
Throughput: 11Mbps
Security: Limited
QoS: Limited

WiMAX
Range: 6 miles, could cover a small city with one base station
Throughput: 72Mbps
Security: Multi-level encryption
QoS: Dynamic bandwidth allocation, good for voice and video

Spectrum
There is no uniform global licensed spectrum for WiMAX, but the WiMAX forum has published 3 licensed spectrum profiles: 2.3GHZ, 2.5GHz, and 3.5GHz.
In the US, the biggest segment is around 2.5GHz and is already assigned mainly to Sprint Nextel and Clearwire. 2.3GHz is important in Asia. Countries like India and Indonesia will use a mix of 2.5GHZ, 3.3GHz, and other frequencies. Pakistan's Wateen uses 3.5GHz
Analog TV bands (700MHZ) might become available for WiMAX pending the complete rollout of digital TV. The biggest share of the 700MHz spectrum went to Verizon wireless and next inline is AT&T.