Welcome to Ideas For Seattle. Here you can contribute your ideas for the future of our city. You can also vote on existing ideas submitted by your fellow citizens.
To get started, simply choose a category from the list on the right. Then search to see if your idea has already been submitted. If it hasn't, you can then submit it for others to discuss or vote on.
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1,586 votes
Free Wireless Internet Throughout the City
This is simple to do & costs much less than the road system.
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344 votes
Upgraded internet infrastructure
The city should invest heavily in the availability of truly hi-speed internet connectivity throughout the city. As one of the worlds technology leaders, our city should be among the leaders in providing top of the line infrastructure for connecting to the internet.
This could come in many forms,... more
Status: plannedExploring options for fiber-to-the home was something Mayor McGinn ran his campaign on, and continues to be a priority.
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249 votes
Implement the Seattle Broadband Initiative to bring affordable broadband to all Seattle residents
The City has a solid business plan for a municipal fiber-optic network on the table. http://www.seattle.gov/broadband/ The next mayor should accelerate the process of bringing it to fruition.
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194 votes
make internet a public utility.
comcast broadstripe/millineum, quest, clearwire all have major issues, and huge prices. reclaim the internet as a public service utility, upgrade it, and make available to all at consistent prices.
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147 votes
Remove the exclusivity of Comcast
Digital services, including Internet, cable TV, VOIP telephones and "who knows what is around the corner?" should be a competitive market and not dominated by one or two vendors. By having the City of Seattle provide the broadband infrastructure, entrepreneurs could resell digital servi... more
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100 votes
create a program to give old computers to low-income households
Create a program where people can donate their old computers (rather than illegally throwing them in the trash, or paying to dispose of them), then have a small staff (paid or unpaid?) reformat the computers and get them working again, then give them away to low-income households.
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44 votes
Encourage city workers, especially SDOT, to work remotely
Encourage city workers to use laptops and connect via a VPN from public libraries, coffee shops, and other community gathering places. This should help SDOT employees where it would help them to be working remotely near the roads that they are designing. It would also help reduce transportation congestion.
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42 votes
Municipal Network.
Seattle is a high tech city. We should be the best connected city in the US. We should have a municipal IP network to facilitate high-speed communication throughout the city, for business as well as pleasure. This network should be separate from the internet, but allow for local service provid... more
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38 votes
Allow more telecommunications companies to access public right-of-ways
Seattle lags behind most world cities in terms of their Internet capacity. It's tragic that one of the largest collective of Technology companies are held chained to antiquated agreements which are anti-competitive.
For instance: http://www.seattle.gov/cable/refranchising/ details how our cu... more
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34 votes
Emphasize internet literacy and safety in schools
How is it possible for a modern kid to graduate high school without knowing how to submit a resume via email? Without ever completing an online job application?
Every high school student should be instructed on setting up an email account and basic email correspondence. There should be a requi... more
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33 votes
City Light as Internet Provider?
City Light as Internet Provider?
It would make a lot of sense that City Light, the company that already has trucks, poles, billing, poles and general infrastructure to provide broad band internet service to the city. City Light has not been on the forefront of innovation in remote meter readi... more
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26 votes
Community digital production labs
Digital storytelling tools including blogs, photography, internet radio and video, are key paths to effective community engagement as well as creative expression. Community centers and libraries should house public computer labs set up not just for web browsing, but also equipped for digital medi... more
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19 votes
Partner with Google PowerMeter
I would like to see Seattle City Light partner with Google PowerMeter to provide our utility customers with detailed real time data on their energy consumption so we can work to reduce it.
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9 votes
City-Wide 1Gbps Fiber Optic Internet Infrastructure
Comcast and Verizon aren't getting it to us. Lack of good high-speed Internet cripples small businesses in what needs to remain a technology hub. As the future unfolds, higher and higher speeds are going to be necessary - and we're already far behind.
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2 votes
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2 votes
Seattle City White-Fi
The City of Seattle should become a database provider for White-Fi. White-Fi is a name for the new technology that is being developed to provide IP service over the wireless spectrum that has been vacated by analog television.
