Charles McEnerney, a Jamaica Plain marketing consultant, has launched a mapping initiative he hopes will lead to more Internet options for the neighborhood.
“Monopolies are not good for consumers and I just want there to be more choice for residents in JP and, ultimately, all of Boston,” said McEnerney in an email to the Gazette.
The mapping initiative allows residents of the neighborhood to place a marker at their address on a Google map, indicating that they would like Internet options other than Verizon or Comcast. McEnerney said he got the idea for the initiative after reading up on what other cities and countries are doing to provide faster and cheaper Internet options.
“I’m a marketing consultant who works from home or remotely a lot, so finding fast, reliable Internet has become a real necessity of my existence,” he said.
McEnerney will share the data collected with the City and with Internet providers. He said the more people who participate, the easier it will be to influence other Internet providers to come to JP.
“I have communicated with Netblazr and RCN, and both would like to provide more services in JP,” said McEnerney. “The idea of the map is kind of like what Google Fiber is doing in Austin, where they ask consumers if they want the service and then Google Fiber brings the service to their street or neighborhood next.”
The survey continues through Jan. 31. To participate in the mapping, see http://bit.ly/JPinternet.