Net worth: Are RNC web fees pricing out independent media?

With 15,000 out of an expected 45,000 Republican National Convention attendees coming from the media, the task of wiring the convention is monumental. And so are the prices media members must pay to access the Internet. It’s leaving some in technology and blogging circles wondering if independent media are being priced out of covering the event.

Qwest will be handling communications for both the Republican and Democratic conventions on its national network. At the RNC, Qwest will be handling all communications inside the designated "Convention Complex," which includes the Xcel Energy Center, Roy Wilkins Auditorium and the St. Paul RiverCentre.

To reserve a single phone line with no features will cost $450 for the four-day convention. If a telephone needs to be supplied, the cost is an additional $110. Fees for Internet access begin at $850 for a dedicated digital line for voice and data. All other plans and services are priced as high as $6,000 and over.

Conservative blogger Ed Morrissey can appreciate that Qwest is treating bloggers like any other media outlet, but fears the mounting costs would discourage many individuals.

"Unfortunately, bloggers don’t have the same kind of deep pockets that other media outlets do," Morrissey wrote upon receiving Qwest’s product and rate guide (pdf) for the RNC. "Most of them will spend at least a thousand dollars on flights, hotels, and meals, and perhaps rental cars. When they see an $850 price tag for dedicated hard-line access, it’s possible that many or most of them will simply skip the event."

There are other options for credentialed bloggers not wanting to hand over $850 to blog. Hard-wire Internet access is available for free in the "press filing center" located in Roy Wilkins Auditorium and many will opt for their own wireless Internet cards. But many are concerned not only about access inside the Convention Complex, but outside as well.

"We need to bring these types of discussion to the political tables as to how we can use the Internet for encouraging the democratic process," Peter Fleck, a web developer and municipal Wi-Fi advocate, told the Minnesota Independent. "As we ponder how to support journalism in the new distributed age, this seems like a no-brainer: Give us free access to the Internet at events and on the street. In Minneapolis, USI Wireless could have a system of granting press passes to the public Wi-Fi system for events or even around City Hall."

A group of individuals from the technology community building organization Twin Cities Open Circuit were attempting to provide free access to several public gatherings during the convention by building a small wireless data network utilizing one large antennae and several relay points.

"Our initial thoughts were to create a wireless mesh network at the Unconvention in Minneapolis and/or the Black Dog Cafe Block Party in Saint Paul," according to Alan Palazzolo, one of the groups members.

Of course the biggest obstacle to getting Internet access inside the RNC is also the biggest obstacle in getting it outside the RNC.

"We had hoped to get funding and have time to do this, but we were not able," Palazzolo told the Minnesota Independent. "We still fully support the idea."

"Providing Internet access for citizen journalists would be a good reason for a community wireless mesh network during the RNC," Fleck agreed. "Maybe Qwest could be convinced to offer small bloggers and nonprofits a massively discounted rate to encourage the community to talk about the convention process itself."

At $850 per person and a finite amount of bandwidth, that’s not a sacrifice Qwest is likely to make.