In return, CBS gets ad impressions, tons of them. Visitors to the region will be greeted with a sponsored homepage with hyperlocal news and information for people within the specified area.

CBS Outdoor Chairman and CEO, Wally Kelly, explains that this is just one example of how CBS is dedicated to turning Outdoor assets into next-generation interactive platforms.
Via [centernetworks.com]

With continued problems halting all progress in the municipal WiFi world, WiMAX supports say they have the solutions. They contend that their licensed spectrum will guarantee continuous coverage and that indoor reception will not be as problematic as it is for WiFi.

But all is not rosy in the world of WiMAX, hardware is a huge problem. Every laptop has built-in support for 802.11b/g and will soon have 802.11n, this won’t be the case for WiMAX for quite some time, several years at least.

Right now all eyes are on Sprint and their pricing of Xohm. A reasonable price point may make or break a WiMAX solution for the masses.
Via [arstechnica.com]

So far the delay has been blamed on technological improvements and changes and the deeply complex process of covering multiple technologies and different services. This may be so, but the template agreement is still not finalized and even when finally done, it still needs to go to individual municipalities for some tweaking.

Like the struggling citywide Wi-Fi in other cities across the country, their plan is very ambitious and progress is slow.
Via [infoworld.com]

Meraki, Google funded start up, claims it can cover the city with Wi-Fi for a fraction of the current plan’s costs, won’t require any commitment from the city, and they will use hardware that is more reliable than Earthlink. So far the company has set up internet access points across the city that have been hit by approximately 7000 different machines. They’re now hoping to expand their coverage to the rest of the city.

Rather than following Earthlink’s expensive and flawed system of placing access points on light poles, Meraki relies on volunteers who place transmitters in their windows and allow neighbors to piggy back on the service, in fact some people are actually providing access to their own DSL connections.

All of the kinks aren’t worked out of the system, but it looks as if Meraki’s neighborly approach may be the solution to San Francisco’s internet woes.
Via [theregister.co.uk]

The review came amid contract negotiations with San Francisco, whose mayor, Gavin Newsom, voiced frustration over the hold-ups from the Board of Supervisors and revealed that the city lacks a back-up plan if Earthlink and Google withdraw from the project.

Muni-wireless expert Craig Settles said EarthLink’s announcement could bring “some sanity” in WiFi project talks. “If there’s hope for this industry, it’s that more cities will start serious benefit analyses within governments of the impact of muni wireless on operations, as well as conduct similar analyses within business, medical and education constituencies that could all be anchor tenants,” Settles remarked. “San Francisco, unfortunately, may not be demonstrating good judgment if they dismiss anchor tenancy out of hand unless they still have their sights on owning the network. I’m surprised — sort of — by the smaller cities that stomp their feet and pout like petulant kids, refusing to even discuss buying services because they think their cities deserve a free ride.”
Via [govtech.com]

EarthLink has raised concerns about the citywide Wi-Fi agreements they have signed and are no longer willing to add new buildouts until they can insure the deal will be profitable.

So, it appears as if the city of San Francisco has worked up a deal that the city is content with but the Wi-Fi provider is unable to deliver.
Via [infoworld.com]

About 385 US cities have announced that they too have similar dreams but Philadelphia is the largest city to attempt the project. And tests so far are good. In the limited region currently covered the promised speed of 1 megabit per second is typically being met and at times it’s even being exceeded.

Naysayers believe that Wi-Fi over such large areas will prove to be much more time consuming and expensive than anticipated and they point to the simplicity of getting Wi-Fi from current cable and phone providers already established in these municipalities as being a better option for consumers. AAA The future is a bit unknown at this juncture but the success or failure of the Philadelphia project should give other cities a glimpse at the possibilities.
Via [philly.com]

Currently, only a few hundred subscribers have latched on to the service, far fewer than the estimated 4,000 needed to repay loans for this venture. And municipal Wi-Fi projects aren’t just failing in Lompoc, across the country cities bought into the dream only to find out that they’ve been over promised, under delivered and may even have the wrong technology. This means millions of lost tax dollars that should have gone to other projects. No one knows what will happen to municipal Wi-Fi in the end but at this point the dream is turning into a nightmare for some communities.
Via [signonsandiego.com]

Adam DuVander, a Web programmer and blogger, experienced problems associated with Wi-Fi, first-hand. The Portland resident, who taps wireless hotspots around the area to log onto the Internet, expressed excitement over the city’s planned wireless network, but that feeling did not last long. “I tried it out as soon as I could and found that it wasn’t for me. The quality of the connection is not up to my standards.” The project only entails installing 25 access points per square mile, which means that users must be within 500 feet of the nearest AP. Boosting performance would require adding more access points, but this would increase the cost of the project. With that, “the business model breaks in its entirety,” said Logan Kleier, the city’s manager for the Unwired Portland project.
Via [signonsandiego.com]

The network is equipped by BelAir Networks’ advanced mobile broadband mesh technology, which connected 127 nodes installed in lamp posts and street signs. Over the next month, The Cloud, together with Nokia, will hold promotional activities, including free access for the first month. Aside from high speed Internet and email access, the network promises voice, music, video, gaming and other entertainment services over Wi-Fi, and can work with service providers such as O2, BT Openzone, iPass, Truphone and Skype.
Via [govtech.net]

Cisco put about 600 access points on light poles, and plans to deploy 200 more to complete the project. It also installed switches in town halls and a management system for the network. Aside from Internet connection, the Cisco-built network will offer VoIP and videoconferencing to city agencies and local businesses.

Building municipal and city-wide wireless networks has become a global trend. In the U.S., over 300 municipalities are looking at rolling out WiFi networks. A similar phenomenon is seen in Mexico, China, and Taiwan.
Via [informationweek.com]

EarthLink has better luck in Anaheim, California, where its paid wireless service now blankets 40 percent of the city and is expected to provide full coverage by fall this year. Unlike in San Francisco, it received very few complaints, only three were recorded, of which two came from those that are not part of the coverage yet, according to city spokesman John Nicoletti.
Via [seattletimes.nwsource.com]

Via [examiner.com]