The Florida Department of Transportation plans to offer free WiFi service to traveling motorists. Under the project, 50 to 60 Wi-Fi hotspots will be placed at various sites — rest stops, turnpike plazas, welcome centers and truck weigh stations — on interstate 95 and other major highways in the state. The plan also involves installing… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Municipal
UK’s ‘Biggest’ Muni Wi-Fi Network Goes Live
UK’s largest free municipal wireless network, Norfolk Open Link, is now up and running. Kurt Frary, Open Link project manager for Norfolk County Council, claimed that the pilot system is “the first network of its type to tackle both urban and rural areas at once.” The East of England Development Agency financed the project, whose… Continue Reading
EarthLink Aims For New Municipal Wi-Fi Contract
EarthLink is looking to clinch a contract for a 23-square-mile wireless network in Pasadena, California. The Pasadena deal, if it pushes through, will be the ISP’s fourth muni-wireless contract in the state — the company is likewise running similar projects in Anaheim, Milpitas and San Francisco. Earthlink launched its first Californian network in Anaheim, which… Continue Reading
Rhode Island Extends Rural Wi-Fi
Rhode Island Gov. Donald L. Carcieri issued $200,000 in grant to install a base station in rural Foster as part of the Rhode Island Wireless Innovation Networks (RI-WINS) initiative. In a statement, Carcieri said: “Supporting the extension of the RI-WINS pilot into Foster will not only speed up our efforts to make Rhode Island the… Continue Reading
Nonprofit May Manage Boston’s Wi-Fi
Boston wants a non-profit group to manage the proposed citywide WiFi network, thus allowing it to promote technological innovation without having to spend taxpayers’ money. Under the proposal, the non-profit group will raise the money through donations and possibly equity and debt financing, sell network service at wholesale prices, and let other entities offer free… Continue Reading
Cities Awaiting Edison Signal On Wireless Networks
Some cities in Southern California cannot deploy wireless Internet networks because Southern California Edison Co. has failed to act on requests for access to its poles and electricity. Douglas H. Kim, general manager of Edison’s carrier solutions, said the power utility needs to “understand the technology better” before it endorses any plan to build these… Continue Reading
SoCal FreeNet Brings Free Wi-Fi To San Diego
SoCal FreeNet is entering its fourth year in August. It evolved from being a San Diego-based discussion group to a volunteer organization that has launched 15 successful free public WiFi networks. Although unpaid for rendering technical support, core members remain committed to their mission of creating free access. In the future, they hope to see… Continue Reading
Vail Could Be Wireless By Ski Season
CenturyTel is looking to set up a public-access wireless internet network in Vail Village, a ski town in Colorado. But before the communications provider can do that, it must ensure that the 84 nodes – cylindrical metal objects nearly 3-feet tall and 1-foot in diameter – that it plans to intall must not spoil the… Continue Reading
Some Say Wireless Chief Goes Too Far
Philadephia tech czar Dianah Neff is being criticized for her frequent travelling and the expenses incurred for attending events. Neff, who earns $193,800 a year as the city’s chief information officer, has participated in 56 technology conferences in the U.S. and abroad since joining Mayor Street’s team in 2001. Neff said her appearances generated revenues… Continue Reading
Anaheim’s First Taste Of EarthLink Muni Wi-Fi
Anaheim’s municipal wireless network was finally fired up. The network, installed and run by Earthlink is a taste of what’s to come. The network has not had it’s share of problems. Interference and poor infoor penetration are problems still being worked out. The network has no plans for free service, but does have reasonable cost… Continue Reading
U.S. Wireless Online Wins Pittsburgh Wi-Fi Deal
US Wireless has won the contract to cover Pittsburgh’s downtown business district and Golden Triangle and some other areas. The system will allow for 2 free hours a day with day passes and high speed passes for sale as well. US Wireless also operates networks in Los Angeles and Baton Rouge. Via [wirelessweek.com]… Continue Reading
Affordable Citywide Wi-Fi Experiment Launched Nationwide
According to muniwireless.com, Wi-Fi systems have been deployed in nearly 60 U.S. cities and the goal is to add another 120 to the number. One of these cities is Chaska in Minnesota. Although considered a success by the Wi-Fi tracker website, Chaska’s network had suffered problems like slow speeds and dead connections. Roberta Wiggins, a… Continue Reading
Taipei Plans Citywide Wi-Fi VoIP
Taipei is gearing up to become the first city to have citywide VoIP service. It has launched the Taipei Easy Call project, which will enable mobile phones to switch from their existing connection to VoIP calls when they are within network coverage. The new service, according to the Taipei Computer Association, is likely to attract… Continue Reading
Senate Moves To Ease Municipal Wi-Fi
Due to pressure from telco companies fearing subsidized competition, several states have passed regulations preventing municipalities from providing municipal WiFi services to it’s residents. The US senate noticed this and is proposing legeslation that would allow municipalities to provide services, with some considerations for telco’s. This legislation might have trouble though as it’s caught in… Continue Reading
WiFi Mission To Burbank
The city of Burbank in California is one of the many the cities in the U.S. that currently offer free WiFi service to residents and visitors. The downtown area has 12 access points and is expected to have nine more in the coming months. Getting a strong-enough signal, however, is very difficult, with the highest… Continue Reading