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Boston Lights Two WiFi Hot Spots In City

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Oct 16, 2006 11:24 am US/Eastern

Boston Lights Two WiFi Hot Spots In City

BOSTON (CBS4) ―

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Mayor Menino's plan to bring wireless internet access to Boston has become reality.

In a ceremony Monday morning Menino officially lighted the city's first two wireless hot spots - one covering the Faneuil Hall/City Hall plaza area and the other covering the Columbus Park/Long Wharf area.

WiFi, or Wireless Fidelity, gives laptops, cellphones and other wireless devices access to the internet using high speed radio waves. In other words, your computer doesn't need to be plugged in to a cable or telephone jack. Transmitters send signals back and forth to the laptop -- even as the computer moves from one location to another.

Menino also revealed Monday a plan to bring wireless access to a square-mile network in Roxbury's Grove Hall and Dudley Square neighborhoods.

"The downtown locations will help boost economic growth by making the city an even more attractive place to work and visit," Mayor Menino said in a statement. "But the Grove Hall and Dudley Square initiative - which is really a network, not just a hot spot - sends a clear message to the neighborhoods that bringing service to everyone is our number one priority."

City officials said this project will reach about 5000 households. The service, which will be 25 times faster than dial-up, will initially be offered free but eventually there will be a fee. Prices for the service are expected to be as low as $10 - $15 per month.

Boston's Wireless Task Force anticipates it will take a couple of years to cover all areas of the city with wireless access.

Cambridge and Brookline are also working on similar initiatives.