Jul 31, 2006 6:39 pm US/Eastern
Citywide WiFi Coming To Boston
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
The world of wireless will soon be coming to Boston. Monday afternoon Mayor Tom Menino introduced his plan to bring citywide WiFi service to Boston.
The plan crafted by Menino's Wireless Task Force aims to raise up to $20 million from local businesses and foundations to fund the citywide WiFi project.
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.
Under Menino's plan the city would hire a non-profit to oversee the WiFi project and help breach the digital divide, by extending wireless internet service into the city's low-income neighborhoods.
"What we're trying to do is bring Internet access to as many people across the City as possible," said Menino. "We believe this model could be the best way to bridge the so-called 'Digital Divide.' The student in Mattapan should have the same access to the knowledge available from the Web as the student living on Beacon Hill."
This wireless network would be built on city-owned properties including light poles, traffic signals, and city buildings.
Other major cities have contracted a single internet provider service to launch large scale WiFi service. Menino says he feels strongly that control over the service should remain with the city, not an outside corporation.
Menino's proposal calls for the designation of a non-profit that would provide low-cost wholesale priced access to broadband, which Internet Service Providers could use to deliver service.
This model would allow for competition on Boston's wireless airwaves. When a user logs on they would have several options for service providers, at competitive prices. The city won't set the rates - the service providers will, and free service supported strictly by ad revenue is not out of the question.
Boston's Wireless Task Force anticipates it will take a couple of years to cover all areas of the city with wireless access. Construction of the network could begin within nine months.
Menino formed the WiFi Task Force in February to explore wireless possibilities for Boston, appointing three local technology experts to be co-chairs.
The town of Brookline is embarking on a similar initiative, looking to become the first town in Massachusetts to have town-wide WiFi.
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