This sounds a lot like wat Lev Gonick talked about during a spring forum about the Euclid Corridor... same sort of "mesh" network.  Hey, if this can keep us a step ahead of the pack, it's great news!

great news, except that if time-warner is the provider they will charge you an arm and a leg to use the service.

OneCommunity, which provides ultrabroadband connections for nonprofits and the public sector, would provide free access to the network at churches, schools, libraries and other public places. Other details remain unresolved, most notably how neighborhood residents might access the network from their homes.

 

i'm all for this institutional network, which OneCommunity is already doing with the fiber network and connections, but i really want to see more from the wifi cloud/mesh - especially if there isn't even a dedicated space for public users to log on. 

 

has anyone heard how the city's test of the wireless at playhouse square and e55 for city workers has worked out?  any innovations?  cost savings?

University Circle area to be free, fast, wireless

Emily Hamlin

(Cleveland) Plain Dealer

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

 

University Circle park benches are about to become a lot more popular.

 

Starting Sept. 13, anyone with a laptop can plop down on one and get free, fast Internet access, thanks to a wireless network that's been in the works for more than a year ...

 

... More at http://www.cleveland.com/wireless/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/1156840815113880.xml&coll=2

I'm so baffled by this story ... so will individuals be able to access the wireless network for free or not? It sounds like no, for the moment, but the first line suggests otherwise. Sometimes you just want to pat the PD on the head and say, "There, there. There, there."

^that's exactly my point.  if this is not a public wifi network (regardless of how valuable this actually is), then we are talking something completely different than a "wireless cleveland." 

 

many cities already have vaired levels of wireless access for city employees/departments.  i'd be happy if cleveland was pushing this envelope as well, BUT this sounds completely different from the 10 or 20 cities that are giving residents some form of free wifi.

great news, except that if time-warner is the provider they will charge you an arm and a leg to use the service.

 

Hey...hey....hey....watch it bub!  It's TimeWarner (no hyphen!) Mr. NewYorkCity 8-)  I think I might need to find out what building you're in....and have the cable cut off, maybe cause a glitch and have your monthly bill DOUBLE!  :mrgreen: HA!! 

 

We do many FREE "hot spots".  Just ask the folks in Cincinnati about Lily Pad.... www.lilypadusa.org

 

There has been discussion about "Rapid Stops" (instead of "hot spots" to give it a local feel this "temporary name" I'm not feeling) in Cleveland.  Tri-C and CSU, Chinatown, Edgewater, Shaker Square, WoodHill, Hough, Lee-Miles, 65-Detroit, Tremont, West Bank of the Flats, The entire airport (as these locations have the highest number of PC users, I don't think it accurate as Adelphia was, let say, not the best at doing things right)....so shhhhhhh as nothing is finalized or set in stone. Also, those people from SBC have their panties in a bunch - since they didn't get an invite to the party!  :-P

Finally

 

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson today proposed to bring wireless Internet access to all 77 square miles of the city.

 

Jackson made the announcement at his second state-of-the-city speech, but did not say who would pay for the initiative or when the wireless "cloud" might become a reality.

 

Maureen Harper, a spokeswoman for the mayor, later said Jackson envisions inviting Internet providers to submit proposals for creating the network without an investment of tax dollars. Harper estimated the cost at $100 million.

 

Last fall, a partnership spent $1 million to create a free wireless network that covers a small section of University Circle. The group included Case Western Reserve University, Cisco Systems and OneCommunity, a nonprofit ultra-broadband provider.

 

Jackson delivered his address at a City Club gathering at the downtown Crown Plaza hote

I would have to think that Mayor Jackson has already had a conversation with someone (OneCommunity?) regarding the viability of providing the wireless network without the investment of tax dollars. I can't imagine that he would give it such a high profile in his State of the City unless there was something more solid than "Hey guys, how about you provide this citywide ... and we won't pay you anything for it."

I'm glad this is actively being discussed again. I wish we had beaten Philly, but oh well.

BTW, Philly charges $21.95 to most people for its service. That doesn't seem like such an amazing bargain...

 

Jackson wants Wi-Fi for every Clevelander

Friday, March 02, 2007

 

Susan Vinella and Olivera Perkins

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Mayor Frank Jackson wants to make affordable wireless Internet service available to every Clevelander -- and he's hoping a private company will pay to do it.

 

In his State of the City address on Thursday, Jackson announced a plan to bring Wi-Fi service to all 77 square miles of the city. The announcement came during a City Club luncheon at the downtown Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre hotel.

 

He also called for collaboration between the city and suburban school districts on purchasing supplies and sharing resources. And he noted that 30 police officers will come on board this year.

 

Afterward, Jackson said he intends to invite companies to bid on the wireless project, which his spokeswoman estimated would cost between $60 million and $100 million. Spokeswoman Maureen Harper said the mayor wants the project to be totally privately funded.

 

More at Cleveland.com

BTW, Philly charges $21.95 to most people for its service. That doesn't seem like such an amazing bargain...

 

Is that monthly?

BTW, Philly charges $21.95 to most people for its service. That doesn't seem like such an amazing bargain...

 

Is that monthly?

 

YEP!

to really bridge this digital divide, the basic service has to be free.  you can get pretty cheap dial up and even lower tiered dsl or cable now, and this isn't helping in getting broadband penetration in many neighborhoods.

 

the trick would be to have a basic level for free and a competitively priced option for those who require more speed, and can afford it.

to really bridge this digital divide, the basic service has to be free.  you can get pretty cheap dial up and even lower tiered dsl or cable now, and this isn't helping in getting broadband penetration in many neighborhoods.

 

the trick would be to have a basic level for free and a competitively priced option for those who require more speed, and can afford it.

 

BINGO!  Urbanlife...that is the only way it will work.

^If you read the article more closely, you'll see that Eaerthlink charges $9.99 for low-income residents and $21.95 for everyone else.  In any case, cheap wifi is great, but do lots of low income people have computers with wireless cards in the first place?

Brooklyn Sun Journal:

 

 

Council looking at wireless plan

Thursday, April 05, 2007

By Ken Prendergast

Brooklyn Sun Journal

 

CLEVELAND City Council members said there seem to be few downsides to Mayor Frank Jackson's proposal to seek bids from companies to provide free wireless Internet access citywide. Jackson is seeking council's permission to request bids from Internet service providers.

 

The winning bidder would install, operate and maintain the broadband wireless network at its own expense. Anywhere from 30-50 transmitters per square mile would be installed, primarily on light poles, utility poles and on rooftops of taller buildings. Each device would be 7-11 inches long and about 6 inches high.

 

Up to 3,000 devices, called access points, are needed to assure citywide coverage, said Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, Jackson's chief technology officer.

 

Intel is one of the firms which expressed interest in serving Cleveland, which would be one of the nation's first major cities to offer broadband wireless Internet access citywide. The winning bidder would operate and maintain the network for 10 years, with two additional five-year options to renew.

 

The city, primarily Cleveland Public Power, could receive a small amount of revenue from the winning bidder for granting access to its light and utility poles. But the Internet provider would pay no franchise fees, Mayberry-Stewart said.

 

"In late 2006, the administration created a wireless strategy to increase jobs," she said. "It can bring more technology jobs, better access to information and more access to government services. Wireless gets into low-income housing with low-cost access."

 

At a Public Utilities Committee hearing last week, Ward 11 Councilman Mike Polensek questioned how much benefit the wireless network would be to low-income Cleveland residents. He noted many Cleveland residents cannot afford computers, lack the skills to use them and don't realize how wireless Internet can benefit them.

 

And, while Jackson's administration is seeking council approval to solicit bids, the proposed legislation doesn't require the administration to approve its choice of the Internet service provider. Polensek wants the legislation amended to give council final approval.

 

"I'm becoming increasingly concerned about personal service contracts" awarded by the administration, Polensek said. "I wasn't elected to forfeit my right of input."

 

"Our intent is to come back to council for approval" of the winning bidder, said Sharon Dumas, Jackson's finance director.

 

Mayberry-Stewart said that, while Cleveland's "digital literacy rate" is lower than that of other major U.S. cities, efforts are under way to change that. The Cleveland Foundation recently awarded the city a grant to create Community Technology Centers in neighborhoods to provide computer training and hardware support to residents. Also, free Internet access will be available at select recreation centers throughout the city.

 

"I'm thrilled we're going to create this wireless band over the city," said Ward 17 Councilman Matt Zone, chair of the Public Utilities Committee. "This will make the city a leader."

 

The proposal was OK'd by the Public Utilities Committee and is being studied by council's Finance Committee. It is expected to move from there to consideration by the entire council later this month.

What's the incentive for a company to offer free wifi?

^If you read the article more closely, you'll see that Eaerthlink charges $9.99 for low-income residents and $21.95 for everyone else.  In any case, cheap wifi is great, but do lots of low income people have computers with wireless cards in the first place?

 

Interesting point, though I reckon all new computers come with wi-fi enabled hardware.

 

Also, reading the aforementioned article more closely yields additional info: each neighborhood center in philly will offer free wi-fi.  so low income folks apparently have two options, free wi-fi in a community space or paid broadband $ $9-10/mnth @ home.

What's the incentive for a company to offer free wifi?

 

Advertisements perhaps?  If that's what keeps it free, I'd honestly rather pay $22/month and subsidize low  income connections @ $10/mnth. 

 

Sarcastically speaking, the $22 price will come down when the subsidies are no longer needed because everyone has gotten rich  creating pornographic gambling sites. 

Found on Bill Calahan's Blog, ONE Ohio:

 

 

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Cleveland posts RFP for wireless broadband network

 

The City of Cleveland has just posted the Request for Proposals (http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/business_center/RFP/Documents/WIFI.htm) for Mayor Jackson's planned citywide wireless broadband network.

Excerpts from the RFP's "Objectives" section:

 

    The purpose of the RFP is to select a private-sector partner (a single Provider or group of partnering Providers) to own, fund, design, construct, operate, manage, maintain, repair and upgrade a wireless mesh broadband Internet network infrastructure. The wireless network will be used for the express purpose of increasing the broadband availability throughout the City to improve the quality of life for our citizens, businesses and visitors ...

   

The City’s private-sector partner (s) would be expected to provide:

 

    • A dedicated and free wireless network for Internet access for the City’s safety and mobile workers to improve worker productivity. The wireless network will enable the City to use modern technology and applications to improve their productivity and deliver better government services more cost-efficiently and effectively. This means the network will be used for public and private purposes with appropriate separation and security for City use as required by the City.

    • Affordable, universal Citywide Internet access will be available to citizens, businesses and visitors. Cleveland’s wireless broadband network must reach every neighborhood, every populated area. The City is seeking a proposal that offers free to low-cost service options to every Clevelander and visitor. In addition, non-profit organizations should receive special pricing.

 

 

http://oneohio.blogspot.com/2007/04/cleveland-posts-rfp-for-wireless.html

 

 

What's the incentive for a company to offer free wifi?

 

Maybe a company will step up, such as HP or Dell, and sign an exclusivity contract with the city where only thier company's computers will be able to connect to the city wide network.  But, then again, I don't know if that is even feasible.

 

EDIT:

OK, I thought I read the post above mine.....never mind

crain's:

 

Not so wild about Wi-Fi     

Blog entry: August 16, 2007, 10:10 am    |    Author: SCOTT SUTTELL

 

A nationwide movement by cities to build Wi-Fi networks for their citizens is sputtering, The Wall Street Journal reports, as the projects run into technological and political hurdles and come under increased financial pressure.

 

“Constructing networks that can provide Internet access to homes and office buildings and withstand challenges from nature that interfere with wireless signals — such as hills or rainstorms — is proving more costly than anticipated,” according to the newspaper.

 

Some Wi-Fi projects, such as Philadelphia's, “are running 30% or more over budget,” The Journal reports. “Many cities are discovering the true costs of the initiatives only as they begin to roll out infrastructure and test the networks. Consumer demand for the services, meanwhile, has been soft in the early going.”

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20070816/BLOG01/70816002/-1/RSSBLOG01&rssfeed=RSSBLOG01

 

Any news on the results of the RFP?  I think I recall that proposals were due in the middle of May, and things certainly have seemed to be silent on this front since then. But then again, based on this WSJ article and another one that appeared in NY Times a few weeks back, perhaps it's best we take a careful, measured approach (I know, I know) and learn from others' mistakes.

^A late answer, but an answer nonetheless.

 

From: THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

Andrea Taylor, Press Secretary

(216) 664-4171 or (216) 857-7798

Michelle Watts, Asst. to the Chief of Communications

(216) 664-3999 or (216) 857-0124

 

For Immediate Release:

October 25, 2007

 

City of Cleveland Continues to Explore Options for WI-FI

 

CLEVELAND – Over the past year, the City of Cleveland has engaged in an extensive process to evaluate and select a municipal broadband provider. Recent changes within the broadband industry factored into the City’s decision to reject current proposals and to continue to explore new approaches for achieving its broadband goals.

 

The City is moving Mayor Jackson’s goal of Cleveland becoming a Digital City of Choice by taking a phased approach to building a broadband infrastructure that is not dependent on an anchor tenancy model which was one of the reasons for rejecting the proposals from Earthlink and MetroFi. A phased approach also better helps the City navigate the tenuous financial conditions and instability of the industry which were also factors in the City’s decision. Another part of the City’s new approach to WI-FI includes forging multiple public/private partnerships to strategically place wireless hot spots throughout the City using easy to install and affordable equipment.

 

“I remain committed to our vision of providing affordable Internet to all Clevelanders. We must close the Digital Divide in our underserved and unserved communities however we must rethink our strategy if we are to become successful in achieving universal access,” said Mayor Frank Jackson.

 

Cleveland is one of many cities who are now rethinking their citywide WI-FI strategy. Altered business models by wireless providers are among the determining factors.

 

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1372272271.html