I missed this - Free citywide WiFi in Aurora

[EagleDad]

Somehow, during the week of the referendum I missed this!:
www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-16-2006/0004321821&EDATE=

Aurora is partnering with MetroFi to bring free, advertising supported wireless internet to the whole area. How cool is that? Watch out San Fran, here comes Aurora! Looks like the city of lights is becoming the city of wireless.

I have a ping into AldermanKeith to find out the status of this and when it will be rolled out. Some days, I'm glad White Eagle is in Aurora

[EagleDad]

Light 'em up. It looks like the first two-mile area will fire up before Labor Day:
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/top/2_1_AU30_WIFI_S10730.htm

[cantretirehere]

Hey - us too.


Media Release
Thursday, July 20, 2006

Citywide High-Speed Wireless
Agreement Approved

NAPERVILLE, Ill.— The Naperville City Council on Tuesday voted to approve a five-year agreement that would enable California-based MetroFi to provide WiFi - a product that delivers high-speed wireless Internet access - to the entire city at no cost to the city or Naperville residents.

Over the last several years, the City of Naperville has been evaluating the concept of providing or contracting for high-speed wireless Internet service in designated areas of the city, including the downtown and the 95th Street Corridor. In addition, city staff has worked with the Naperville Development Partnership (NDP) to evaluate the pros and cons of various service options. Recognizing the importance, the Naperville City Council formalized its priority to providing residents and businesses with this leading technology by adopting it as one of its Strategic Initiatives for Fiscal Year 2006-2007.

"We know that more than 90 percent of our residents have access to the Internet at home or at work," said Information Technology Director Donald Carlsen. "Once this product is implemented, residents and visitors alike will be able to utilize this emerging technology throughout the city at absolutely zero cost."

To support the wireless network, transmitters will be installed on street lights throughout the city. The transmitters are 18 inches high and 12 inches wide, and will be mounted to the mast arm of about 500 to 600 of the city's 5,000 street light poles. At this time, the city plans to work with MetroFi to establish a reasonable timeline for when the service will be available throughout the city. MetroFi also plans to implement a pilot program in the downtown in the near future. It is expected that this service will be available citywide within 18 months.

"We are excited to get started on the downtown pilot program," added Carlsen. "It should provide us with some insight as to how residents will adapt to the technology and might even allow us to begin to brainstorm on how the city might utilize the network down the road to streamline several municipal functions."

MetroFi has built similar wireless networks in a number of California communities, including Cupertino, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale. The company has also been contracted to deliver the service to Portland, Oregon; and Aurora, Illinois.

[bob]

Good I would gladly kick Comcast out of the house. The internet has been up and down for a month now.

[chicoryowl]

I've had pretty good experience with Comcast from the standpoint of when everything works, it works well. I've had few problems with my internet connection lately. However, I have to call them out to put an amplifier on my line for an upstairs cable box and I'm dreading the circus that accompanies every problem call.

Also, I don't know if you'll want to dump Comcast just yet depending on your needs. Per the bottom of the second linked article, the speed won't be as fast as DSL.

"When: Before Labor Day for a two-square-mile area centered on downtown. Service should be in place citywide by next spring.•What: Wireless Internet service for the entire community. The service will be marginally slower than most DSL connections.•Cost: Free, but with advertising on small banners that will appear on any Internet connection; $20 a month for users who want ad-free connections"