Cincinnati looks to unwire
Cincinnati, Ohio, the city of “seven hills,” wants to go wireless within three years. The question on the minds of city fathers is how well the technology can deal with its peaks and valleys.Cincinnati, Ohio, the city of “seven hills,” wants to go wireless within three years. The question on the minds of city fathers is how well the technology can deal with its peaks and valleys.
City spokesperson Meg Olberding said the city is evaluating cost, mobile applications for city employees, and a digital inclusion plan to provide access to low-income families.
The city council’s finance committee on Monday will consider a request for $50,000 for a consultant and, if approved, the request will go to the full council for approval on Wednesday. According to a report in The Cincinnati Enquirer, the provider chosen for the project will be expected to reimburse the city for the amount.
This is great news for me. I happen to be blogging this item from the Naugahyce comfort of an easy chair at a Cincinnati Panera Bread hotspot, my de facto office whenever I visit my mother (who has only dial-up service). The saga of my search for broadband in Cincinnati would fill volumes. Suffice it to say T*Mobile profited mightily from me before Panera came along.
All week I’ve noted the number of fellow passers-through with laptops here at Panera. Our little corner of chairs, sofas and a single power outlet that we take turns sharing, sometimes serves as a de facto meeting room for small business owners entertaining clients. At others, it’s a gathering place for locals in search of a connection. (At the moment, two local seniors are sitting next to me discussing the new laptop one woman received from her daughter and how nice it will be to connect once she learns how.)
These public hotspots have become necessities for those in need of occasional connectivity–but not enough to justify the cost of a subscription–and are nice for socializing. Imagine the possibilities when signals are available from almost anywhere.
Click here to read The Enquirer report.
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