MuniWireless

Microsoft’s new alliance with JiWire to deliver “ultramercials” online greatly enhances the business case for free wireless Internet access supported by advertising. This could be just what the muni market needs to revive interest in free ad-sponsored service on muni networks.

The ad supported model took off like a shot a few years back with munis looking to their Internet providers to generate enough revenue from the private sector to underwrite the cost to deploy a network and provide free service…

What makes for a great place to live? Wi-Fi, said attendees of a youth conference in Saskatchewan this winter. Now, Regina, Saskatchewan has the largest free Wi-Fi network in Canada.What makes for a great place to live? Wi-Fi, said attendees of a youth conference in Saskatchewan this winter. Now, Regina, Saskatchewan has the largest free Wi-Fi network in Canada.

The $1.3 million project boasts an annual budget of almost $340,000 but, according to a story in Saskatchewan’s Leader-Post, officials there believe…

Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is providing free wireless high-speed Internet access in its historic downtown as part of an initiative of its Chamber of Commerce.Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is providing free wireless high-speed Internet access in its historic downtown as part of an initiative of its Chamber of Commerce.

Ted Fisher, Sapulpa’s Economic Development Director, announced the service last week. The service covers seven square blocks in the downtown business district and, according to Fisher, is available in “both working and dining areas.”

Funds from a…

Anchorage, Alaska, has suspended its contract with MetroFi to provide downtown wireless services after it was unable to come to terms with the company over an anchor tenancy commitment. This has been a tough week for MetroFi which is dealing with similar situations in Corona, California, and Toledo, Ohio.Anchorage, Alaska, has suspended its contract with MetroFi to provide downtown wireless services after it was unable to come to terms with the company over an anchor tenancy commitment. This has been…

Things are heating up again in San Francisco where supporters of the city’s proposed contract with EarthLink to build a city-wide Wi-Fi network staged demonstrations as the city’s Board of Supervisors, which must approve the contract, delayed two key votes.Things are heating up again in San Francisco where supporters of the city’s proposed contract with EarthLink to build a city-wide Wi-Fi network staged demonstrations as the city’s Board of Supervisors, which must approve the contract, delayed two key votes.

One of…

There was a sit-down this week in Toledo, Ohio, as the city council’s IT committee met with the city’s former IT director who demonstrated how the proposed municipal wireless network there could be built at no cost to the city. Now issues of legality have been raised. Stay tuned…There was a sit-down this week in Toledo, Ohio, as the city council’s IT committee met with the city’s former IT director, Dr. Patsy Scott, who demonstrated how the proposed municipal wireless…