City Hall hooking up hotspots
By Daily Press Staff Writer
CITYWIDE — Internet junkies looking for their next fix will not have to go very far now that City Hall has expanded its high-speed wireless network to 11 locations within Santa Monica.
The recent expansion, which includes the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Pier and City Hall lobby and courtyard, is part of a broader effort to offer free wireless Internet services in public spaces of interest.
City Hall has identified 11 additional sites that could accommodate wi-fi, and plans are underway to bring Euclid Park online by the end of October, said Jory Wolf, City Hall’s chief information officer.
Other locations under consideration include Palisades, Marine, Reed and Douglas parks, the Ken Edwards Center, Bergamot Station and open spaces at the Santa Monica Airport, Wolf said.
“Santa Monica joins an elite group of about 250 cities that are actively engaged in installing these networks,” Wolf said.
Along with the new locations, City Hall also unveiled a logo to alert people to the presence of wi-fi hot zones. Members of the public should begin seeing the logo at wireless locations within the next three weeks,Wolf said.
The logo reads,“City wi-fi … powered by the city of Santa Monica.”
Unlike cable or DSL, no physical connection is required for wi-fi technology. Instead, antennas broadcast a signal that can be picked up by any computer equipped with a wireless card. Nearly any laptop sold in the last two years is “Wi-Fi ready,” and older computers can easily be retrofitted.
Many large cities have chosen to blanket downtown areas and leave the wireless signal open and free to all. In San Jose, Calif., for example, anyone can sign up for a free account to access the network, which covers most of the city’s downtown area.
Smaller towns, however, can choose to recoup costs by restricting access to those who pay a monthly fee. In Chaska, Minn., the city invested $750,000 to install a network to serve its 20,000 residents in July 2004. Residents pay $15.99 per month, which is less than what incumbent providers Time Warner Inc. and Sprint Corp. charge for traditional broadband access.
Meanwhile, in August 2004, Philadelphia officials announced the most extensive pay-for-access network to date: a plan to blanket 135 square miles of downtown with wireless coverage. Residents would be expected to pay about $20 a month for access, with the proceeds used to recoup the city’s $15 million initial investment.
City Hall is considering something similar, forming a committee in May to study proposals from vendors to provide free Internet services at a low-band width throughout the entire city for residents and visitors, Wolf said.
“The city is mulling over all kinds of ideas (because) there are several ways to do this,” Wolf said. “We could implement it ourselves or contract with a private company. It could be free of charge or pay as you go. There could be a low rate and a higher rate for those who want more services or a faster connection. There could also be a dedicated business rate. It still being discussed.”
Those who use City Hall’s wireless service are greeted by a special portal page with links to other city hot spots and items of general interest such as shopping, dining, accommodations, local attractions and city government. Users are also able to browse their favorite web sites.
To access the web, all one needs is a lap-top computer, personal data assistant (or PDA), or a cell phone with 802.11b or 802.11g wireless technology. The Civic Center was added to the wi-fi network for $8,000; City Hall lobby and courtyard, $200; and the Pier, $6,000, Wolf said.
“We are always looking for new opportunities to expand and the Civic Center was one place where we really wanted to have a presence,” Wolf said. “It is one of our larger venues, which hosts a lot of public meetings and conventions where promoters and their clients come in and may wish to use the Internet for simple communications and to help showcase their products.
“Also, those visiting the space will be able to search the web, both inside the auditorium and outside on the lawn,” Wolf said.
Wireless Internet access is also currently available at the Third Street Promenade, all public libraries, the City Council chambers and Virginia Avenue Park.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 30, 2006. Read the original PDF.