Chicagoist: Wi-T-Fi, No Municipal Wireless Internet?

guest

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:04:30 -0600

There are a lot of people who could benefit from a program like this. I wouldn't put much faith in WiMax they have been talking it up for over 4 years as far as I am concerned it is vaporware. What makes you think Sprint will offer a low priced broadband alternative, furthermore what makes you people think the disadvantaged that this program was designed for will be the first adopters of expensive WiMax cards. If anything we will have to hope that google wins the 700Mhz spectrum if any service like the one proposed is to exist. The problem with this program was it was too broad in its scope the only areas that needed to be served by this were areas where there is a high need for cheap broadband service where dsl is not available ie low income housing areas and business districts where ad support would have been enough to justify an investment like this. Normal residential and industrial zones have zero need for a service like this. Access to the internet for disadvantaged children is a noble cause especially with the shape of our school system so just because you have internet access doesn't mean there is not a place for WiFi in Chicago.

Kevin Robinson

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:29:42 -0600

Frankly, I'm surprised that one of Da Mare's buddies didn't get the chance to put in a billion routers, only to "find out" about WiMax after the fact. And then have to go back and put in new routers. On the City's dime. WiFi in Chicago? Would be nice if the CTA ran right. Oh yeah, that's just wishful thinking, I suppose....

Chris Surguine

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:56:01 -0600

Doppler - I agree completely. At least they axed the project beforing installing a billion routers, only to find out about WiMax *then*.

guest

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:30:31 -0600

You are a fool. Good riddance to your retarded butt.

guest

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:41:45 -0600

The internet is a passing fad anyway--good riddance.

lwinling

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:43:08 -0600

Don't know how Denver did it, but public wifi service downtown there was just fine.

doppler

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:01:56 -0600

I'm glad you mentioned WiMax. Municipal wifi is shortsighted given the potential of WiMax. In a few short years, WiMax adapters will be ubiquitous in new hardware and adapters will be "free after rebate". On a technical note, the number of access points required for municipal wifi to work is insane. I can't get a decent signal in the back half of my small apartment from my own router. For the nerds out there, how could the city think they could handle channel overlapping given the number of APs that they would have to install? It's nuts!