I have been waiting for this. This is the sort of thing that you hear about from large cities such as Los Angeles, San Fransisco, or Chicago. I was surprised when it came from my home town of Cincinnati. I hope that they are able to get this up and running as I think Wi-Fi should be made available to everyone.
Laptop, PDA users could log on from anywhere
Cincinnati wants to build a broadband network that would make the whole city wireless in three years.
City officials concede that many other municipalities across the country are trying to build large wireless networks, with mixed results. But if local officials' hopes come true - and someone figures out how to make the technology work around the city's hills - Cincinnati could be among the first larger cities to be successful at it.
"We think we have a really good shot at this," Meg Olberding, city spokeswoman, said.
A lot of questions remain, she said. Among them:
What the access might cost, if anything.
How a broadband network could boost efficiency of city employees who work via laptops and PDAs.
Whether "digital inclusion" (providing wireless access to low-income people) is feasible.
City Manager Milton Dohoney's first step - a request for $50,000 to pay a consultant - was sent Wednesday night to city council's finance committee, which meets Monday. It could be back before the full council for a vote as soon as Wednesday. The winning bidder would have to agree to reimburse the city for this initial investment, Dohoney said.
"It would put us, we think, near the forefront," he said. "And it would certainly position us well in terms of economic development in the future."
Ryan Rybolt, co-founder and president of Project Lily Pad, a volunteer group that encourages development of free wireless spots in the region, said citywide broadband would make Cincinnati more attractive to young professionals and the creative class who seek a city "that's progressive and gets it."
"It says a lot about the people we have in leadership in our city," he said. "It's very forward-thinking."
Mayor Mark Mallory supports the plan but wants also to come up with a way to provide home computers to low-income residents.
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