Minneapolis is quickly becoming the new poster child for the municipal Wi-Fi movement.
The city is expected to have the majority of its 59-square-mile network finished by the end of this month, and already experts are pointing to the nearly completed network as a model other cities should follow.
Toledo Wi-Fi funding examined
Former director again touts budget-neutral plan
"Despite her recent resignation and subsequent firing, the city's former information services director spent nearly an hour telling Toledo City Council members how to pay for a wireless network without boosting spending.
From: Navarre, Michael Chief
To: neighborhoodconcerns
Cc: Davies, Todd
Subject: Wi-Fi
Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 13:31:23 -0400
This is in response to an e-mail you sent to Mayor Finkbeiner with questions to former Director Scott about the Wi-Fi in Toledo. The answers below are from the prospective of the Police Department:
Mayor to retool Toledo Wi-Fi plan, eliminate taxpayer funding.
"Yesterday, Mr. Finkbeiner returned to the position he said he expressed in January - that Wi-Fi should be accomplished without city funding. Exactly what that means for the proposal from MetroFi, of Mountain View, Calif., which was being recommended to city council by the mayor, wasn't clear."
A recent letter described "financial disasters" experienced by cities that have pursued wireless municipal networks. But there are as many positive research reports as negative. According to the June edition of MuniWireless, there are at least three models for establishing wireless municipal networks.
From The Blade:
Public safety outweighs 'hip' for Toledo Wi-Fi
Potential cut in response times cited
Here
