AkronNewsNow.com

VIDEO Step One For A Wi-Fi Akron
6/19/2009 12:23:30 PM | Larry States, AkronNewsNow.com

City officials today signed on to wireless broadband coverage that represents the first sqaure mile of Akron's plan to widen public access to the internet.

Akron enters the digital age with free wireless covering key downtown areas. (photo: Larry States, AkronNewsNow)

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This is the first phase of a ten-square mile wireless demonstration project announced a year ago.

The Connect Akron project is a partnership between the city and nonprofit technology organization OneCommunity. The goal, which could be achieved in another year or two, is to provide wireless access to the entire city, some 64 square miles. That will depend on how much federal stimulus funding Akron recieves.

Mark Ansboury is chief technical officer for OneCommunity. Ansboury says Phase 2 will expand coverage to a 10-square mile area of downtown Akron, with the city being fully covered by wireless internet access by sometime in 2010.

WATCH Mark Ansboury, OneCommunity Chief Technical Officer

Ansboury telling reporters during a news conference at lock 3 downtown that the Akron wireless network will act as a nationwide model. He hopes that Akron will be a showcase for how citiews might create sustainable systems, providfe better services to residents, and streamline government.

The wireless project's footprint includes all of downtown Akron, plus major hospitals and includes the Akron Urban League to the South, Portage Path School of Technolgy to the west,the North Hill Library to the north, and Goodyear to the east. The initial buildout will also include the business districts in Kenmore, Firestone Park and Sand Run, allowing all 10 of Akron's wards to participate in the wi-fi demonstration ov er the next year.

Residents and businesses will have open access to the internet over the wireless web that may be used by anyone with a computer and wireless capability. Additional services will be offered for a fee. All wireless links i the network will will be secured using encryption, offering a good level of security.

City officials planned to start in the downtown and west Akron areas first.

Previous Coverage: Fire Internet For Akron, Council Approves Free Internet For Akron, Akron Aiming To Expand Wireless Internet

On the Web: OneCommunity www.connectakron.org

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posted at 6/19/2009 1:23:33 PM (11603)
misstia said:

this has been in the works for a few years...now right before the election they trot this back out...

posted at 6/19/2009 2:39:34 PM (11606)
Firestoneparker said:

I wonder why Akron? I bet it's because we have a Mayor who goes out and gets us things! Free internet access will be another nice draw for the city of Akron!

posted at 6/19/2009 2:56:47 PM (11607)
misstia said:

this has been in the works for several years and now right before the election they're getting around to rolling this out...that was my point...

posted at 6/19/2009 3:05:07 PM (11609)
pureblue said:

As someone who is in the networking field, I can tell you that something like this takes a LOT of planning. I'm guessing they chose today so they could demo it at the kick off to summer event today at Lock 3.

posted at 6/19/2009 8:30:22 PM (11618)
Wayne In Akron said:

==================
@FParker

I wonder why Akron? I bet it's because we have a Mayor who goes out and gets us things!
==================

More than SIX YEARS BEFORE Don Plusquellic was elected to his FIRST term as Akron's Mayor, John S. Knight passed away. (June 16, 1981 to be exact.)

The John S. Knight Foundation is the 2nd largest contributor (behind the taxpayers of Akron) to this project.

According to the ABJ's coverage of the May 9, 2008 press conference that announced this wireless system, Mayor Plusquellic "spoke of the legacy of John S. Knight and how the digital projects fit into his philosophy."

" 'He loved Akron,' the mayor said. 'He talked about this community. He tried to do everything he could . . . He worked his entire life to make sure this city was competitive and stayed ahead of the curve.' "

Knight's love, commitment, and vision for Akron had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH DON PLUSQUELLIC.

posted at 6/19/2009 8:49:44 PM (11622)
misstia said:

i know a couple people who knew mr. knight and they said he would be appalled if he saw what akron and his paper had become...

that's great people DOWNTOWN will have wifi, but how about fixing STREETS? how about providing us with a FULLY STAFFED APD? how about honoring the contract with the retired police and firefighters?

posted at 6/19/2009 9:26:07 PM (11624)
Wayne In Akron said:

=============
@MissTia

how about fixing STREETS? how about providing us with a FULLY STAFFED APD? how about honoring the contract with the retired police and firefighters?
=============

Oh, come on now.

That would require "a Mayor who goes out and gets us things!"

Too bad our current Mayor's priorities are so out of whack.

posted at 6/19/2009 9:31:03 PM (11625)
misstia said:

priorities indeed....and gee, how many trips to china did wifi-ing downtown cost? i'd rather decent roads and a fully staffed police force and our retired safety forces contract honored before we get 'frills' like wifi downtown...

posted at 6/20/2009 7:16:21 AM (11634)
Old Man Grump said:

The timing of the big internet turn on switch just before the recall election is Akron recall politics at it's best. It's a great thing that all of Summit County deserves - free internet.

posted at 6/20/2009 12:08:09 PM (11640)
Wayne In Akron said:

I wonder if the Mayor reads these message boards himself or if one of his multiple, 6 figure salary "Deputy" Mayors does?

ANN missed out on some comments from Dave Lieberth at the beginning of the wireless kickoff.

According to today's ABJ article...

"Plusquellic decided to not attend after becoming angry at comments posted on newspaper and RADIO STATION WEB SITES suggesting that this week's announcement of the new wireless system and news that as many as 1,500 jobs may come to a new Akron call center were timed to influence the vote."

I believe that ANN is the ONLY Akron radio station web site that allows comments.

Way to go Akron News Now! Finally, Akron residents have found a way to get the attention of the Mayor or someone in the administration who has his ear.

I think ANN can use this as the basis of a whole new adverting and marketing campaign!

posted at 6/20/2009 10:23:01 PM (11650)
LA-Man said:

Firestoneparker - let me remind you that nothing is ever free. Whatever happens - someone is paying for it. All governments get their money from taxes. You and I are paying for it - assuming you pay taxes.

posted at 6/20/2009 10:49:58 PM (11651)
misstia said:

i saw in the abj it was like 2.2 million so far...and now here it's mentioning STIMULUS monday...how about we rebuild the streets? fully staff the APD? take care of neighborhoods in areas besides goodyear/fireston and downtown?? you take care of basics, then you get some frills like wi-fi...this is like getting a wide screen HDTV instead of paying your mortgage....

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