Wireless Internet

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Lead Editor: Peter Davison 2005

Wireless Internet

Definition:

Wireless internet with e-democracy represents the use of Wi-Fi in council chambers, committee meeting rooms, and other spaces used by councillors, staff, and potentially citizens.

Summary:

Wireless Fidelity, or Wi-Fi, technology allows for a "wireless" connection to the Internet. It complements and builds on existing infrastructure in municipal buildings, council chambers and public meeting places.

Wi-Fi technology represents a shift away from cable and signals the mobility of access to the Internet. A local government can follow this trend by offering Wi-Fi services that make it possible to connect with governmental and/or relevant webpages when in government buildings or designated public spaces.

Rationale and Objectives:

• Local governments are able to provide access to information and government services, and obtain feedback from citizens. It is a building block toward a more accessible government-citizen relationship.
• Wi-Fi represents a crucial element in "Bridging the Digital Divide" and providing an affordable option for web services. The ability to provide Internet access to under-serviced areas is made possible through inexpensive network creation. In many cases municipalities are creating their own "mini-utilities" that specifically focus on the development of publically run Wi-Fi.
• Wi-Fi encourages promotion of technology at the local level. It means that local governments are keeping up with the shifts in technology and creative partnerships are formed, such as university think tanks.

Why use it? (Compared to other options)

• Wireless networks are now emerging as an alternatives to existing IT infrastructure. It is cost effective to use already purchased computers and allows communities to take advantage of the market-driven dropping prices of network cards.
• Governments and the private sector have the potential of using Wi-Fi in conjunction with geospatial models that enable remote inventory and tracking of property in real time rather than having to wait to download information off of a Personal Data Assistant (PDA).

Benefits

• All Users: Municipal Wi-Fi means mobile access to information.
• Citizens: Access to government and services via an existing communications tool such as a PDA or mobile phone.
• Councillors: Councillors will have access to decision-making tools that allow for immediate consultation. This may include informal discussion and debate in committee rooms, main chambers or outside chambers.
• Local Administration: Local governments will be able to offer more flexible working environments including where a worker is placed and what times they need to be online.
• Others (list special audiences): Community Economic Development initatives supporting Wi-Fi in local businesses will result in increased business activities for cafes, bookstores, restaurants, and technology companies.

Limitations and Cautions

• Regulatory issues are emerging in several municipalities vis-a-vis the ongoing debate as to whether municipalites are able to offer free Wi-Fi. At the core is the argument that it is an anti-competitive manoeuvre by local councils.
• An ongoing concern is the nature of the security available for local government Wi-Fi. Security assessments will aid in the secure roll-out of a Wi-Fi network that is being promoted for dual citizen/public offical usage in terms of the integrity of the information being submitted or provided by websites.
• Local governments may want to consider partnerships with existing Wi-Fi groups and associations due to the fact that in setting up city-wide Wi-Fi, these groups and associations will be serving as major stakeholders of knowledge concerning access, black out spots and help to determine where best to set up new antennas.

Successes ^{collected projects}

- Successful Implementations

Two or three key examples from at least two countries.

• Example 1 Title: City of Atlanta Wi-Fi Initative
  • Link: http://www.atlantacommunitytech.com/wireless/techwifi.html
  • Usage and Results: The city of Atlanta has created a public/private partnership which has come out through a focus from the Mayor's office. It will be a two-tiered approach in which there will be revenue generation opportunities through the creation of city-wide hotspots and educational outreach to ensure resources and infrastructure are aimed at underserved neighbourhoods. Comment from Mayor Franklin:

Mayor Franklin has stated the value of Wi-Fi to local Government: The wireless Internet… has much to offer in terms of worker mobility, network connectivity, and getting more information into the hands of our managers and employees faster and with more accuracy. Our Office of Community Technology has demonstrated the role of technology in workforce development, educational arrangements, and building stronger neighborhoods.

• • Contact Information: Abe Kani, Chief Information Officer, City of Atlanta, Georgia, akani@atlantaga.gov
• Background Information
  • City of Atlanta IT Strategy
  • Atlanta Wi-Fi Request for Proposals RFP

• Example 2: Austin Wireless City
  • Link:Austin
  • Usage and Results: Austin Wireless City is a volunteer group seeking to improve the quality and availability of free Wi-Fi public access hotspots in Austin. The steering committee consists of representatives from Austin Wireless Group, Austin Free-Net, EFF-Austin, Less Networks, the City of Austin, and others.
  • Contact Information: (Optional)

Rondella Hawkins Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs Officer City of AustinRondella.Hawkins@ci.austin.tx.us 512-974-2422

• Background
  • Wireless in Austin: http://www.atlantacommunitytech.com/techsummit/docs/othercities/2004AtlantaWireless.pdf
  • A Nonprofit, a City Council, and a Private Sector Walk Into a Park: http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2004-06-11/screens_feature4.html

• Example 3: City of Fredricton Fred E-Zone
  • Link:http://www.fred-ezone.ca/
  • Usage and Results: The caption on the front of the webpage states, "Fredericton, New Brunswick has integrated traditional and wireless technologies to create Fred-eZone, a free, community-wide Wi-Fi network providing residents, visitors, and businesses with mobile broadband access from virtually anywhere within the city." The city of Fredricton took the extra step of being the first Canadian municipality to create a "mini-utility" in order to handle the creation of the project. A city of 80,000 people, Fredricton is observing that increases in the daily usage do not face any commercial competition due to the collaborative nature of the project. They have all crucial stakeholders such as government, business, and community groups involved and created an aggressive branding progam with signs indicating hotspots.
  • Contact Information: Mike Richard, Vice President Operations, e-Novations, mike.richard@e-novations.ca
• Background
  • Fred E-Zone White Paper
  • Installing the E-Zone By Gerry Blackwell
  • Intel Case Study Building a Smart City through wireless technology

• Example 4: Barcelona Wi-Fi Initative
  • Link:Wireless BCN
  • Usage and Results: The city of Barcelona’s "Sensefils" (wireless in catalan) Wi-Fi service allowed users to connect free of charge to a number of websites considered to be of public interest, most of them from public entities. Equipped with a laptop or a PDA, users were able to conduct e-government transactions, send and receive e-mails, and find useful information about the city. After a successful launch in January 2004, the service had expanded to the whole of Barcelona, with eleven connection points established in ten districts of the city. (Source: European Commission)
• Background
  • 3GSM Moves To Barcelona in 2006
  • Barcelona and Wi-fi Project as reported on European Comission website

• Example 5 Title: Austrian Government Wi-fi Initative
  • Link: http://europa.eu.int/idabc/en/document/2203/5655
  • Usage and Results: The Austrian government has decided to provide its citizens with free wireless access to all '.gov.at' government websites. Any citizen equipped with a wireless-enabled notebook can thus connect to any e-government service if he or she is close enough to one of the 350 hotspots currently available in the country. Most hotspots are located in public places such as coffee houses, train stations, and hotels. (Source: European Communities 2004)
• Background
  • 'M-Parking' increasingly popular in Austrian cities (2004)
  • Austria's citizen card could enable document signature via mobile phone (2003)
  • A mobile solution for Austria (2002)

Further Information

Top Related "How-to" Online Resources

• Basic Primer on Wi-fi: http://www.atlantacommunitytech.com/techsummit/docs/primer/Wireless101.pdf
• Understanding Wi-Fi and WiMAX as Metro-Access Solution:http://www.intel.com/netcomms/technologies/wimax/304471.pdf
• Demand for public-funded WiFi grows:http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/20_1/statelocal/25291-1.html
• Urban renewal, the wireless way:http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2004/11/29/digital_metropolis/index.html

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