Broadband Wireless Internet Access (BWIA) / WiMAX Stories

L.A. Mayor Wants Citywide Wireless Access

From Los Angeles Times / latimes.com - www.latimes.com

 

Antonio Villaraigosa proposes a Wi-Fi plan that would provide free or low-cost Internet services over 498 square miles in 2009.

By James S. Granelli and Tony Barboza, Times Staff Writers

February 14, 2007

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa outlined plans Tuesday to blanket Los Angeles with wireless Internet access in 2009, in what would be one of the nation's largest urban Wi-Fi networks.

The L.A. Wi-Fi initiative would give Los Angeles residents, schools, businesses and visitors  uninterrupted high-speed Internet connections — for work, research, Web browsing or even phone calls.

More than 300 municipalities nationwide already have launched plans for similar networks based on the Wi-Fi technology that has become popular at coffee shops, bookstores, public parks and countless other so-called hot spots.


Full story at:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wifi14feb14,1,6392577.story?page=1&ctrack=1&cset=true&coll=la-headlines-business

(Lead for this story from Dewayne Hendricks posting to the Dewayne-net mailing list.)

Vast Wi-Fi Network Will Blanket Houston

From Dallas Morning News / DallasNews.com - www.dallasnews.com

08:07 PM CST on Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Associated Press

HOUSTON – City officials said Tuesday they had struck a deal with EarthLink Inc. to build a citywide wireless Internet network that would eventually be the nation's largest at about 600 square miles.

Houston would join more than 250 communities across the nation that plan to or already offer wireless Internet to residents, businesses and government workers. Once completed, Houston's municipal Wi-Fi network would be the largest in North America, EarthLink officials said.

"You can certainly say things are bigger in Texas," said Craig Setters, an industry analyst and author of the book "Fighting The Good Fight For Municipal Wireless."

At an afternoon news conference, Mayor Bill White used the word "enormous," citing the estimated $50 million that EarthLink would invest in setting up the infrastructure and the 10,000 transmitters that will be placed on light and utility poles throughout the city. No taxpayer dollars would be spent the project, White said.

Full story at:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/021407bizhoustonwifi.128d0ce.html#

(Lead for this story from Dewayne Hendricks posting to the Dewayne-net mailing list.)

Microsoft, Google Want FCC To Test Wireless Device

By Molly Peterson
Bloomberg News

Microsoft Corp., Google Inc. and four other technology companies plan to submit a prototype of a new handheld device to U.S. regulators for testing, as they press the government to free up airwaves for wireless Internet access.

Microsoft is developing the prototype, which the coalition will submit to the Federal Communications Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology, according to a Feb. 5 letter the companies filed with the FCC.

The device would "provide consumer broadband access and networking," the filing said.

The commission is considering whether to let companies offer wireless Internet access on handheld devices that would use vacant television airwaves, known as white spaces.

Full story at:
seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/303204_msftgoogle10.html

(Lead for this story from Peter Radizeski posting to the WISPA mailing list.)

Kansas City Star - Wireless Proposal Advances

Johnson County will ask providers to submit bids on creating a countywide network.

By FINN BULLERS

The Kansas City Star

In the future, computer users in Johnson County could be able to access the Internet from anywhere in the county — no cords attached.

On Thursday, county commissioners and the county’s three largest cities took the next step toward creating a wireless communications network to cover the 460-acre county.

Commissioners agreed that in March county staff would put out a request for proposals, asking wireless network providers to bid on building the county’s network, said Hannes Zacharias, deputy county manager.

The response will tell the county whether the private sector wants the business and thinks there is money to be made by constructing a wireless network throughout Johnson County.

Full story at:
www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16658107.htm

(Lead to this story from Dawn DiPietro posting to the WISPA mailing list.)