Cuyahoga Falls goes wifi, but Lakewood has FON

[DougHuntingdon]

Cuyahoga Falls offers new wireless network
Downtown access is free for 60 days
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
April McClellan-Copeland
Plain Dealer Reporter
Cuyahoga Falls- A new wireless Internet network will offer residents and businesses in the city's downtown area free access for 60 days and allow police and firefighters to transmit live video from emergencies and floor plans of burning buildings.

The city has an agreement with MobilePro to build a wireless access zone downtown - known as WAZCUYAHOGAFALLS - as part of a two-month pilot project.

As part of the agreement, MobilePro is using the city's utility poles and buildings to create the network and is providing free wireless access for city services.

MobilePro installed six radio antennas in downtown Cuyahoga Falls from 4th Street to the Cuyahoga River and from Falls Avenue to Oakwood Drive, said John Konich, the city's manager of information services.

After the 60-day pilot period ends, MobilePro will continue to build the wireless system for the entire city. The network should be completed by next summer, Konich said.

Residents and businesses will be able to subscribe hourly, daily, monthly and annually, and some services will be free.

Cuyahoga Falls officials had been looking at ways to provide wireless services for the last two years but found that the capital costs were too great, Konich said.

"This program will cost the taxpayers nothing," he said.

"We get free wireless services and the residents will get an alternative to DSL and cable. The speed won't be as fast, but it will provide a significant savings for residences and businesses."

The city will hold a "Wire Cutting" ceremony at 7:45 p.m. Friday to kick off WAZCUYAHOGAFALLS and demonstrate the service at the Falls River Square Amphitheater during "Rockin on the River."

The wireless system will allow Cuyahoga Falls employees such as meter readers to have access to files while in the field. It also will let workers remotely monitor and maintain the city's traffic signals and water wells.

Cuyahoga Falls is among a handful of government entities in Ohio to provide wireless Internet access throughout the community.

Earlier this year, Mayfield announced its plan to create free Wi-Fi "hot spots" for public access and to work with a startup company called Euphonyx Ltd. to sell businesses access to a secure wireless network.

Called OneMayfield, the project is a partnership with OneCommunity, a nonprofit, regional firm that provides "ultrabroadband" secure Internet services to governments and other public agencies.

"There are hot spots around town, but no community as a whole has free public wireless Internet access," said Pam Blossom, a spokeswoman with OneCommunity.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

amcclellan@plaind.com, 1-800-628-6689

[David Lay]

Yep, we've got FON...a whopping 2 hotspots so far!