Several Cities Deploy Community Wi-Fi in U.S. Despite Lack of National Vision

Wireless Future Project director Michael Calabrese is quoted in a FierceWireless article about the success of the community Wi-Fi networks that are being developed in several cities around the United States, with Calabrese describing several case studies.

What started out as projects to bring Wi-Fi to schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa and San Jose, California, turned into municipal Wi-Fi projects.

Michael Calabrese is director of the Wireless Future Project at the think tank New America. He said in both cities, the local school district initiated a mesh Wi-Fi network. (Check out this white paper for all the details about the projects).

After the schools initiated the projects, the cities became involved, offering free access to light poles and fiber backhaul in exchange for opening the network to all city residents as well.

“Council Bluffs already covers the entire town; and San Jose has been steadily expanding beyond the initial East Side Union High School district where it’s very well-established,” said Calabrese.