Wireless (and Wired) Minneapolis

Copyright 2005 Star Tribune
Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

January 5, 2005, Wednesday, Metro Edition

St. Paul council aims to spin citywide Web;
Wireless network could have practical and social benefits, advocates say.

BYLINE: Jackie Crosby; Staff Writer

BODY:
St. Paul officials are exploring ways to bring low-cost, high-speed Internet access to the city using wireless technology.

City Council members are expected to discuss the issue at today's meeting, but cautioned Tuesday that the process is in the preliminary stages.

"The Internet is kind of like a public street," said Council Member Dave Thune. "Just like we don't have only toll roads, maybe there should be some kind of basic access where the public can get the benefit of the Internet regardless of how much money they have and regardless of where they are located."

Wi-Fi, which stands for "wireless fidelity," allows multiple computer users to make a wireless radio frequency connection to the Internet. The technology is popular at coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and airports.

Nearly two dozen cities around the country have either started their own high-speed wireless Internet networks or have contracted with private companies to do so.

In the Twin Cities area, the city of Chaska has been among the first to embrace the technology. This fall, Chaska began offering all 7,500 homes access to a city-run wireless broadband network, which is also used by city workers and police. The city charges $16 a month for the service.

Minneapolis has a backbone in place for Wi-Fi and is in the early stages of setting up a functioning network. St. Paul City Council Members Thune, Lee Helgen and Jay Benanav, who signed a resolution that would direct city staff to research Wi-Fi, said they see an opportunity to work with Minneapolis to consider creating a metrowide network.

Jon Kerr, who lives on the West Side and owns Old Man River Cafe on W. 7th Street, said citywide Wi-Fi can have social as well as practical benefits.

"I see it as helping people on the local level get easier access to information and getting more involved with the city," said Kerr, who has talked with more than a dozen people who are interested in pushing the issue. "It can play a big part in furthering the democratic process. Right now there are a lot of ways to get access to the Internet, but it's expensive now for the average person."

A few municipal governments that have tried to set up their own fee-based networks have run into trouble with private companies and the courts. Kerr and Thune acknowledged the land mines ahead but said no one wants to create another government-run utility.

"There are a lot of possibilities that would still involve needing the help of government in terms of getting access to [telephone] poles and fiber optic lines," Kerr said.