Somerville may install free wireless in Davis

[ceo]

From the Somerville Journal:

[John] Connolly also wants wireless Internet service for all of Davis Square.
The Ward 6 alderman is asking City Information Technology Director James Halloran to see if wireless Internet service can be provided to all of Davis Square by installing "a few well-situated" antennae.
"Perhaps it's something we can achieve by this fall," Connolly said.
Coffee shops, including Starbucks and the Diesel Café, already offer wireless Internet service inside their businesses for a nominal charge.
Connolly said he'd like Halloran to meet with the Chamber of Commerce and the Davis Square Business Interest Group to see if the service could be extended to laptop computer users sitting in parks and benches in the square.
If the service works in Davis Square, Connolly said maybe it could be brought to other squares in the city, too.

Comments

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Probably not too much. Realistically, if they set up a wireless network to serve people who are outdoors in the square it's unlikely to provide great signal in the middle of an indoor space like Diesel unless Diesel cooperates. Depending on their profit margins, it might be better for Diesel to ditch their paid wireless and go in on a project like this.

It wouldn't be at all strategic for the city to hurt Diesel's business. Diesel pays taxes and draws people to Davis Square, which probably improves business for other stores and restaurants nearby.