Dayton's steps to citywide access puts it in forefront of state, ranked No. 2 in nation by one provider of products.
By Cathy Mong - Staff Writer, The Dayton Daily News
DAYTON, OH — A new report by an information technology products provider, which tracks state and local government technology investment, places Ohio second in the nation in wireless or Wi-Fi investment.
Dayton's announcement Tuesday that it is close to providing free Internet access in all 55 square miles of the city and airport places the city in the lead in Ohio.
The study released Tuesday by CDW-Government Inc. of West Vernon, Ill., found that public-private partnerships such as Dayton's are an indicator of economic development based on enhanced communications, and a city that is better able to provide services more directly and efficiently.
CDW-G judged Rhode Island as the nation's largest Wi-Fi investor.
The Dayton City Commission is poised to OK a final contract by month's end with HarborLink Network, a local company led by President Rick Tangeman.
Citywide Wi-Fi will be available at no cost to anyone with a laptop computer, and it will not cost the city. A pilot program begun in March 2005 offered free access within a one-mile radius of downtown.
"When we did the pilot we incurred the cost of connecting to the Internet as part of the test," said John Moore, interim director of the city's department of information and technology services. "In the full-scale rollout, it will be at no cost to the city except using public facilities and providing some power."
Tangeman said the city will provide an overlay of the streets, its light and traffic light poles and city-owned buildings.
"From there we can locate our radios," he said.
About 3,500 radios the size of shoeboxes will be placed throughout the city on lampposts and the sides of buildings.
Besides city buildings, other businesses, such as Requarth Lumber, gave HarborLink access to its outside walls.
"That radio allows it to talk over Fifth Third
Field" and allow access in that area, Tangeman said.
He said CDW-G is providing "good information and doing some trending."
"Honestly, it's fun for us," he said. "As a born-and-raised Daytonian, it's fun to see technology come to the region that has an impact in the communications field. We're giving traditional services the ability to have true mobility. That's what it gets down to."
Tangeman said based on total access in Dayton, as well as areas of Columbus and pilot program in Springfield, "bubbles of Wi-Fi can be eventually linked to be a technology corridor."
As for the city, Moore said the ability to communicate is essential to business.
"Being able to work smartly, efficiently and be in communication, even if you're out of the office, begins reaping dividends. It allows individuals to be more productive and more competitive in today's economy."
