Keeping in step with a national trend, the Pleasanton business and government leaders are now shopping for a wireless network provider who can provide free wireless (Wi-Fi) service throughout the downtown district.
Steve Bocian, Deputy City Manager, said the proposed downtown network would enable those with laptop computers and wireless access to search the Internet for free from anywhere downtown. The service would be available in coffee shops such as Tully’s and Coffee Bean & Bistro, which now charge users as much as $3.95 a month to connect to their service provider.
Bocian said the wireless network creates a “hot zone” that allows not only laptops, but also personal digital assistants such as Palm Pilots, to access printers, share files, servers and Internet connections without any wires between them.
In a recent survey, The Wall Street Journal reported that more than 500 municipalities around the country have already built such systems, and a similar number are at some stage in the process. By 2010, ABI Research forecasts a $1.2 billion market for the wireless technology used in the city systems.
Bocian said the service would be offered in the downtown district first and then expanded to include public parks and other parts of the city. Over the last few months, the city’s Information Technology staff has met with Wi-Fi vendors with the goal of identifying the most appropriate technology for the project.
Initially the coverage area would include the downtown, Civic Center complex, and the area bounded by the Arroyo Del Valle on the north, First Street on the east, the Senior Center to the south and the ACE train station near the Fairgrounds administrative office building on the west.
At a meeting with the Pleasanton Downtown Association, Bocian said the service would be free to users, but it’s uncertain how the vendor would recoup his expenses. Most vendors allow advertisers to “broadcast” into the system, much the same way as found on popular Web sites.
One downtown Pleasanton merchant asked if a customer using a laptop in his store could also be watching ads promoting competing businesses in other cities. He was told that could happen.
With an ad-free Wi-Fi system, the city would have to pay the costs of the service and maintenance fees, Bocian said.
Bocian said the Wi-Fi system now being considered by the city government would be primarily focused on municipal workers and departments, including police.
“While the network will not be designed specifically for public use, staff is recommending it be available free of charge to the general public as a means of promoting economic development in the downtown,” Bocian said.
If this use is available and approved, the primary public benefit would result from being able to access the Internet at city parks located in the downtown area, and while dining outdoors at downtown restaurants or while conducting business in the Civic Center.
