The idea of public Wi-Fi fizzled for a variety of reasons, including security concerns, massive data demands and the prohibitive cost of building networks. Major cities such as Taiwan, Paris, and Tel Aviv have all grappled with these challenges while installing free Wi-Fi in downtown districts.
Public Wi-Fi might not be the game-changer some people anticipated, but that doesn’t mean residents won’t have solid internet options as more cities compete to become tech hubs. Kansas City, Mo.; Austin, Texas; and Atlanta have benefitted from high-speed Internet thanks to Google Fiber, though the tech juggernaut put a pin in its expansion because of the cost and time required to lay miles of cable.
Internet expansion is not a task for the faint of heart — it requires quite a bit of time, money and hard labor. Big cities and rural areas alike are taking steps to improve internet infrastructure. Major metropolitan areas are more likely to offer wired broadband access because the higher concentration of people offsets infrastructure costs. Rural residents, meanwhile, can still benefit from high-speed satellite connections.
Regardless of where you might live, there are likely solid Internet options in your area — with more on the way.
Changing the Game
Some cities have decided to take matters into their own hands by creating their own fiber networks. Chattanooga, Tenn., for example, has blossomed into a tech hub since city officials paid to build a fiber network in 2010.Chattanooga’s network has attracted numerous tech entrepreneurs to the area, and young people have started to see the city as an attractive destination. It isn't alone, though. Numerous communities across the country are stepping up their technology game to keep pace in the Internet arms race:
1. Los Angeles
With help from the local government, Los Angeles plans to make gigabit Internet accessible for all residents. The City of Angels is offering $1 billion in incentives for the project, with plans to start seeking bids later this year. Officials want to provide gigabit Internet access to 90 percent of the city’s residents by 2020 — including both low-income neighborhoods and more affluent regions. City leaders have said the Internet access project is a logical step in the process of modernizing L.A.2. Philadelphia
Philadelphia took a slightly different approach to the Internet game by enlisting the help of its citizens with a "Smart City Challenge." The city invited residents to submit innovative ideas for how to use existing technology assets to improve city services and operations; it received more than 100 suggestions, which officials are reviewing. Philly was awarded a Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge grant for its potential to use technology to solve major problems, such as the poverty rate. The city also received a $200,000 grant to experiment with the Internet of Things, paving the way for future smart city innovations.3. New York City
One of the pioneers of internet accessibility, New York City created Wi-Fi kiosks in more than 800 locations with its LinkNYC gigabit free Wi-Fi program last year. The kiosks offer a variety of services aside from Internet access, including charging ports, maps and directions, and free phone calls. To make these kiosks even more useful, the city is adding an app that provides information about resources such as emergency housing, health-care providers, soup kitchens and transportation assistance.4. Dallas
AT&T has helped Dallas create one of the fastest Internet connections in the country, promising speeds that will allow users to download 25 songs in a second or a full HD movie in less than a minute. The service, called GigaPower, uses fiber to create blazing-fast Internet speeds. The telecommunications giant hopes the high-speed access will help the city become an innovation hub.5. Jacksonville, Fla.
Competition is always a good thing. Plans to bring Google Fiber to Jacksonville might be on hold, but Comcast and AT&T are chomping at the bit to bring similar Internet service to the city of more than 900,000 residents. With multiple vendors focused on the same audience, residents should be able to enjoy reasonable prices for top-tier download speeds.Thanks to the Internet, the world is more connected than ever before. The United Nations has declared Internet access a basic human right, but there’s still work that needs to be done before everyone can enjoy this resource. By taking a forward-thinking approach and prioritizing innovative solutions, communities can ensure they’re meeting resident needs while investing in their future.
Michael Gleason, an entrepreneur and technology expert, is founder and CEO of InMyArea.com and Consumer Brands LLC, innovative technology and publishing companies based in Newport Beach, California.
