Government Technology

Minneapolis Moves Toward City Wireless


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November 2, 2006 By

The City of Minneapolis signed a 10-year contract with US Internet of Minnetonka to provide Minneapolis with cutting-edge broadband technology, becoming one of the first large cities in the United States to go wireless.

US Internet will fund, build, and manage a wireless network covering all 59 square miles of Minneapolis, providing residents, businesses, and visitors with wireless broadband access anywhere in the city. The network will allow the city to deliver services more efficiently and effectively than ever before.

The wireless contract also includes a comprehensive set of benefits to the community that go far beyond what any other city in the country has negotiated. The groundbreaking set of community benefits in the Minneapolis contract leverages the success of the network to help bridge the digital divide. Highlights include:
  • US Internet will provide $500,000 to create a "digital inclusion fund" that will be used to promote affordable Internet access, low-cost hardware, local content and training. In addition, US Internet will direct a minimum of five percent of the network's net profits to a digital inclusion fund for ongoing digital inclusion efforts. In total, it is expected that about $11 million will go into the digital inclusion fund over the 10-year term of the contract.
  • Free limited-time service will be available in some public locations, such as parks and plazas in Minneapolis.
  • A free "walled garden" level of wireless service will be available to people throughout the city for important neighborhood, government, and community services information.
  • Designated community technology centers will receive free wireless access.


More information is available on Wireless Minneapolis.


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http://www.govtech.com/e-government/Minneapolis-Moves-Toward-City-Wireless.html


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