Milpitas, Calif., Kicks off Municipal Wireless Network Today

Jose Esteves, the mayor of Milpitas, Calif., "unwired" the city today at a wire-cutting ceremony at City Hall. Today also marks the beginning of 30 consecutive days of free service available for all residents of and visitors to Milpitas, so that they can test and use the EarthLink Wi-Fi services anywhere throughout the approximately 10-square mile Wi-Fi mesh network.

"Providing wireless broadband in Milpitas creates a citywide service to residents, businesses and visitors to our community," said Esteves. "This has been a goal of the city's Economic Development Commission and we are pleased with the investment that EarthLink is making in Milpitas."

"EarthLink's Milpitas Wi-Fi mesh network changes the game -- people aren't tied to their desks or to limited hot-spot areas for coverage -- now they can make a choice about how or from where they want to access the Internet," said Donald Berryman, executive vice president of EarthLink and president of the ISP's municipal networks unit. "We are happy to be launching this network in the heart of Silicon Valley -- and working with the city has been a tremendous experience -- so we hope the residents and visitors enjoy accessing the network for the next 30 days, free-of-charge."