Several months ago, Madison appeared well on its way to having a city-wide wireless Internet network. However, the city's private partner dropped out of the deal. Since then, Madison has been struggling to pick up the pieces.
America Online was slated to set up the wireless network, but after months of negotiations with the city, AOL decided it was no longer interested in providing wireless service. According to George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, AOL was planning to construct wireless networks in several American cities before changing plans.
\We spent a lot of time working with AOL and when they pulled out it made it quite difficult,"" Twigg said.
Madison is currently working with several private companies on plans for a city-wide wireless network. Twigg declined to name any of the bidders, but said the likely outcome is that one company will work alone.
Wireless users will likely have to pay a subscription fee regardless of who constructs the network. ""It's unlikely that it would be a completely free service,"" Twigg said. ""Whoever builds the network needs to get some revenue out of it.""
UW-Madison students are likely to have campus-wide wireless service by next summer, according to Brian Rust, head of the Division of Information Technology. Currently, UW-Madison has 10 buildings with 100 wireless access points. Plans are to expand to 140 buildings and 2000 access points by next summer. The project is expected to cost $1.6 million, which UW-Madison will draw from technology grants and state money.
Several businesses currently offering wireless internet have expressed concern that a citywide network would hurt business. But a subscription-based network would be unlikely to hurt business offering a free service, Twigg said.
Madison needs a wireless network because it is ""a technology that people are coming to expect,"" Twigg said. He added that the mayor feels a wireless network would be ""a major asset"" to Madison's success as a competing American city.
In Milwaukee, plans for a citywide wireless network are in an optimistic stage. However, the existing fee-based wireless system in Sun Prairie has provoked doubts. Sun Prairie Ald. Nick Voegeli said the city is not making money on it and doubts whether it was a good decision to install.
""There were estimates of usership which were far more rosy than reality bore out,"" Voegeli said.
Rust questioned the viability of Madison's plans for a pay network and noted that most UW-Madison students would be able to get wireless with or without a citywide network. He acknowledged the potential benefits of a citywide network for students living off campus, however.
As things stand, Madison is without citywide wireless access. The city is working hard to arrange a deal with a private company but is proceeding with caution. The last thing Madison wants, according to Twigg, is ""another AOL.\
