Why is There No Free Downtown Wireless Network?
Louisa McCune asks why is there no free downtown-wide wireless network?
The answer requires a bit more context than what can be provided through a 140-character response on Twitter.
There was a time when such a system was contemplated. Consider this story from Oklahoman archives:
Downtown to have wireless ‘hot spots’
Chamber dangles $150,000 incentive
By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Edition: CITY, Section: BUSINESS, Page 1B
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is dangling a $150,000 incentive as part of a request issued Wednesday to Internet providers to create wireless “hot spots” downtown and along the Oklahoma River.
The request for proposals proposes establishing the “hot spots” — places where wireless Internet connections are available to the public — in Bricktown, the Arts District and Myriad Gardens, the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the Oklahoma River and the future American Indian Cultural Center.
Chamber president Roy Williams said the “potential” $150,000 assistance would come from community partners — possibly including the city — and is meant to show a willingness to share in the risk.
“In the event that would make a difference, that someone saw the community being a partner as being critical, we would consider that,” Williams said. “We want to make sure people understand there is some infrastructure assistance.”
Williams hopes the hot spots can be in place by later this year. Responses to the request will be due July 31.
Wireless hot spots were ranked among the city’s top needs in the fall 2004 “Project Next” forum at the Cox Convention Center, and is touted by the chamber as a key to promoting tourism and convention business.
Rhonda Hooper, chief executive of Jordan Associates and co-chairman of chamber’s Wi-Fi committee, said planning for the proposal request started in January 2005. Discussions initially focused on possibly of expanding use of a citywide municipal wireless system being constructed for public safety.
But that idea was discarded, Hooper said, when the committee learned of quality assurance issues and risks to the city’s system.
But the urgency of establishing some “hot spots” grew with recent listings ranking Oklahoma City 82nd among 100 major cities in providing wireless Internet access.
“We’ve talked to a lot of people, we’ve done our due diligence,” Hooper said. “Technology has changed rapidly — every month it seems. We didn’t want to just jump into this.”
Hooper said the chamber’s request envisions a system that is supported by advertising or sponsorship revenues, and would be self supporting.
Efforts already are underway to create hot spots at State Fair Park and the Cox Convention Center. Access is already in place at Will Rogers World Airport.
Williams said potential contributors to a system could include downtown housing developers and businesses wishing to enhance services to customers.
“We believe Oklahoma City is as technologically savvy as any place in the nation,” Williams said. “This project will help display the ingenuities and knowledge of our community.”
SO, WHY IS THERE NO DOWNTOWN FREE WIRELESS FIVE YEARS LATER?
In April, 2009, I got the following explanation:
“We got involved thinking it was something we needed to do because Oklahoma City had to have it,” said Drew Dugan, who oversaw the project on behalf of the chamber. “Once we got into it, we realized the bottom line was the private market was already providing that service. With all the 3G technology coming online, people can get connected with any device they want with a pretty low cost.”
The chamber’s decision to drop the wireless effort was followed by announcements in Philadelphia and San Francisco that provider Earthlink was going to cease service that was similar to that of the service Oklahoma City was hoping to establish.
“The bottom line is, if you look around the country, most of the folks who spent time doing wireless systems found out it’s a waste of money,” Dugan said.
Now, all that being said, two major wireless providers provide free connections in Bricktown. And I can’t remember a time since either system went live when I could rely on either signal for very long.
Thank you for joining our conversation on OKC Central. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.
Comments
I would agree with the previous person who has voiced his view upon the subject of the government providing such a luxury as wireless access for free throughout the Downtown region of our city. It is not the responsibility of our municipal government, nor is it a cost that I think the city could sustain over time. If there is a desire for this service, the cost for it must be paid by some party, and, if the government pays to provide it, we, the taxpayers, are ultimately the ones upon whom the burden must be felt, which is certainly an expense many should have no wish to add to their contribution to the local government.
As for the services that are available presently of which you speak in your article, I find it quite disturbing that Mr. Dugan gave his response concerning the private sector already providing the service based upon 3G coverage. If you were to ask any knowledgeable person which they prefer, 3G or Wi-Fi service, they will elect the option of Wi-Fi in every case due to the fact that its usage does not subtract any amount from their allocated data plan limit for their device, and Wi-Fi transmits data at a faster and more reliable velocity. Nevertheless, the privately funded free wireless network offerings in Bricktown are hardly reliable as you say, for they almost behave at their own whim as to how long they allow you to utilize their benefits. It is clear from the amount of traffic they receive, which I would assume to be the cause of their unreliability based upon a lack of bandwidth to support such volume in usage, that these networks are in dire need of upgrading, and this is the prime reason why it should have been disastrous for the city to have offered the service to us.
Once upon a time government provision of a road or a sewer was considered a luxury. Only places like New York or San Francisco provided such wonderful new things.
Well, despite the construction of a wonderful new high-rise in downtown OKC, my business–computer science and information technology–is being promoted and funded in other cities, somewhat like sewers were being promoted in Chicago and street lights were being promoted in San Diego while OKC was trying to figure out how to pipe water to homes.
My high-tech business officially moves elsewhere on 4 January. OKC just could not keep up. Sorry. Adios. I’m creating jobs elsewhere.
I think Oklahoma in general ought to take some leap into the future. I lived here (OKC) for 23 years while traveling all over the nation as part of my work. I have seen states, counties, and cities all over the nation take on technologies challenges that attract new potential employers, while okc is diverting tax funds for other silly projects, as the canal. Tax funds will be spent on one thing or another, there will never be surplus ever. If those funds can be used and invested properly, as in the case with technology as hotspot, then I’m for it. Otherwise, you will never know where the funds go… maybe to build an access ramp to an Indian Casino or a bridge to nowhere!!! But again, some may sadly agree with those spending
robW what does your post have to do with the city providing a service in competition with private industry. I am VERY SURE that if the city went into competition with your company you would squeal like a pig caught under a gate.
GKD it has to be with funds wrested from the taxpayers unless they have a grant.
In June of 2010 @Link WiFi turned on free WiFi, high-speed Internet for all of Bricktown. Gratis. Free to the merchants and free to the users. The company also offered free installed hot spot repeaters to the merchants of Bricktown, of which 16 participated. In addition, privately and locally owned @Link WiFi, sponsors and continues to sponsor welcometobricktown.com.
Currently, anyone agreeing to the users agreement can select and use this free @Link WiFi high-speed Internet service. Yes, there is a 30 minute time limit each session but as a company @Link is open to lifting that. However, this does run the risk of Internet campers who could potentially abuse this free public privilege.
Bricktown merchants offering free Wi-Fi include: Abuelo’s; Bricktown Brewery; Bricktown Candy Company; Chelino’s; Earl’s Rib Palace; Falcone’s Pizzeria and Deli; Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse; Nonna’s Euro- American Ristorante and Bar; Pearl’s Crabtown; Sonic Cafe; Spaghetti Warehouse; Skky Bar; TapWerks Ale House & Cafe; The Mantel Wine Bar and Bistro and The Melting Pot.
If a user is in Starbuck’s he/she may not be able to receive @Link’s high-speed WiFi service because Starbucks has a national agreement with another company and would not allow a free repeater from another company to be placed in their business. The same is true with the Bricktown Ballpark. However, with it being open, it receives the @Link WiFi signal pretty well.
What does @Link WiFi get in return? Nothing monetary. We were hoping for a bit of good will and possibly appreciation but perhaps that is asking too much.
MaryLynn Heath
http://www.atlinkwifi.com
405-753-7151
Thanks Steve – we are glad you are a frequent visitor. To answer the other question “how does the library pay for it?
We provide free wireless at all 17 of our libraries and it is paid for from our operating funds which is about 95% from property taxes. In other words – your tax dollars pay for it. As technology advances, we want to stay up to speed and one of the ways we can do it is to provide wireless access for customers who might not be able to afford it at home, for small businesses who might not have it or for anyone who might need to do a quick email check or other research. Its a great way for the library to stay relevant and offer a service that many people can use.
There is no such thing a free wireless, something has to pay for it.
That being said, with bricktown being a major tourist / convention location, I would think a minimal tax on hotel / food in the bricktown area could easily pay for sponsoring (not necessarily running) a “free” public wireless network.
Initially sponsoring @Link WiFi might be a win/win for both parties since they have already made a portion of the infrastructure investment required.
Bryan,
What else would you have us do? I ate at Crabtown yesterday for lunch 1-9-2012 and the WiFi was blazing! Works great. Folks want us to lift time limits? OK. We can do that.
We simply thought it would be most beneficial for all to have a 30 minute limit set. In fact, Chileno’s unplugged our router because too many patrons were camping on the system.
Seriously, we like and need feedback. @Link WiFi always wanted this to be a benefit for Bricktown NOT a point of contention.
Thank you for your feedback, everyone!
Sincerely,
Mary Lynn Heath
@Link Services, LLC
Marketing/Sales Director
mlheath@atlinkwifi.com
405-753-7151
I suspect that part of the problem here is communication – the average person might not realize there is a 30-minute limit before it times out, or that the wireless is only available in certain parts of Bricktown.
Mary, one might wonder if the Bricktown Association has done its part to make this service you’re providing a success. Not aware of any door or window decals, etc. promoting this wi-fi, letting folks know where it’s available…. (and now, I guess, I’m about to get an earful from the Bricktown Association – or maybe not, since they’ve been quiet on this so far).
@Link has WiFi window stickers available. We distributed to the restaurants with our service in August 2010. We have more for those who need replacements.
Seems that as individual as we are, folks want different benefits from a wireless system. Restaurants like the benefit for patrons — but those in this business understand the need to “turn tables.” A traveler needs to work and would like to stay off his/her data minutes. Some just want WiFi for recreation. With this being a relatively new service we have yet to define how folks need/want to use it.
Thus blogs like this are a great forum to air WiFi needs and demands.
I’d like to know what WiFi users expect and need from their WiFi network.
Mary Lynn – @Link WiFi
mlheath@atlinkwifi.com
BTW: We need to let folks know to never check bank balances while using a public Internet system. Some users go phishing with spy-wear to gain access to private information from other nearby, online users.
Truly,
Mary Lynn – @Link WiFi
mlheath@atlinkwifi.com
The @Link WiFi Hotspot stickers are 3 inches square. They are double sided color and most merchants put them in the windows with their Visa/MasterCard decals. At one time @Link was going to do table tents but I think the Bricktown Association took that project over. Not sure how clearly WiFi was indicated on those….
These efforts have all been for Bricktown. The discussion started with Downtown. The need for downtown public WiFi should still be addressed the parameters and to what extent WiFi is needed – and for what objective. I see merit in a Free Public WiFi initiative for all of downtown, but then again I am quite bias! 
Mary Lynn Heath – @Link WiFi
http://www.atlinkwifi.com
mlheath@atlinkwifi.com
405-753-7151
Dissapointing that the Bricktown Assoc has not been a part of this discussion. Does sound like a lack of communication or marketing on their part.
It would also makes sense for DOKC to help play a role in this communication as well. I know all of Bricktown pays into the BID for that service.
I agree with MaryLynn. Amybody who accesses financial data over public WiFi is just to stupid to live and deserves to be ripped-off of every cent they have in their accounts. Stupid is as Stupid does.
Again who is paying for thie “free” service???
The stickers are 3 inches by 3 inches. Most can be found in the merchants’ windows.
@Link WiFi is paying for and maintaining the free WiFi Internet services in Bricktown.
Mary Lynn Heath
@Link WiFi, Marketing and Sales Director
405-753-7151
mlheath@atlinkwifi.com
With technological advances coming as fast and furious as they are it really is foolish for the city to compete with private vendors that do the job better and cheaper. Government can NEVER do technology better than private industry that should be clear to everybody.
Also it really is people wanting something for nothing that they really do no merit. By providing free internet hotspots by a governmental entity it is really technology welfare is it not?
IMHO goverment is doing too much and needs to be cutback by at least 10% a year.