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Madison chooses Internet provider
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Negotiations have begun between the city of Madison and AOL-SkyCable to provide wireless Internet for the downtown area and the Dane County Regional Airport for as early as spring.
Other companies, including SBC Communications, were outbid by AOL-SkyCable although the contract has not been finalized, according to George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.
Madison’s SkyCable TV is a wireless cable television company serving all of Dane County.
“They are the top-ranked vendor so now they will have the opportunity to negotiate for the contract,” Twigg said. “If for some reason we can’t come to terms with them, then we would look for another vendor.”
According to Twigg, it remains hard to say how long the negotiations may take, but the goal is to have the system up and running by late spring or early summer.
The wireless Internet proposal, called “Wireless Wisconsin,” calls for access in a one-and-a-half mile radius surrounding the Capitol. The service would also be available at the Dane County Regional Airport, according to a release.
Through the wireless Internet system, residents of Madison and visitors would be able to access a number of local websites for free. Users could purchase full Internet access on a daily, monthly or long-term basis. Taxpayers will not fund the construction and operation of the service, the release said.
Twigg said “Wireless Wisconsin” will also help expand the wireless capabilities of the city. Currently, the Madison Public Library on West Mifflin Street and a range of coffee shops in the State Street area including Dancing Grounds Coffee Lounge on West Gorham Street offer free wireless Internet access.
“Madison would be one of the leading-edge cities in the entire nation in terms of the scope of the service,” Twigg said.
University of Wisconsin senior Lucy Chao said although there are some businesses on State Street offering free wireless Internet, it will be nice to have the option to have the Capitol-area service.
“Even though full Internet access is not free, it could be a good investment for students who like to study at different places on State Street,” Chao said. “It will benefit businesses as well.”
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I don’t understand why the city had to get involved here. It seems like the only advantage is that they got to guarantee somebody a monopoly. They should have promoted competition instead. I have a hard time believing that this service will be worth its cost.
There will be competition, once somebody ponies up the big bucks for installing all the infrastructure. Or would you rather have the city pay for all the infrastructure, using gasp tax dollars?! This is a good deal for business and residents.
The Monona Public Library has offered FREE WIRELESS internet access long before the Madison Public Library (I think a year or so before them). I don’t know why people don’t know. I use it! It seems to me that the Madison Public Library tried to proclaim that they were the first for offering the free wireless internet access, but in retrospect they were beat by Monona.
The reason why people have not heard about it is because it is really reliable. People seem to only hear about the negative side of things when it comes to the media. One could conclude that since the service has been so good that the media hasn't picked up on it.
It must be that since there haven't been problems with the free service that it is being kept secret by those who use it so that the service will not degrade. I personally think that the reason why the service has been so great is because the Monona Public Library employs there own Information Technology Support Specialist. I have met this young lad and am now able to tell why the service is great. It is because of the dedication and knowledge that this employee has, along with the rest of the Monona Public Library staff. I can say one thing for sure, I love the free service, I love the reliability of the service, and I love the dedication of the staff (especially their ITSS), at the Monona Public Library to its patrons.