Discuss: Wireless downtown

Perhaps that's just my young mind at work but I think the idea is pretty cool. I like the idea of being able to use my laptop where and when I want. As a college student it could even potentially save me money.It's convinent and there's really no harm in it. So it's kinda like that's pretty cool, to me. Of course I'm sure somebody can find some thing to say that's bad about it, we have this amazing ability to do that with anything. So I like the idea of the free wirless internet, it makes me excited and I hope they go through with it. Because I'll be honest if they put it out I'll use it, and I doubt there's many that wouldn't.

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4 July 14, 2007 - 10:59am | jerryg

Slow down and look around

Obviously, the ol' "switcheroo" is alive and kicking in the "free" wireless service market. I know there were lots of yuppies and others excited about being able to use their gadgets while on lunch break, walking down the street, driving, and during social activities. Cell phones are bad enough; why subject us to their rudeness in yet another manner, too. Those businesses that serve folks who want Internet use (hotels, convention center, cafes, etc.) either already have the service or can get it. No need to blanket the city. Let's not be in such a rush! And for crying out loud, do a thorough background check on projects. The info is there, if those we trust in public office would not be so quick to rush their own agenda items through.

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3 July 14, 2007 - 9:16am | montana_griz

Outdoor roaming wi-fi is a scam

Outdoor long-range roaming wi-fi is a physical impossibility. After the dot-com meltdown, a lot of the dot-com scammers started wi-fi scams to convince the gullible that a system designed for indoor use with a 300 ft range would work reliably "blanketing" the outdoors. Does anybody really think that people who use their laptops outside (especially here) compose a market significant enough to be supported by local businesses selling pop-up ads? Oh yeah....Mark B. does. The cities promoted as successful examples of wi-fi before this went forward, were not successes at all, but MB bought the standard bogus muni wi-fi hype hook/line/sinker. For somebody so hot on promoting the value of the internet, you would think he would have done 10 minutes of googling to find the volumes of newspaper articles out there about other cities learning this same lesson. Don't get fooled again, OK?

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2 July 14, 2007 - 6:52am | johngphelps

Wireless

Why dose Anchorage NEED Wireless?
If it is required for Public Safety, Education or Roads it can go thru the Budget process. Is it worth fighting for? I think may be it is far, far down the list of things that Anchorage NEEDS.

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1 July 14, 2007 - 6:38am | bozo

Too bad...

the mayor doesn't work on things of real importance like fixing potholes, or the huge inebriate and homeless problem. While driving to the store, hitting at least four potholes along the way, as I was getting in my car I was approached by a drunk begging for money who got violent when I told him to go away. Then as I turn the corner there were four people begging on four separate street corners. I got home to find a friend had called and said her visitor staying with her was mugged downtown. Glad I pay all those property taxes for a school system that is failing, and for non-existent police protection and poor roads to boot and a dumb 'revamped' city logo.

Great city - just what we need - free wireless internet. Isn't a gang and homeless task force a much better thing to be working on?

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