IP Democracy: Public-Private Alliance Offers Free Wi-Fi in Iowa Cities

Telephony’s Carol Wilson reports that Cedar Rapids, Coralville and Iowa City, IA, “are using a free Wi-Fi service to help economic development in their downtown areas.”

The three cities, which are situated along the Interstate 380 corridor in eastern Iowa, are working with mesh-network provider Strix Systems on the project, which is called the Corridor Free Wireless Project, or cFree.

The service will be in place by Labor Day, according to Jamie Licko, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Downtown District and one of cFree’s organizers. As to its funding, Wilson reports that:

The service…is being sponsored in part by Iowa.com, a search engine designed to provide information specifically targeted to Iowa… In addition, the $70,000 cost of the network technology and the $15,000 budgeted for marketing and other expenses, is being paid for through city and county funding, and grants.

When customers register for free and log on, they will first be shown an Iowa.com page, [Licko] said…”This is a way for them to tap into that 18 to 40 demographic that doesn’t necessarily read newspapers and ads.”

Posted by Mitch Shapiro on July 15, 2005 12:36 PM to IP Democracy