Cities In US And UK Consider Public Wi-Fi

From The Seattle Times:

"On the bus or train, at the park or pool, Wi-Fi is floating in the atmosphere like the fluff from a cottonwood tree."

"What's not yet clear is whether it will pay off, and how long it will last."

"Civic leaders say they're willing to foot the bill for the free service because they believe shoppers, tourists and residents crave connectivity, and will follow it to downtown areas and business districts."

"More than 300 cities and other public entities across the country have launched Wi-Fi experiments."

"The city of Seattle's pilot project is estimated to cost $100,000 to operate this year. In January through October of 2006, 12,000 people used it."

From the BBC:

"But as councils offer public wi-fi, questions are being asked about how much citizens will use them and how sustainable they are."

"But some analysts claim that few citizens are using public wi-fi while other call for more cautious rollouts."

"There is a keen political motivation for local governments to offer networks to citizens for free."

"Norfolk County Council launched the UK's first free public wi-fi service last summer and is pleased with take-up so far."

"It is getting 30,000 connections each month and is now looking at ways to extend the pilot service - due to end in spring 2008 - and keep it free or nearly-free."