I'm far from a yalie and agree about the comment, I should have left it out. I'm downtown everyday and lately they begging has increased dramatically. I also think more SCSU, UNH and AMC students would come downtown. Not so much the Yalies. Either way, I think dtown wi-fi would add people which would boulster downtown commerce.

Downtown could def use wifi. I appreciate you acknowledging that Ill thought comment.

there is a small group of citizens working on a plan; i'll see if we can't get an update on it before Xmas -

Doug, any word on this?

Thanks,
Dan

no answer yet on the progress - but i can fill you in on the progress from the summer conversations if you'd like

doug
203-309-2737

Hey Doug, as spring has now sprung are we ever going to get a broad range public wi-fi for downtown new haven? Perhaps even from the huge AT&T building on Orange st?

I don't see why this couldn't be free and pay. For example, the first two hours or X gigs of bandwidth are free, and then you pay a fee to continue. This could be supplemented by downtown businesses within the free wifi district. That would allow shopkeepers to offer wifi without having to do the IT work.

The downtown business are already paying enough in taxes, rent and general upkeep. Not the mention last years hike in parking rates, the additional hours and the fact that the wifi signal wouldnt carry over inside. We would still have to pay to offer inside as well. It would be a nice gesture from the city and or the 2 local media giants to pick it up and offer around the city. Who knows, maybe more people would change to Comcast or AT&T if offered.

i hope to have some more additions to this conversation in the coming months. the small group of folks dedicated were in discussinos with google and we were waiting on a hardware device being built currently (that would allow for indoor)

i also think a freemium version could be rolled out as a stand alone business - with sponsorships on splash pages

Maybe someday