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Monday, Dec 6, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

This is a good idea, of course.

Library patrons now have wireless Internet access in 76 of the city’s 79 library locations.

Chicago Public Library officials today said Chicago has the first major urban library system to roll out a wireless network on this scale. Eventually all of the city’s libraries will allow patrons free access.

The city Department of Business and Information Systems spent $81,000 purchasing the wireless equipment, and the library system expects to spend $14,000 a year maintaining it.

Maybe the CTA, Metra and RTA could learn something from the library. Commuters would probably pay extra (a monthly subscription card, perhaps) for WiFi service, and that could help bring in extra cash. Not sure if it’s feasible, but it couldn’t hurt to look into it.

Frankly, I’m surprised Mayor Daley hasn’t announced a WiFi pilot program for the Loop. He’s supposed to have a reputation for being ahead of the technology curve, but he’s falling behind on this one.

1 Comment

- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 7, 04 @ 12:39 pm:
Actually, it would be a great idea. But, here’s a little different take on it from Cringely.

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20041125.html

His point is that standard WiFi (802.11a,b,g,n, etc….) is going to be the start, but it’s actually going to be 802.16 (or “WiMax”) that’s going to make the difference.

Now, as Cringely says in his column “that WiMax, which promises fixed wireless 70 megabit-per-second data service over a distance up to 50 kilometers….”

Now, being a cynic at heart, I tend to divide that “performance” by 2, so we’re actually running at 35 MBPS over a 25 klick diameter area. That’s about 15.5 miles diameter, if my math is good.

Now, just being a “poor dumb olde County Type”, if I was a City/County government leader, I’d already be starting to put money aside to cover my jurisdiction with comprehensive WiMax coverage, because if for no other reason than it dramatically simplifies communication between all the different government sites in my area.

Being able to have different people at multiple sites being able to look at the same information over the Internet, all at the same time, and also able talk to each other at the same time tends to really increase efficency.

Just think about this one: If you have complete WiMax coverage of Cook County, do you really need to have all those government vehicles? - maybe be able to make do with 10% less vehicles, because your communications are better and faster.

Yeah, I know - Pollyanna here….

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