Wi-Fi Technology Close For Many In 4th District

Antennas are sprouting on electric and street light poles throughout much of the western portion of the 4th Aldermanic District, as construction continues for Wi-Fi, the wireless Internet service being built by Midwest Fiber Networks of Milwaukee. Completion of the demonstration project has been delayed by the complexity of attaching and powering antennas on multiple public and private facilities and a time-consuming application and review process, but it is expected this summer.

In the near future a limited number of temporary access accounts will be offered to the public through various channels in order to get a cross-section of people to test the network and provide feedback.  Paid accounts will be available after construction is completed in the test area and the city gives Midwest Fiber the approval to proceed.

Ald. Bauman was a co-sponsor of the city legislation that led to the contract with Midwest Fiber. "Wi-Fi service is a technological innovation vital to the communication needs of many businesses, particularly in the high tech sector, and Milwaukee is among the first cities in the nation to deploy this technology," said Ald. Bauman. While users will pay a fee to access most Internet sites, the city web site and other governmental and non-profit organizations will be available at no charge to anyone who can establish a wireless network connection, the alderman said.

The agreement with Midwest Fiber Networks calls for the company to build the wireless network covering the entire City of Milwaukee. The network will be built with private funding, using no city taxpayer dollars. The contract allows Midwest Fiber to use city facilities, such as underground conduit, buildings or streetlights to build the Wi-Fi system.

"This wireless Internet access positions Milwaukee among the leading larger cities in the U.S. when it comes to technology improvements and should attract new businesses and improve the quality of life for city residents," said Ald. Bauman. Progress reports on the build-out will appear regularly on the City of Milwaukee web page at www.city.milwaukee.gov.

The City of Milwaukee Wi-Fi test area (shown on map) includes much of the western portion of the 4th District, including the neighborhoods bounded by N. 10th St. on the east, N. 47th St. on the west, W. Canal St. on the south and W. Vliet St. on the north.

This map shows all of the proposed antenna locations in the demonstration area.  The colored dots are the different phases of construction, with the blue dots representing antennas that are already up.

Wireless Internet service is scheduled to begin throughout the city in about a year.