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Going to Town With WiFi

Rich Wellons tried out wireless Internet access in the park at Dupont Circle in 2005 after a rooftop hotel transmitter was installed.
Rich Wellons tried out wireless Internet access in the park at Dupont Circle in 2005 after a rooftop hotel transmitter was installed. (By James A. Parcell -- The Washington Post)
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An area-wide wireless network can be an even better deal for the governments involved. They spend nothing upfront for such benefits as a cash payment (at least $42,500 a year for Alexandria), discounted wireless access for their own employees, and free access in libraries, parks and other public facilities.

Their biggest gain, however, may be not having to build a wireless network with taxpayer dollars. "That's a $1.9 million capital investment," said Craig Fifer, Alexandria's e-government manager.

So if municipal wireless is so great, why isn't it everywhere?

Political pressure is one factor. Incumbent telecom carriers spent a long time trying to block these projects. For example, in 2005 SBC (now AT&T) and Verizon backed an unsuccessful bill in Texas that would have banned cities there from offering wireless access.

But the bigger issue remains the laws of physics and economics. Wireless Internet services only make money when enough customers live within range of the transmitters.

EarthLink, for example, usually looks only at markets with "over about 2,500 homes per square mile and . . . over 100,000 households," said Don Berryman, president of the company's municipal-wireless subsidiary.

Data from the 2000 Census indicate that much of the Washington area outside the District, Alexandria and Arlington wouldn't measure up. For example, in Fairfax County, Seven Corners exceeds that 2,500 homes-per-square mile threshold, but Tysons Corner falls short. In Montgomery County, Takoma Park would qualify but Potomac would be left out.

At best, most local jurisdictions would have to choose between accepting better connectivity for only some of their citizens or declining municipal wireless altogether.

Until the range of wireless connections improves drastically, cheap wireless access may remain something like being able to walk to work: a luxury valued by people who live in or near the city, but denied to those who want a bigger lot or can't afford to move any closer in.

Living with technology, or trying to? E-mail Rob Pegoraro atrobp@washpost.com.


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