Summary: Should Cities Have City-Wide Wi-Fi

Evaluating the Feasibility: Should Cities Have City-Wide Wi-Fi Many cities around the world have considered implementing a form of public city-wide free Wi-Fi, whether it is in the better interest of the city is another topic. Implementing a city-wide Wi-Fi network is a logistics nightmare, the amount of planning and men required to do such a task is impressive. If done properly, this task is an impressive feat. Some cities have managed to accomplish it, and along with the wonder and awe of free Wi-Fi anywhere you go comes a combination of inherent risks we have to consider. These risks range from potentially disastrous security risk to local internet providers losing sales, being forced to increase prices, and the mind-blowing amount of money required to attain this. One should keep in mind all these risks before deciding to move forward into the decision of implementing a city-wide Wi-Fi. It is in one’s best …show more content…
However how much is enough? The Department of Seattle’s Information Technology hired the Columbia Telecommunications Corporation to conduct a study on the feasibility of the “Fiber-to-the Premises” or FTTP for short; a plan to introduce a city-wide Wi-Fi. The study reported “In terms of OSP, the estimated cost to construct the proposed FTTP network is . . . $472.5 million” (City of Seattle Fiber-to-the-Premises Feasibility Study 76). The estimated cost of implementing their “Fiber-to-the Premises” plan is 472.5 million. Furthermore the city used the study’s findings to determine that “The study found the City could not finance the build and . . . presents significant risk to the city 's finances at this time.” (Mattmiller). The city found that the most limiting factor preventing them from going forward with their plan was the lack of funds. Every city, especially smaller cities with less revenue should strongly consider the cost of such a project before going