Downtown Houston is Getting Connected
By Luis Aceres
The city of Houston and the Downtown District are teaming up to initiate a free WiFi pilot program.
Houston WiFi is just one of the recently added amenities to downtown Houston. It will be accessible throughout the downtown and museum district areas for all residents, workers and visitors.
The WiFi was installed to facilitate electronic means of communication for the city’s new state-of the-art wireless parking meter pay stations.
Many area residents agree that this is a step in the right direction. Not only does this new amenity bring convenience to workers, visitors and residents alike, but it effectively enforces downtown Houston to remain in synch with the latest in wireless Internet advancements.
This initiative is part of Mayor Bill White’s effort in making Houston’s City Hall one of the most advanced in the nation.
In addition to making parking regulation, management and enforcement run more effectively, but the high bandwidth capacity of this network allows the city to securely segment excess network bandwidth for the Houston WiFi service. As a result, local downtown area residents cash in on a super sweet deal; free WiFi!
Subscribing to Internet service for many local residents who are able to pick up the WiFi signal may just be a thing of the past.
“Providing they have the adequate technical specifications on their personal computer, or in other words, a wireless-enabled computer and a WiFi account, it’s a no-brainer,” said Natalie Naza, service communicator and spokesperson for resident relations for the city of Houston.”This should be essentially a no-fuss connection and is easy to connect and go.”
With the increased need for internet access in our everyday life, it is becoming truly an attractive amenity for those who live within reach of the WiFi signal.
“Keep in mind that the WiFi program was designed as an outdoor network but, in fact, we have been hearing that many local residents have been able to establish a strong signal inside their homes,” said Robert Izaguirre, spokesperson for the city of Houston.
Program officials said that any local residents who wish to strengthen the signal inside their homes are advised to purchase a WiFi modem. One exception to the outdoor “in-mind network” is the Houston Public Library, where the city has accommodated the indoor perimeter’s reception so that a superb signal can be obtained in all locations both indoors and outdoors equally.
Many other large-scale metropolitan cities like Houston, such as Cleveland and San Francisco, have previously adopted the free city WiFi program on a test basis with much success.
Several factors are taken into account to determine whether or not the program will be a fit for the city. Some of these are determining whether or not the prospective city has a genuine interest and need for this program. Is there any type of void within the City Hall parking regulation and management and can it benefit from a WiFi managed network?
“It’s not really a question of whether or not Houston downtown wants the program; the want and need are both there,” said Brian Anderson, information technology specialist for the city of Houston. “It becomes a question of whether or not the program can be operated in an efficient manner in terms of operation and usage.”
Currently the city of Houston is providing the free WiFi program on a trial basis and there is no long-term service commitment as of now. However, should the pilot program become a success in terms of usage then, at that point, the free WiFi service just may become a permanent staple for all downtown employees, residents and visitors alike.
