Bejing, New York, Paris, Seattle and Toronto all have it, and Lake Orion could too–WiFi, that is.
WiFi is a term used interchangeably with wireless Internet. There’s a growing trend for businesses like hotels and coffee shops to offer it to customers, and now entire cities are offering it to residents and visitors.
‘There’s a lot of trendy downtowns who have (wireless Internet) and I think it’s a great benefit,? said Lake Orion Village Manger Paul Zelenak. ‘Ideally, if we can provide something for free within the downtown area that would be great.?
The township and village have had preliminary discussions on WiFi’s feasibility in Lake Orion. Cost is obviously an issue, as well as security and liability.
Zelenak said one of the biggest reasons he’d like to see Lake Orion broadcast wireless Internet is to appeal to technology-minded people who want to be connected at home and at work.
Dan Koshiw of Electric Office Systems specializes in computer and network support and has joined some of the conversations.
‘I think a realistic thing would be to do the three parks downtown,? he said. ‘The open areas are always easier with line of sight and no obstruction.?
According to Koshiw, the price range could vary drastically, depending on the scope of the project.
‘Just like building a house. You have to have specs to know what you want,? he said.
DDA Director Lois Golden said wireless Internet may not be able to reach all of the buildings because of physical barriers like brick walls.
‘If we go the wrong route, we can spend a lot of money, but if we go the right way we won’t have to spend much,? she said.
Golden said she would like to see downtown offer WiFi so the public has free access to Internet in another locations beside the library.
In future discussions, the village and township are looking to talk about about privacy and protection for WiFi users and business, if they’ll host a hospitality site or just an open connection, who will provide the service, how big the wireless ‘cloud? will reach, and many other issues before making any concrete plans to broadcast wireless Internet.