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San Jose has two options to provide public Wi-Fi service throughout city

By Eli Segall

San Jose may make free public Wi-Fi available citywide, including in residential back yards and city parks, but before the wireless Internet system is set up, city officials want to know how much it will cost, who will use it or if it can be installed.

The city plans to hire a consultant by the end of July to explore the pros and cons of the wireless system and to assess what, if any, infrastructure improvements are needed to support it, said chief information officer Randy Murphy.

"We need to get a strategy," said Murphy, who added that public meetings are planned for the next four to six months.

Murphy presented the plan to hire an outside expert to the city council's public safety, finance and strategic support committee June 21.

Currently, public wireless exists in city hall and limited sections of downtown, but a public policy discussion is needed to prepare for a possible expansion, Murphy said.

The city can expand one of two ways.

Wireless Silicon Valley, a consortium of 40 cities across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including San Jose, is exploring a regional wireless network that will serve 2.4 million people. A provider was selected last September, but project details are still being negotiated with the various city councils, said Brian Maura, co-chair of Wireless Silicon Valley. San Jose has not committed to joining.

The city's other option is to increase its coverage under MetroFi, which in addition to San Jose provides wireless access to eight cities nationwide including Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and Cupertino.

"Once we've decided what we think is right for San Jose, we have two vehicles to deliver this for us," he said.

Wireless Silicon Valley, launched in late 2005, is geared toward outdoor computer users, Maura said. Finding San Jose residents interested in the network should be easy, said Maura, whose organization is working with San Jose-based Joint Venture: Silicon Valley to bring the network to life. The area is tech savvy, and it has a strong residential and commercial base, Maura said.

MetroFi touts itself as providing a free, reliable wireless network for employees who want to telecommute.

Possible wireless users in San Jose include the police and fire departments and city government, as well as residents, Murphy said.

Although both Wireless Silicon Valley and MetroFi offer free access to users, cities often pay for poles that wireless signal receptors are attached to, and end up doing maintenance work themselves, Murphy said.

"We need to be mindful that there is a $16 million deficit," Murphy said of the city's general fund shortfall for the 2007-08 fiscal year. "We need to figure out how this won't be a drain on city resources."