Atlanta, Georgia is on the way to becoming the World's first true ‘Wireless City’
The Atlanta City Council today approved legislation empowering city officials to implement Atlanta FastPass™, the City of Atlanta Community Technology Citywide Wi-Fi Initiative, and ultimately create in Atlanta the biggest high-speed wireless (Wi-Fi) network in the world. Through this initiative, Atlanta will become the first city in the world to bring together both the public and private sectors to participate in a citywide Wi-Fi network. The network will be initially established at Atlanta City Hall and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) April 20, 2004 -– The Atlanta City Council today approved
legislation empowering city officials to implement Atlanta FastPass™, the City
of Atlanta Community Technology Citywide Wi-Fi Initiative, and ultimately create
in Atlanta the biggest high-speed wireless (Wi-Fi) network in the world. Through
this initiative, Atlanta will become the first city in the world to bring
together both the public and private sectors to participate in a citywide Wi-Fi
network. The network will be initially established at Atlanta City Hall and
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Jeff Levy, chairman and CEO of
Biltmore Communications states: “We are thrilled that the City of Atlanta has
selected Biltmore Communications to be its partner in this groundbreaking effort
to create a citywide high-speed wireless network. We look forward to working
closely with the City, with our schools and universities, and with key business
leaders in the private sector to make Atlanta the biggest Wi-Fi city in the
world.”
“The public Wi-Fi initiative is a major step towards delivering
Mayor Shirley Franklin’s vision for a wireless Atlanta, as the City focuses on
addressing the broadband conductivity needs of mobile citizens and visitors,”
said Abe Kani, Chief Information Officer City of Atlanta Department of
Information Technology.
“We are steering this city and its airport in
the direction to make us the world’s number one destination for exceptional
customer service by going beyond visitors’ expectation to provide convenient
technology services that they would not otherwise expect,” said Mario Diaz, the
Deputy General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
"By
making technology ubiquitous and seamless to the public, WiFi brings important
benefits to the community as a whole such at workforce development, educational
enrichment, and bridging the digital divide," says Dr. Jabari Simama, Executive
Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Technology.
Usage
subscription plans for the network will range from day passes to a monthly
subscription service. Access is simple; users can subscribe to the Atlanta
FastPass citywide wireless network or gain access through their current wireless
Internet service providers. Wireless aggregators and network deployment
companies can participate in national and international roaming agreements that
provide their customers’ access to the Atlanta FastPass citywide wireless
network.
Atlanta FastPass will offer a number of advantages to the City
of Atlanta through the rapid expansion of the wireless footprint within a three
year period. The network will enhance educational opportunities for students;
enable the City of Atlanta and businesses in the City to improve workforce
productivity, by giving them freedom to use their laptops and PDAs in the
various locations throughout the City. It will also benefit the City of
Atlanta’s backup communication network in disaster scenarios and make Atlanta
more attractive as a convention and tourist destination.
Biltmore
Communications’ existing “hotspots” will be integrated into the Atlanta FastPass
citywide wireless network. Currently, FastPass™ Wi-Fi access is available at:
Georgia World Congress Center, Technology Square at Georgia Tech, Georgia Tech
Hotel and Conference Center, SciTrek, Advance Technology Development Center,
Colony Square, and several residential communities throughout the City of
Atlanta. These “hotspots” will allow City of Atlanta employees, residents and
visitors in the City of Atlanta to gain Wi-Fi access. Ultimately the Atlanta
FastPass network with extend throughout the city and will include key public and
private sector locations.
For additional information on Atlanta FastPass
contact (404) 879-5050.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/4/prweb120034.htm