Cities See The Benefit Of WiFi Connections

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 22, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- The future of WiFi in San Francisco is still uncertain, but other cities are starting to confirm the benefits justify the cost. We checked out their progress at a WiFi conference in Santa Clara.

It can cost from $150-200,000 per square mile to create a WiFi network. Cities like Santa Clara and Mountain View were among the first to see the benefit, giving a new level of connectivity to fire and police, and free Web access for residents and visitors.

"With millions of new devices like iPhones out, there's a tremendous need to have WiFi connections, not only at home and the office, but in between," says Metrofi Chief Executive Chuck Haas.

Cities and WiFi vendors are huddled this week to exchange lessons learned and visions for the future, and to hear proof the investment is worth it.

Patterson, New Jersey put 12 WiFi connected surveillance cameras atop utility poles 18 months ago. As their police video shows, two officers were trying to arrest a man with a gun last May. The camera feed made it clear they needed backup, and additional officers responded.

"We've made over 100 arrests, 85 narcotics arrests. Based on the cameras, we apprehended a homicide suspect, issued hundreds of motor vehicle summonses based on police officer on the camera, and it's made areas of the city a lot more safe," says Michael Welker with the Patterson, N.J. Police Dept.

While much of the early buzz was about giving the public free Internet access, there's been a shift now towards local business use, as well as municipal use.

Monitoring expired parking meters and keeping officers on the street instead of desk-bound writing reports are the compelling reason why cities are still on the WiFi bandwagon. However, so is the need for public access to the Internet.

"Nothing has changed about the size of the need for broadband in the United States. If anything, every year we see more and more of a need, and we see ourselves falling behind Europe and Asia," explains Joanne Hovis, a WiFi communications consultant.

A new survey projects cities will be spending more than $329 million on WiFi projects this year, an increase of 35 percent.

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