Each week, new access points continue to be installed, making free wireless service available to our businesses and residents. Hundreds of users are signing-on to the Connect Akron network every day.

The announcement to close the Knight Center of Digital Excellence reflects the changes in national broadband policy in just the last year. When it opened in Akron, there was little national leadership to assure accessible broadband to residents of the Knight Foundation’s 26 chosen cities. With the implementation of the $7 billion stimulus package devoted to increasing broadband to presently un-served areas, including cities, many of the original goals of the Center have been met.

Knight Foundation this week reinforced its commitment to the Akron wireless project.

As of the end of October, approximately 3 square miles of coverage was complete, including all of Main Street between Exchange and Market. This month, Connect Akron was successfully "married" to the University of Akron’s wireless campus network so that users can migrate seamlessly between both systems.

One Community has installed wireless access around the campus of City Hospital and our Global Business Accelerator at Canal Place. Additionally, the project is already conducting demonstrations at certain AMHA buildings, including Martin Lauer and Cotter House.

By year’s end, we hope to have more than 5 square miles in the free network, about half of our goal. The present schedule calls for completion of the 11-square mile demonstration area by next summer.

We continue to collaborate with other private and public entities to see how we can maximize use of the network - for public safety, public service, and to close the "digital divide" in our neighborhoods.

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