Arlington has launched a free public Wi-Fi program. Is it in your neighborhood?
.JPG "The city of Arlington has launched a public Wi-Fi and smart lighting program in East Arlington.")
An Arlington neighborhood has been outfitted with free public outdoor Wi-Fi and wireless lighting controls through a city program aimed at removing barriers to internet access.
East Arlington residents who live or visit between East Abram Street, Sherry Street, New York Avenue and Park Row Drive can access the internet through laptops, tablets and other devices with internet download and upload speeds up to 10 MB. Residents can access Wi-Fi by tapping to phone settings, selecting #ArlingtonWi-Fi from available connections and accepting the city’s terms of use policy. The Wi-Fi is not guaranteed to work indoors, and service will depend on the device used, distance from Wi-Fi equipment and interference.
Smart lighting allows the city to remotely monitor and control outdoor light fixtures for energy efficiency.
The program, which drew $458,000 from Cares Act funding, includes five years of maintenance and support for the amenity, and support is expected to cost around $11,567 per year, according to a city spokesperson. City government employees have not identified other neighborhoods that might benefit from the program, but will evaluate possible expansions and partnerships with private entities “that will improve internet accessibility across our community,” the spokesperson said.
The public Wi-Fi and smart lighting project aims to remove barriers to internet access, after pandemic isolation highlighted disparities that affect people’s access to medical care, education and finances. City government employees selected the program coverage area using census data. Data show that 18% of the 1,164 homes in the neighborhood do not have sufficient home internet access, while 98% of homes have a computer and nearly 3 in 10 of neighborhood residents are enrolled in school.
Neighborhoods throughout central and east Arlington, as well as some in north and southeast, are most likely to live without internet access, according to the city’s Unity Council study. The community task force recommended installing free Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the city.
City government has targeted faster internet connection citywide for residents and city services. Leaders in spring tapped international developer SiFi Network to build a citywide fiber optic network that could bring high-speed connectivity to around 156,000 homes and 16,000 businesses in the city. Constructoin on the 10 million linear feet of fiber network began in late Septembet, according to SiFi’s website.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 12:14 PM.
