Free wifi coming to Coconut Grove?
Heard some good news at Tuesday's BID meeting -- the Grove is possibly getting free wifi for the district. The marketing committee approved it on Tuesday and now the main board needs to do so. But it should be a go ahead as it's a free service for everyone -- the users and the administration.
David Collins, BID director, and Manny Gonzalez who is now the BID director tried in 2012 to get the service, but not everyone was on board around town. Now they are ready to commit.
The group setting up the service, Blueweb Mobile Media works with stadiums and such and now they are working with small towns, one that signed on in 2011 is Del Ray Beach, they had fits and starts and now they can't live without the service.
Buildings in the Grove will be fitted with dishes and the entire BID district will be wired and most probably areas extending outside the BID area who can catch the signal. The City Attorney looked over the plans and there are no obstacles, especially since it's free. Blueweb Mobile Media will make money through advertising. To get the service, you sign in on a specially set up web page and the ads are there. The service will run for 60 minutes and then cut a user off, all they have to do is sign on again, viewing the landing web page again.
The BID will have final say on the ads that are run, so something offensive or an event or business outside of the Grove, competing with the Grove, could easily be denied advertising space.
The service is secure and the only thing not allowed would be downloading music, but movies can even be watched using the service. The BID will sign a 10 year agreement, and after five years, they can opt out with 90 days notice if for some reason they feel like it isn't working out. Blueweb will maintain all the equipment and run the whole service.
So all we need now is for the main BID Board to approve this. It makes no sense not to.
David Collins, BID director, and Manny Gonzalez who is now the BID director tried in 2012 to get the service, but not everyone was on board around town. Now they are ready to commit.
The group setting up the service, Blueweb Mobile Media works with stadiums and such and now they are working with small towns, one that signed on in 2011 is Del Ray Beach, they had fits and starts and now they can't live without the service.
Buildings in the Grove will be fitted with dishes and the entire BID district will be wired and most probably areas extending outside the BID area who can catch the signal. The City Attorney looked over the plans and there are no obstacles, especially since it's free. Blueweb Mobile Media will make money through advertising. To get the service, you sign in on a specially set up web page and the ads are there. The service will run for 60 minutes and then cut a user off, all they have to do is sign on again, viewing the landing web page again.
The BID will have final say on the ads that are run, so something offensive or an event or business outside of the Grove, competing with the Grove, could easily be denied advertising space.
The service is secure and the only thing not allowed would be downloading music, but movies can even be watched using the service. The BID will sign a 10 year agreement, and after five years, they can opt out with 90 days notice if for some reason they feel like it isn't working out. Blueweb will maintain all the equipment and run the whole service.
So all we need now is for the main BID Board to approve this. It makes no sense not to.
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 AM
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5 Comments:
Very cool. Looks a like a good move in the right direction. The Grove can reposition itself as a creative hub, where young minds come to create (and eat and shop LOL). The most common demographic to seek free wifi are students....
DKF
I would be wary of the promises from this company. I've seen this attempted before... and the outcome has never been good.
Also, service is unlikely to be faster than 4g due to the distances carried and amount of interference. Although, maybe the city was getting ready for this when it continuously destroyed our tree canopies over the last decade. Who needs trees when you've got really slow and entirely unsecured, but free wifi.
@10:33
Where was it again that the tree canopy was destroyed?
This can help if it does in fact catch people's attention and gives them cause to come into the Grove for this free service while sipping a Joe, eat a meal or relax in one of our great parks. 5% here, 7% there, special events, bar craws, a refurbished boat yard & dredging for a deep water marina, new roads, new water runoff drains, new bank, new trees and specular sun sets to the East and a really great view of Biscayne Bay, sails in the sunset, and good fishing with plenty of lobster - - - - - WELCOME TO THE NEW GROVE! Jobie Steppe
I have heard from friends that live on South Beach that the city offers the same there. Interestingly enough the technology is such that it is only available to those on the first 2-3 floors of buildings. They seem to be be happy with it. The service is not meant to totally replace your internet service provider. Or be faster than Comcast ,etc. But is a welcome service for thousands of young folk, tourists, students, and anyone on a budget.
DKF
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