Should Cities Offer Free Public Wi-Fi?

Running head: SHOULD CITIES OFFER FREE PUBLIC WI-FI?
Should Cities Offer Free Public Wi-Fi?
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Outline
Introduction
Evidence from different sources show that the benefits of providing Wi-Fi services outweigh the cost of installation
Both low and high income earners have an opportunity to access the internet.
Both the government and the private sector need to make Wi-Fi a free service.
Free Wi-Fi promotes public information and communication infrastructure which is essential for economic growth and development.
Conclusion
Works Cited
Should Cities Offer Free Public Wi-Fi?
Introduction
Wi-fi is a wireless network using radio waves. When electronic devices like computers, mobile phones and television are Wi-Fi enabled, they can automatically or directly connect to the internet when within the rage of a hotspot and enable people to access services online (Tanner, 2006). The claim, whether cities should have free public Wi-Fi, is a hot topic and has raised a continuous debate between governments, cities, municipal councils and private investors. Private investors providing the services of broadband and internet as a business have been a stumbling block to the establishment of free public Wi-Fi. This is because they feel that they will be overpowered and taken out business. This paper discusses factors to be considered in determining whether cities should offer free public Wi-Fi (Serwer. 2005).
For instance, when the municipal council of Philadelphian city launched a plan of supplying free Wi-Fi network, the city private investors in network providers like Telco worked against the plan arguing that it was wrong for the government to compete with them. Moreover, they said that the project will not succeed thus it will be a waste of taxpayers money (Serwer. 2005). Telco’s went as far as lobbing for legislation banning the municipal from setting up free public Wi-Fi. Looking at the above constraints facing public Wi-Fi, we are left to ask the question “should councils provide free public Wi-Fi?” And is it justifiable for the council to invest in providing the service with the current economic mayhem? Evidence from many sources show that the benefits associated with the provision of such service outweigh the costs of installing and maintaining it (Serwer. 2005).
It can provide the less privileged especially the low income earners with an opportunity of free internet access that they could not have afforded. Further it will help the tourists save money which they could have used roaming around the city by driving the shoppers to particular city centre regions. Free public Wi-Fi will provide a great way for the cities to market themselves by attracting businesses and investors (Serwer. 2005). Setting up of free public Wi-Fi is possible, although several critics argue that it is impossible to plan, implement and maintain free public Wi-Fi. Media reports provide that University campuses have been giving free broadband network services to students for many years. Residential property developers have also made the property broadband enabled and some offer free Wi-Fi services to attract customers to rent or buy the ...