Atlanta, Georgia is on the way to becoming the World's first true ‘Wireless City’
The Atlanta City Council today approved legislation empowering city officials to implement Atlanta FastPass™, the City of Atlanta Community Technology Citywide Wi-Fi Initiative, and ultimately create in Atlanta the biggest high-speed wireless (Wi-Fi) network in the world. Through this initiative, Atlanta will become the first city in the world to bring together both the public and private sectors to participate in a citywide Wi-Fi network. The network will be initially established at Atlanta City Hall and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) April 20, 2004 -
– The Atlanta City Council today approved legislation empowering city officials to implement Atlanta FastPass™, the City of Atlanta Community Technology Citywide Wi-Fi Initiative, and ultimately create in Atlanta the biggest high-speed wireless (Wi-Fi) network in the world. Through this initiative, Atlanta will become the first city in the world to bring together both the public and private sectors to participate in a citywide Wi-Fi network. The network will be initially established at Atlanta City Hall and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Jeff Levy, chairman and CEO of Biltmore Communications states: “We are thrilled that the City of Atlanta has selected Biltmore Communications to be its partner in this groundbreaking effort to create a citywide high-speed wireless network. We look forward to working closely with the City, with our schools and universities, and with key business leaders in the private sector to make Atlanta the biggest Wi-Fi city in the world.”
“The public Wi-Fi initiative is a major step towards delivering Mayor Shirley Franklin’s vision for a wireless Atlanta, as the City focuses on addressing the broadband conductivity needs of mobile citizens and visitors,” said Abe Kani, Chief Information Officer City of Atlanta Department of Information Technology.
“We are steering this city and its airport in the direction to make us the world’s number one destination for exceptional customer service by going beyond visitors’ expectation to provide convenient technology services that they would not otherwise expect,” said Mario Diaz, the Deputy General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
"By making technology ubiquitous and seamless to the public, WiFi brings important benefits to the community as a whole such at workforce development, educational enrichment, and bridging the digital divide," says Dr. Jabari Simama, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Technology.
Usage subscription plans for the network will range from day passes to a monthly subscription service. Access is simple; users can subscribe to the Atlanta FastPass citywide wireless network or gain access through their current wireless Internet service providers. Wireless aggregators and network deployment companies can participate in national and international roaming agreements that provide their customersÂ’ access to the Atlanta FastPass citywide wireless network.
Atlanta FastPass will offer a number of advantages to the City of Atlanta through the rapid expansion of the wireless footprint within a three year period. The network will enhance educational opportunities for students; enable the City of Atlanta and businesses in the City to improve workforce productivity, by giving them freedom to use their laptops and PDAs in the various locations throughout the City. It will also benefit the City of AtlantaÂ’s backup communication network in disaster scenarios and make Atlanta more attractive as a convention and tourist destination.
Biltmore Communications’ existing “hotspots” will be integrated into the Atlanta FastPass citywide wireless network. Currently, FastPass™ Wi-Fi access is available at: Georgia World Congress Center, Technology Square at Georgia Tech, Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, SciTrek, Advance Technology Development Center, Colony Square, and several residential communities throughout the City of Atlanta. These “hotspots” will allow City of Atlanta employees, residents and visitors in the City of Atlanta to gain Wi-Fi access. Ultimately the Atlanta FastPass network with extend throughout the city and will include key public and private sector locations.
For additional information on Atlanta FastPass contact (404) 879-5050.
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