Santa Clara electric utility takes over metro WiFi network

Lynnette Luna — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:56:12 -0400

While all of the cities that EarthLink and MetroFi have abandoned have declined to take over the existing WiFi network, the city of Santa Clara's electric utility said it plans to take over MetroFi's free muni-WiFi network, which was shut down last month when MetroFi essentially went of business. The utility had already planned on using the WiFi network to support a remote meter reading project. Now it also says it would take over the task of supporting and possibly expanding the free wireless network. The utility said it has contracted with a company called 180 Connect to conduct a signal strength study to enhance service in weak reception areas and upgrade equipment in those areas. Advertisements and the requirement to login to MSN will be removed.

For more:
- check out The Santa Clara Weekly

Related stories:
MetroFi shutters its service. MetroFi story
MetroFi officially pulls out of WiFi biz in Portland and other cities. WiFi story