By Lorene Yue
CHICAGO—Mayor Richard M. Daley announced Tuesday that the city will begin taking requests for proposals in turning Chicago into a wireless community.
The mayor is seeking submissions from private-sector firms that would provide Internet access throughout the city, including free wireless service in Chicago public schools, parks and other public places. The city would allow providers use of its infrastructure, such as street lights and lamp poles, to help in constructing the wireless broadband network.
“In technology, as in too many other areas of our society, there’s a wide gap between the haves and have-nots,” Mayor Daley said at a Tuesday news conference. “It’s known as the digital divide—and the people on the wrong side of the divide generally have lower incomes and less education.”
Mayor Daley offered $250,000 in grants to help community groups find solutions to provide computers and Internet services to neighborhoods unable to afford the expense and he appointed an advisory panel to oversee the task. Julia Stasch, vice president of the program on human and community development of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, will chair the advisory panel.
Chicago already offers free wireless Internet access throughout its public library systems as well as at Millennium Park, the Cultural Center and Daley Plaza.
Lorene Yue is a reporter for Crain’s Chicago Business, a sister publication of RCR Wireless News. Both publications are owned by Crain Communications Inc.
