| Frequently Asked Questions
About LA WiFi
Responses to questions that are frequently asked by Los Angeles residents regarding the LA WiFi initiative are included here. Contents may be updated from time to time to reflect your questions and status of this initiative.
What is WiFi?
What is the LA WiFi initiative?
Why is the City of Los Angeles considering the LA WiFi initiative?
Are other major cities working on similar wireless initiatives?
What types of initiatives have been launched or proposed in other cities?
Who will oversee the LA WiFi Initiative?
How will the City include the public in this effort?
How will the City select partners to assist with building and operating the network?
Will there be some level of free wireless service provided in the City?
Will I be able to get wireless service inside a building?
How does wireless Internet address the Digital Divide?
How will the wireless network improve City services?
Do the cellular companies currently provide wireless internet access?
What is WiFi?
Wi-Fi is a wireless technology brand owned by the WiFi Alliance intended to improve the interoperability of wireless local area network products based on the IEEE 802.11 standards.
Common applications for Wi-Fi include wireless Internet and VoIP phone access, gaming, and network connectivity for consumer electronics such as televisions DVD players and digital cameras.
WiMAX is a term coined to describe standard interoperable implementations of IEEE 802.16 wireless networks. However, WiMAX is very different from Wi-Fi in the way it works, it is aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access.
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What is the LA WiFi initiative?
On February 13, 2007, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Councilman Tony Cardenas announced the LA WiFi initiative. As an initial step, the City is conducting a comprehensive study to explore options for the development of a wireless broadband network for residents, businesses and City workers.
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Why is the City of Los Angeles considering the LA WiFi initiative?
The availability of high speed wireless broadband across the City of Los Angeles will create numerous opportunities to improve the efficiency and delivery of city services, increase economic development, and assist in bridging the “digital divide.”
The City of Los Angeles owns a vast infrastructure of streetlights, fiber optic lines, and buildings which can form the backbone of a Wi-Fi network. The City is exploring ways to capture the potential value contained in these assets through the creation of a citywide Wi-Fi network.
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Are other major cities working on similar wireless initiatives?
Yes, many cities across the US and in other parts of the world have initiated wireless initiatives. Cities such as Chicago, Boston, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Portland, Sacramento, Pasadena, Anaheim, and Atlanta have been developing wireless initiatives. International cities such as Paris, Taipei and Moscow also have wireless initiatives underway.
Los Angeles will benefit greatly from the "lessons learned" by these other cities as they've been moving forward on their Wi-Fi initiatives.
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What types of initiatives have been launched or proposed in other cities?
Many of the major cities have launched Wi-Fi initiatives which called for the private sector to fund, build, own, and operate the citywide wireless network. Some of cities have negotiated an advertising- based level of free or discounted access to the network in certain areas of the city or for low income groups up to certain speeds (e.g. 300 kbps).
A smaller number of cities have engaged in building and operating their own networks. However, there are several business models in between those two scenarios.
Thus far, there have been varying degrees of success based upon the negotiated business model, what assets the cities have to contribute, technical issues faced such as customer premise equipment (CPE) needed for indoor reception, etc.
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Who will oversee the LA WiFi Initiative?
Under the direction of the Mayor and Council, the City’s Information Technology Agency (ITA) will serve as the Project Manager of the LA WiFi initiative.
A Working Group that is comprised of various City departments, and Advisory Focus Areas, with the assistance of a wireless consultant, will complete a feasibility study and make appropriate recommendations to Mayor and Council.
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How will the City include the public in this effort?
The City desires to obtain the best possible input prior to issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP). Advisory Focus Areas were identified to ensure a broad range of information, issues, and factors are considered. The Advisory Focus Areas are as follows:
- Business / Economic Development
- Neighborhoods / Community Groups
- Organized Labor
- Education
- Technology
- Regional Municipal Coordination
Townhall meetings will also be conducted. Meeting dates, times and locations will be posted in the Updates, Notices and News section when available. The public is also encouraged to provide input through the LA WiFi survey by clicking the survey button on this website.
If you would like to provide your input directly, you can use the "Contact Us" links or email your information directly to LAWiFi@lacity.org.
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How will the City select partners to assist with building and operating the network?
The City intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to facilitate the creation of a citywide wireless network through some form of a private-public partnership.
The City has not made any decisions regarding what types of proposed business models or requirements will be include in the upcoming RFP. The City will go through a comprehensive process in creating an RFP that will attract private sector investments and meet the City's overall policy goals.
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Will there be some level of free wireless service provided in the City?
It is too soon to be able to say what the cost of using the proposed Wi-Fi network will be. The City desires a high-quality and reliable service that is available to everyone who wants to use it regardless of what part of the City they live in or what their income might be.
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Will I be able to get wireless service inside a building?
Municipal Wi-Fi systems are usually designed to cover outdoor areas with a strong signal. Depending on the construction of your building, you may or may not get a sufficiently strong signal to connect your computer to the Municipal Wi-Fi system. When a strong or consistent signal is not available, some type of equipment to link with an outdoor signal and rebroadcast it inside your building is needed to receive the service. This equipment is sometimes called customer premises equipment, or CPE.
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How does wireless Internet address the Digital Divide?
Today’s world requires that everyone has access to information which increasingly requires access to broadband. For various reasons, access to these services is limited for some people. In particular, low income families, seniors, the disabled, and limited English speakers may be less likely to have access to the internet. The LA WiFi initiative anticipates helping to bridge the digital divide by providing cost effective access to all and by fostering creative solutions to provide more than just Internet access.
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How will the wireless network improve City services?
The City anticipates utilizing the citywide wireless network to improve how efficiently and effectively it provides services to its residents. Mobile internet services network could allow city staff who work in the field – firefighters, health and building inspectors, social and community health workers, parks and street maintenance and others – the ability to access and update information at an emergency, job or client site.
Residents could use the service to report issues with parks and streets and send photos directly over the network to appropriate City departments. Some Cities are also using wireless networks to monitor air quality, provide backup emergency communications, conduct video surveillance in high crime areas, etc.
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Do the mobile phone companies currently provide wireless internet access?
Yes, mobile phone companies currently provide wireless Internet access through their personal communication system (PCS) infrastructure. These systems use proprietary signal schemes to move the information over the PCS infrastructure. The LA WiFi initiative is focusing on facilitating the creation of a public-private partnership to provide high speed and cost effective wireless Internet access through Wi-Fi and/or WiMax standards across Los Angeles. Almost all laptops and an increasing number of personal devices, such as pocket PCs, are configured with Wi-Fi compliant technology. There are also many dual-mode devices being created which can operate either on a PCS or Wi-Fi based network.
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