About Rochesterwifi.com

Rochesterwifi.com is a site dedicated to providing information and advancing the development of municipal wireless broadband in Monroe County, NY. Although this site is non-political, it is created in an effort to sustain support for and share information pertaining to Monroe County Legislator Stephanie Aldersley’s legislation to investigate the feasibility of creating a municipal wireless broadband network in Monroe County.

About Municipal Wireless Broadband

Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) or IEEE 802.11denotes a set of wireless LAN standards that have evolved to provide low cost, high-speed Internet access and data networking in homes and offices around the world. Recent advancements in Wi-Fi technology and equipment have made it possible for Wi-Fi to spread beyond local area network application to wide area networks. In fact, it is Wi-Fi's low cost and high-speed data transmission rates, as well as its increasing applicability to Metropolitan Area Networks or MANs that is now driving municipalities towards deploying metro-scale Wi-Fi networks for municipal and public use.

Governments are increasingly examining technologies such as Tropos Network's 5110 Wi-Fi Cells and mesh networks to extend indoor wireless hotspots. By deploying individual Wi-Fi cells on streetlights and other traffic control devises, large areas can be quickly served at low cost.

While some municipalities are allowing access to their wireless networks for a small subscription fee, others are offering access entirely free of charge. In either case, municipalities believe municipal Wi-Fi will enhance the quality of life in their community.

Municipalities that are considering metro-scale wireless broadband often cite the low cost of implementation, its use as an economic development tool, ability to narrow the digital divide and source of revenue as reasons for building metro-scale networks.