Despite eight months of ridicule by bloggers and techies, and scores of complaints from would-be Web surfers who can’t connect, Portland’s network is proving stubbornly resilient, says the Oregonian’s Mike Rogoway today.
Data from MetroFi Inc., the California company behind the project, indicate that thousands of people are quietly using the network. It isn’t the plug-and-play, universal access of Web surfers’ dreams, but it’s not an out-and-out failure, either.
“I don’t know of any municipal wireless network that has as much usage,” said Chuck Haas, MetroFi’s chief executive. “Portland is absolutely a success.”
If Portland is positioned to be the last man standing, though, that’s hardly an enviable spot. MetroFi itself acknowledges that free Wi-Fi alone won’t satisfy its investors, and is exploring alternatives that include more robust technologies and paid services.
Others say that Portland’s plan was fatally flawed and that it’s impossible to use Wi-Fi to build a citywide network that’s both profitable and reliable.
Portland should start over with a community-oriented approach focused on bringing wireless access to individual neighborhoods, said Michael Weinberg, president of the volunteer group Personal Telco Project . . .
MetroFi’s coverage map shows the real story. Predominently low income North Portland has no service at all. That’s because Pacific Power and Light, the power company that controls access to utility poles in that area of town, has been unable to come to terms with MetroFi.
Willamette Week reported that story last week. The Seattle Times and WiFiNetNews have recaps of recent municipal WiFi retrenchments.
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