Services
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Oshawa committee approves free wireless Internet proposal |
| Oshawa committee approves free wireless Internet proposal Apr 17, 2010 - 04:30 AM By Melissa Mancini =OSHAWA -- Two communities in the city may soon have access to free wireless Internet. Oshawa's development services committee looked at a proposal from Canada Smart Homes to install devices on utility poles that would provide wireless Internet service to residents in the Nonquon neighbourhood and Cedar Street and Wentworth Street area. The committee recommended council allow Canada Smart Homes to install equipment on utility poles for a two-year trial period. Initially, the staff report suggested no additional service providers be allowed during the trial period, a clause that was removed. "I'm not going to sell a free service to the commercial sector," Councillor Brian Nicholson said. "Nobody should be given a monopoly on a free service." After the pilot project, staff will evaluate the results and report back, which Tom Hodgins, commissioner of development services, said will allow staff to evaluate the upsides and downsides of the project. The company that is seeking to set up the service provides free Internet at Whitby's marina facility. The report said staff is not aware of other municipalities in Ontario that permit a similar service from utility poles. Out of 13 municipalities surveyed informally by staff, seven have some type of free Internet access, but it is mostly within municipal buildings. The project will not have any financial implications for the City, according to the report. Canada Smart Homes will pay agreement processing costs, permit charges for the equipment and all of the related installation and insurance costs if the trial goes ahead. The recommendation still has to go to council for a final decision. |