From Wi-fi Planet, by Naomi Graychase:
"As more and more cities jump into the emerging Wi-Fi as residential broadband market, a wide variety of business models are being tested. Starting early next year, the city of Lompoc, Calif., a city of 40,000 located just north of Santa Barbara on the state's central coast, plans to join the growing number of American cities offering wireless access. In its case, wireless access will be offered as a city-run utility.
In response to a report issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which stated that the number of households using broadband increased by 55% in 2002, the Lompoc city council decided to take initiative and launch its own broadband access as part of the Lompoc Utility Department. The hope is that the city's $26 million investment in wireless and fiber optic networks will pay off by generating revenue for the city in years to come.
The network will use Tropos Networks mesh architecture equipment based on 802.11b and the faster 802.11g (which Tropos just announced). Other cities using Tropos equipment on live networks currently include Half Moon Bay and San Mateo, Calif., and Chaska, Minn. The City of Lompoc is planning to deploy 130 piece of equipment, each with a range of about 300 feet. "
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