Wireless Internet Zones

A wireless zone is different from a hot spot primarily in the amount of area it covers. Expanding the area covered requires more work with installing additional equipment, maximizing the reach of the signal, and developing an agreement with the Internet Service Provider providing the access. Wireless Woodstock, one zone in Vermont, has posted videos of a public meeting that explain the basics of a local wireless zone.

e-Vermont communities reviewed several options for how to provide Wi-Fi zones in downtown. At the time three main models existed in Vermont:

• Wireless zones created by a Wireless Internet Service Provider - Great Auk Wireless (GAW) has set up several of these zones, including in e-Vermont Community Newport.
• Wireless zones set up by a company that use existing Internet Service Providers - Summit Technologies has established these zones in places such as the Burlington International Airport and rest areas along the Interstate.
• Wireless zones set up by local volunteers as a "Do It Yourself" model - Wireless Woodstock provided the model for this approach in e-Vermont.

e-Vermont participating communities chose to implement the third option. Below is an overview of the steps involved and sample materials. Please note that these resources are current as of 2012 - equipment may have been updated since that time.

• Equipment
• Fiscal Sponsor & Broadband Committee
• Terms of Service & Landing Page
• Maintaining the Zone