Water Bureau Blogs
Posted by: josh
I expected to be bored to death by the Portland Water Bureau's new blog, but it's actually quite charming. They recount the ceremonies in which the fountains all around Portland get turned on for the season. They discuss caring for the feral cats who have chosen to make the bureau's Interstate Yards home. And while starting a blog is a step forward in communications for the bureau, installing their first telephone in 1878 probably exceeded the blog in importance.
Comments are fully enabled, and so I'll be curious to see if random government haters choose to take up residence there. But, really, how much can you hate on posts about sustainable power, converting the fleet to 99% biodiesel, and kids on field trips?
Kudos to the Water Bureau for taking this step in communications with the public. Here's hoping more agencies follow suit.
MetroFi is Portland's WiFi Provider
Posted by: kmikeym
The City of Portland has chosen MetroFi to be the city's WiFi provider. They launched an advertiser supported network in Sunnyvale, California, which is what they are planning on doing here, according to a press release on PortlandOnline.com:
MetroFi will offer both a free service and a variety of subscriber-based plans to local businesses and citizens within Portland, based on Wi-Fi and pre-WiMAX technologies. Free service will be supported by advertisers purchasing banners and splash pages within the web browser.
And Mayor Tom Potter adds. "We are proud to partner with MetroFi in this effort to bring ubiquitous wireless Internet access to the city of Portland" said Portland Mayor Tom Potter. "I am eager to see the technology employed to help streamline city services and enhance public safety communications."
So what is next?
Once contract negotiations are finalized, MetroFi will begin detailed design and permitting, with concept testing anticipated this summer. When the system is deemed fully functional, downtown and the inner eastside will be blanketed with wireless access. Full city coverage is expected within one to two years.
Advertiser supported Wi-Fi blanket over the entire city: April 12, 2008.
