Chicago Lawn Making Strides Against Digital Divide
Nathan Woodside
Published: February 14, 2013
Related to: Chicagoland eTeam
One southwest Chicago neighborhood is hoping it’s found a viable and sustainable plan to spread public wireless internet access.
The Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) is well into its first of three project phases that will establish a network of public internet access hubs in Chicago Lawn.
In a partnership with the Evanston-based company Atmosphere Communications, 17 wireless hubs have been attached to as many buildings along a 17-block stretch of 63rd Street between Western and Kedzie Streets.
“Our community is part of the digital divide and we’ve been working tirelessly to figure out how to battle that,” Tina James, GSDC director of commercial and technology services, said. “Our community needs access to the internet in a very real and affordable way.”
Access to the network can be had with a password or service set identification (SSID) available at hub sites. The service is designed to be a catalyst for business, education and overall quality of life.
“The Greater Southwest Development Corporation's wireless network is an outstanding next step towards digital citizenship for Chicago's southwest side residents and business owners,” said Ernest Sanders, regional eTeam leader for the nonprofit agency Broadband Illinois. “It encompasses and expands upon the original Southwest Smart Communities Initiatives to use technology to connect Southwest Side communities. It also reduces physical and psychological barriers that have hampered progress and collaboration and stimulates economic development in their community.”
Early statistics show the system has potential, according to James.
The access has not yet been advertised. Officials expected there would be around 50 users on the system per day. Recently, an average of 700 unique users have been logging on daily.
In the next two phases of the program, access points will be added from Kenzie Street to Cicero. Phase three will cover Pulaski Street from 55th to 71st.
Eventually, approximately 500 businesses will be wired and marked with promotional decals.
GSDC does have a plan to keep access free to citizens and affordable to businesses, yet self-sustainable.
While free users have access to 1 Mbps download speed and 256 Kbps upload, businesses and some residents will have the option of paying a fee for higher bandwidth.
The suggested fee is $15 per month for 4 mbps download speeds and 1 Mbps upload speeds.
“The idea is that if enough businesses and residents opt in, maybe this system can become self-sustainable,” James said. “We’re hopeful.”
Once the full system is up and running and any bugs have been worked out, the GSDC plans to market similar systems to other special service areas, according to Ghian Foreman, GSDC executive director.
“I think the key here is standardizing a solution,” he said. “If we have a solution, and the people next door have a different solution, and those solutions don’t work together, we’re all just wasting a lot of time. So let’s standardize the solution… If we can standardize it, that means the next generation of whatever we do is going to be implemented a lot faster.”
Illinois State Senator in the Ninth District Daniel Biss also serves as chairman of the state's Eliminate the Digital Divide Advisory Committee. He mentioned at an earlier meeting that he is supportive of the efforts during a time when need is great and funding is low.
Whether the wireless system becomes a standard throughout southwestern Chicago neighborhoods or not, it promises to be a boon for Chicago Lawn.
Atmosphere Communications CEO Warren Walker, who is building the system, sees the potential.
“What’s great about this system is that it’s truly a real world system being used by real people, “ he said. “it’s not an idea. It’s not a concept. It’s actually being used for production purpose… for business purposes and community purposes…. It is functioning. It is real. It is live.”
Top photo: Tina James, GSDC director of commercial and technology services, and Atmosphere Communications CEO Warren Walker speak at a recent Broadband Illinois eTeam meeting in Chicago Lawn.
Bottom photo: Broadband Illinois eTeam leader Ernest Sanders and Ghian Foreman, GSDC executive director, participate in an eTeam meeting in Chicago Lawn.