The Golden Triangle soon could be a wireless Internet "hot zone" under a plan being pushed by a business promotional organization.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership foresees a Downtown-wide area here where people can use the Internet, access e-mail and send messages online without the need for cables or wires -- and without charge.
"We can't afford to wait. Pittsburgh is a world-class city, and it needs world-class technology," said Michael M. Edwards, who took over as executive director of the partnership in May.
Edwards is confident a so-called "WiFi" network can be of value here, based on his experience as head of a similar promotional organization in Spokane, Wash.
There, he helped establish such a service in a 100-block area.
Although a number of Downtown buildings and business already offer WiFi "hot zones," Edwards said the partnership believes the city "needs a bigger idea."
Potential benefits include using the service as a tool for economic development. The idea is to help distinguish Pittsburgh from other cities, Edwards said, promoting Downtown as a cool place that is attractive for workers and visitors.
"There's a certain sexiness to it," he said.
The system also might eventually be able to aid city police, fire and other municipal workers by providing access to Internet information out in the field.
The partnership, which operates a business-improvement district supported by businesses and property owners in a 90-block area Downtown, expects to receive a proposal next week from Vivato Inc., a Spokane company that is a provider of the equipment needed to create such a network here.
It also is working with Blue Mile Broadband, a unit of U.S. Wireless Online, of Louisville, Ky., which is a provider of wireless Internet broadband service.
Once it sees Vivato's plans for the system and its estimates of projected costs, the partnership, which would own the system, needs to seek permission from property owners to install the equipment on top of Downtown buildings.
Also, it must explore options for funding the project, which could come from a combination of businesses, private investors, foundation and possibly public sources. Edwards estimated the cost would be several hundred thousand dollars.
One of the existing providers of WiFi service Downtown, Full Service Network, said it already is in the process of expanding the "hot zone" it established in May at the U.S. Steel Tower. The company, which still is offering the service free, is adding three other buildings to its network, said president, David Schwencke.
"The more the merrier," said Schwencke about the partnership's plan, although he expressed doubts about the project. "We're skeptical that they would ever see a return on their investment," he said through a spokesman.
