As early as next year, Baltimore City public housing residents could be the first in the city to get affordable wireless Internet access under Mayor Martin O?Malley?s “Connected Communities ? Connected City” program.
This week, the city?s Department of Finance asked companies to describe how they would provide wireless access to public housing residents before expanding the service.
Responses are due by Aug. 30.
“What we are trying to do is different than what other cities have done when setting up a wireless network,” said Mario Armstrong, the city?s technology advocate.
What?s unique about Baltimore?s plan, which Mayor Martin O?Malley proposed in November, is that it starts with low-income communities. And it will be done at no cost to the city, Armstrong said.
Called “Connected Communities ? Connected City,” the program has a multipronged approach to getting wireless network access to residents. City employees such as meter readers, inspectors and public safety officers would eventually use the network under the program. In the future ? basic Internet access for free ? would be available for tourists and business travelers, Armstrong added.
The city has already partnered with One-Economy, a nonprofit based in Washington.
One-Economy developed a $300 personal computer system Dell Computers. Public housing resident have to borrow the $300 from the Harbor Bank of Maryland. The residents must pay a $50 to $100 down payment.
Alec Ross, senior vice president of One-Economy, said 25 families have already gotten computers and gone through the required computer training.
“This is really about that 13-year-old in [Baltimore City] middle school and making sure that he can become part of the economic mainstream in the future,” Ross said.
The Bureau of Purchasing within the city finance department will hold a public pre-bid meeting at 10 a.m. June 10 at the office of the Baltimore Development Corp. to answer questions.
