Public Wifi

So, after thinking about some of the things that Buffalo is lacking in, which contributes to our ongoing population shrinkage, I've noted a few things that are really low-hanging fruit. For starters, Wifi in Downtown. 

There is some access in Niagara Square, but have you ever tried to use it? If you are not seated in 3 of the benches down there, you're shit out of luck being able to connect. It seems as though we again used the modus operandi for Buffalo: Do something half-assed (Like the bike racks on NFTA buses). We should aggressively blanket downtown with Public Wifi. Does it need to be free? While, it would be nice, it mustn't need be. Maybe, work with the businesses downtown, where if you have a receipt, you can log into the wifi with a code printed on the receipts.

This way, it brings in customers who buy things, and increases foot traffic as a whole. We also can take the burden off of small businesses who try to compete with larger box stores offering the same service: We place all businesses on equal footing.

However, I don't see the City of Buffalo actually getting off of their derrieres and doing it.  So, we need another "Massachusetts Avenue Project" type group to get in, and do it.  Software and hardware is already there, and it's cheap.  A project like this is in the works in Portland, Oregon (https://personaltelco.net/wiki).

Maybe, the Buffalo Niagara Technology Partnership will step up?  Or a grass-roots effort, managed by individuals?

Me?  I'd prefer to see it as a grassroots effort.  The amateur radio community has done some work getting a similar project started.  Personal Telco in Portland has as well.  A grass roots effort could replace corporate control of the internet, and phone systems.

What do you think is the better route:  Grass roots or business community?  City, or Private Citizens?