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Lawrence Freenet proposes free Wi-Fi for students Student group to support proposal with petition; University researches whether offer is feasible
BY SARAH NEFF
sneff@kansan.com
Lawrence Freenet has offered to donate $750,000 to create a wireless network that would allow free Internet access to University of Kansas students.
Joshua Montgomery, founding member of Lawrence Freenet, said the organization had been talking about ways to provide coverage at the University since Freenet was founded. He said if the idea was approved, the University could use the money to expand the "jayhawk" wireless network.
"It would take KU from a university that's three to four years behind in coverage and turn it into one of
the first universities in the nation to provide coverage to its students anywhere in the city." Montgomery said.
able to use their KU Online ID and password anywhere in town to access the Internet, eliminating the need for students to subscribe to monthly Internet services that cost anywhere from $15 to $50 a month. He said there would be a small fee to the University to cover the cost
"It would take KU from a university that's three to four years behind in coverage and turn it into one of the first universities in the nation to provide coverage to its students anywhere in the city."
JOSHUA MONTGOMERY Lawrence Freenet
Montgomery said students would be
of service technicians and customer service operators.
Lawrence Freenet offers residential wireless Internet for $19.98 a month. Montgomery said Freenet's goal as a non-profit organization was to create universal Internet access, rather than trying to restrict it by charging as much as possible. He said that each nav-
ing customer helped to cover the cost for low-income families. He said the deal with the University would enable Lawrence Freenet to provide service to
LawrenceFreenet A Community Connection
1,000 to 2,000 low-income customers.
James Heaney, Topeka senior, founded the KU Wi-Fit Club to build student support for Freenet's proposal.
"I think there would be a huge demand." Heaney said. "I don't know who wouldn't want free Internet."
Montgomery set up a Web site that will soon have a petition for students to sign to show support for Freenet's proposal at groups.ku.edu/~wifi.
Bill Myers, director of assessment and outreach to the Office of the Vice Provost for Information Services, said the University was working on building an independent wireless network on campus with a $2.6 million initiative in collaboration with Student Senate. Myers said Lawrence Freenet had not submitted a formal proposal to the University yet, but that Information Services was in the process of researching whether Freenet's offer would
work.
"The goal of providing wireless access
"The goal of pro- to the Internet for KU students from anywhere in Lawrence is admirable." Myers said. "KU's Information Services is exploring the viability of doing so in the manner suggested by Lawrence Freenet, but no determination has been made and nothing formal is being considered at this point."
mit a bid for the contract.
BILL MEYERS KU Information Services
"The goal of providing wireless access to the Internet for KU students from anywhere in Lawrence is admirable."
Paul Knorr, general manager for Sunflower Broadband, said wireless Internet connections were less stable than wire line services. He said that if the University found a need for wireless access, Sunflower Broadband would sub-
Smith, Goodland freshman student senator, said he welcomed the help from Lawrence Freenet. He said most campuses offered wireless access in dorms, classrooms and public places across.
"I think ResNet is rather expensive and kind of foolish if we have to have a wired signal," Smith said. "It is a disservice to our students to not offer this service in one tone or another, and Lawrence Freenet is giving us an opportunity that I think we would be bull-headed to pass up."
Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
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Focusing on the holidays
University of Kansas alumna Katherine Logan shops Sunday night at the annual Fair Trade Holiday Market at Ecumenical Christian Ministries. The market will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Katherine Loeck/KANSAN
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