Open Park Project Gives Free Wi-Fi to Capitol Hill

mindless4210 writes "The Open Park Project has made free Wi-Fi internet access available to anyone around the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and Capitol Visitor's Center. "It's a hotspot for democracy," said Greg Staple, Open Park's co-founder. The non-profit organization has also received a significant donation of Wi-Fi equipment from Tropos Networks, which it plans to use to establish a mesh of free hotspots across the National Mall."

Re:Looks like..

[Jason1729]

Sounds good to me. Last time I checked, starbucks WiFi access on a monthly basis was more expensive than my broadband, and for shorter lengths of time it's even worse. $10 for 1 day of access. The 10 cents/minute plan sounds good until you read the fine print and see it's a 1 hour minimum charge; so it's $6 just to check your email.

Jason
ProfQuotes [profquotes.com]

Trojan virus at this link?

[Thurmont]

I noticed after I clicked on the link "free Wi-Fi internet access available" my Norton AV said it quarantined the Trojan Virus Trojan.Mitglieder.I located in my IE Temp folder.

So clicked back twice to get my default webpage, I cleared my cached internet files, clicked on my Slashdot fav link, and then on the link in the story again. Immediately again, Norton pops up and says it quarantined that Trojan.

Is anyone else having this happen from this Dailywireless.com webpage?

Re:How much you wanna bet...

[Mattwolf7]

I'd say it isn't

The Open Park Project (Open Park) is a new Washington D.C. non-profit organization founded to bring wireless Internet access to the public and the museum community on the National Mall.

Internet backhaul services for Open Park are provided by DCAccess, Capitol Hill's first Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP).

This is some random group of geeks who are providing a great service to everyone in Washington

Re:Sunbaked

[kb1827]

5. FREE Wireless could be most useful in helping break the rediculous monopolies on broadband access that the cable and dsl companies hold.

openpark IS free.

good other 4 points, however...openpark in the future could be accessed from say, the washington monument to get directions to a restraunt, to upload images from a protest on the mall...etc :)

Re:ain't gonna happen

[mapmaker]

Yeah, I'm just outside the "compound" on New Jersey SE.

I checked out the hotspot description and map on thier website. It's located on the eastern edge of the Capitol grounds opposite the Supreme Court, and they say coverage just barely reaches the Jefferson Building of the LOC next door. So it's pretty much useless unless you're sitting on the steps of the Supreme Court or on the 7 square feet of the Capitol grounds that aren't a huge construction pit.

I guess they picked this location as their first hotspot because it's the "center of democracy" and blah blah blah. But rom a practical standpoint it's not a very useful location. Their #2 hotspot out on the mall will be much more useful.