NEWS FROM O’FALLON CITY HALL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Free WiFi Service Now Available
at Community Park and New Family Sports Park
O’Fallon, Illinois – November 13, 2007 –~ Mayor Gary L. Graham and the O’Fallon City Council are pleased to announce that free WiFi service is now available throughout Community Park and the new Family Sports Park.
“We are very pleased that we are able to offer this free service to our residents and visitors who may want to surf the internet or finish some work while watching their children’s sports teams compete”, said Mayor Graham. “This is the first known wireless internet service for public use operating in the metro area. Our plans call for additional internet hot spots throughout the City of O’Fallon as we move forward.”
To utilize the free WiFi service, all residents need to do is take their laptop to Community Park or the new Family Sports Park, power it up and connect wirelessly to the network. The service is designed to handle any special event or function held at both parks. There is no limit to the number of users that can simultaneously connect to the network, so connection to the system is simple and easy. Once connected to the WiFi network you will be directed to a welcome screen. From there, simply click on the connect link and you’re on your way to surfing the internet.
The City has teamed up with Wisper to provide the free WiFi system as well as the facilitation of the City’s many other communication connectivity needs. For example, wireless communications are utilized to track the demands of our City water system, the Point of Sale software used in our concession buildings in the parks, and used by parks maintenance workers to better communicate with each other when they are out in the field. Future plans include expanding the wireless network to provide surveillance capabilities for Public Safety, additional internet hot spots at Rock Springs Park, and other City uses.
When asked how the relationship between Wisper and the City of O’Fallon create winning scenarios for both parties, Nathan Stooke from Wisper stated, “O’Fallon is our back yard and a community that we raise our children in. It is our goal to make O’Fallon and the surrounding communities the most Advanced Technology Center in the St. Louis region. O’Fallon is very fortunate to have leaders and staff with the vision to recognize how technology can make their City safer, cleaner, and more productive while providing a better education for our local leaders of tomorrow.”
For more information on the free WiFi service in O’Fallon parks, please contact John Presley at jpresley@ofallon.org or 624-4500, ext. 1244.
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Additional Information Contact:
Pamala L. Funk
Assistant City Administrator
624-4500, Extension 9-1112
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