Wi-Fi Issues 'Plague' Lompoc Project → Who Wants It?

I could be wrong but unless your in a MAJOR tech heavy area like San Fran, or San Jose I dont think your average Joe really wants or needs this WI-FI access. Look I could be wrong on this but I think a HUGE majority of people out there still dont even know what WI-FI actually is & does. Try asking your grandma who just got a new laptop if she needs access to a hot spot when she takes the 10 minute drive to Starbucks.....She just may look at you & say whats a WI-FI?

Yes, you are wrong. We may technically be a rural area but we are by no means country bumpkins. And to the first poster, don't forget that Vandenberg Air Force base is also located in Lompoc.

Well it appears your numbers don't show it - only 200+ users. I think you may be an exception...

This is why a lot of companies are reluctant to build out like this, as it appears to be a wasted venture.

I think one of the big reasons it's been a failure is that cable and DSL are already widely available in Lompoc (within the city limits at least). When most people don't have a need for "portable" internet access, why would they bother with $20 a month wi-fi that is slower and less reliable than $15 a month Verizon DSL? There are still some areas on the outskirts of town that don't have access to cable or DSL broadband that would have been better served by this type of project.

Easy, often wifi has higher upload than competing landline services. If its T1 backhauled its atleast 1300Kbs, if its fiber or multiple T1s or metro ethernet or powerline, there is a chance you can get upto 2000-4500kbs. Even with if your cursed with NAT, you can get some pretty good speeds on Bittorrent. One problem is, if the wifi admins monitor usage, and kick off high draining users. But its easy to abuse with fake contact info and prepaid credit cards.

Honestly I think its truly pathetic and shows the incumbants have to go if people goto muni wifi for the upload speed. And very often Muni wifi is very great upload speeds for low price. $65 for 512kbs on Time Warner is a joke, I get 1200 real world on a paid hotspot for $18 a month.