Because Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls are already connected via underground tubes of fiber optic cables, the Chippewa Valley has become one of only five communities invited to apply for a grant that would enable even more connectivity. Upon approving the application (expected by September 30), the area would receive $11.6 million from federal stimulus funds for the construction of an extensive fiber optic and Wimax network. WiMax is licensed and protected “air infrastructure” that would provide wireless internet to centers of education, public safety, medicine, government, and public computing – and thus would not be available for random citizen mooching. “We have to provide critical services,” says John LeBrun, the city’s Information Services Manager. ”With WiFi, any bit of popcorn that gets in the way can shut down a system.” The benefits? The project would provide services to organizations serving vulnerable populations – places like Free Clinics and Boys and Girls Clubs who have been skipped on “the grid.”  Unserved rural areas north to Spooner, south to Mondovi, east to Fairchild, and west to Menomonie would be included, too, aiding local commerce and job creation. Even public safety would get a boost, as wireless broadband would be provided for remote incident command posts, mobile data computers, and Automatic Vehicle Location. According to LeBrun, technology such as WiMax that is deemed “too new” or “unproven” (but would create great community benefit) would be impossible to fund without the grant money.

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