By ERICA FLYNN
Correspondent
WESTFIELD – RunWestfield participants weren’t the only ones testing their strength and speed as they headed down Elm Street towards the finish line of the recent road race. Testing of the city’s outdoor public wireless Internet pilot program was up and running, as well.
WHIPCITYWIFI, the public network being tested by the City in partnership with the state’s Information Technology Division, was launched in Westfield’s Park Square green two weeks ago. The network was briefly extended to the junction of Elm and Franklin Streets for testing during the race, the first major event held downtown since the pilot’s outset. The stretch of Elm Street, on which the network was extended, housed the race’s finish line and the post-race block party.
Westfield’s Information Technology Manager Lenore Bernashe said the city is still waiting on reports from the state for actual results regarding the success of the network’s activity.
For users accessing the network on race day, the speed of the connection along various points on Elm Street was what was expected; slightly faster nearing Park Square, where the wireless network’s access points are concentrated, and somewhat slower about a quarter mile away, approaching Franklin Street.
The network was disabled on Elm Street, but it will remain in pilot phase throughout the summer with the installation on the green.
“For this pilot”, Bernashe said, “the state assumes the cost of the Internet connection and the hardware.”
The costs to the city for running this pilot only include the labor for installation, as well as the electrical costs to keep it operational throughout the summer.
As the test of this pilot continues near the green throughout the summer, the city is encouraging residents to provide feedback based on their experience using WHIPCITYWIFI by filling out the online survey found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WHIPCITYWIFI.
Bernashe also said that additional pilots are being looked into and, depending on the survey results, the best solution for Westfield will be chosen.
The coordination of efforts by MassIT, the Westfield Technology Center, the Westfield Water Department, the Westfield Fire Department, the Westfield Engineering Department, and the Westfield Gas & Electric, was essential to getting this project up and running, according to a statement released by the Mayor’s office.
