The skies may be clear and sunny, but an invisible cloud is settling over Martinez.
It began forming in early 2011, when AirCloud Communications installed WiFi spots along Main Street, at the Amtrak Station, and at Martinez City Hall. Now, the cloud is expanding.
A proposal for second phase of the AirCloud project includes new locations to get connected around town, with installations planned for:
- The corners of Escobar at Court, Ferry, and Castro streets
- The corners of Ward at Court and Estudillo streets
- The Martinez Marina
- The Rankin Aquatic Center
- The new sports complexes located at 330 and 360 Ferry Street via a redirected signal at the Amtrak Station
AirCloud also intends to remove the "for pay" option of the service and instead look to selling advertising space for revenue.
The current network will also be getting an upgrade, with a 500 percent increase in bandwidth from 4 Mbps to 20 Mbps.
The cost to the city for the upgrade and expansion is just under $25,000, with a 10 percent pay-back on advertising revenue, space to advertise the city’s website, and web-streaming of City Council meetings and upcoming special events. The Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Martinez will also continue to receive promotional space.
The city council will consider the AirCloud phase II proposal at Wednesday evening's public meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at .
What do you think of AirCloud in Martinez? Share your thoughts in the comments.
