In 2005, Tempe, Ariz. deployed a city-wide wireless network through a partnership with Gobility, Inc. The company owns, operates, and provides maintenance for the network. In exchange for the use of the city's rights of way, the company has also agreed to provide municipal workers with free broadband access, saving the government much expenses and greatly improving the city's public safety system. WAZ Tempe overlaps with the neighboring WAZ Chandler network.

Funding: The network's construction and operation is financed entirely by Gobility, Inc. Revenues from the project come through advertisements and subscription fees of $4.95 per hour, $9.95 per day, or from $19.95 to $29.95 per month, depending on connection speed.

Management: The network is managed entirely by Gobility, Inc. In a contract with Gobility, the Tempe government agreed to allow the company to use its light poles for wireless nodes. The contract also includes a provision permitting municipal and public safety workers to use the network for free. Such an agreement is an unusual but highly valuable way for the city to reap significant savings and benefits from the network when it otherwise does not oversee or manage it in any way.

Coverage: With over 900 nodes around the city, the service provider, Gobility claims to have no complaints about coverage. The wireless cloud reaches an area of 40 square miles around the city, servicing the Tempe campus of Arizona State University as well. The network is also WiMax-ready, and if the city decides to adopt this technology in the future, it will have to make only minor changes and upgrades.

Quality of service: The network advertises an upload and download speed of 2Mbps for its wireless service. Coverage is available both indoors and outdoors. In October 2005, the Wireless Internet Institute selected the WAZ Tempe network as a recipient of one of its Wireless Communities Best Practices Awards, which is given to wireless networks around the world.

State laws: There are no Arizona laws concerning municipal broadband.

About Tempe: Tempe is a city of about 167,000 residents including the roughly 60,000 students who attend Arizona State University's Tempe campus. At the 2005 census, the city's median household income was around $45,000.

Additional information:

• WAZ Tempe website
• Six Wireless Communities Best Practices Award winners
• Tempe Wi-Fi: Firefighters, Police Are Fans
• Wi-Fi Lessons Learned in Tempe
• WazTempe Citywide Wi-Fi Network Strengthens