wifi - WKTV Journal

City of Kentwood City Hall, on the City Campus. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

The City of Kentwood has partnered with Kent County to “help residents stay connected while enjoying many of its parks and visiting the main City campus” with free public wireless internet access now available at 13 Kentwood locations.

The access is funded by Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ( CARES) Act funding allocated to increase free public Wi-Fi throughout Kent County. According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 33,000 households in Kent County do not have a broadband internet subscription.

“The pandemic has increased demand for internet use and many in our community do not have access,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “We are grateful to be able to provide more public Wi-Fi across Kentwood for our residents, especially our students, to stay connected for work, school and play.”

Kentwood joins 16 other communities and Kent County Parks as part of the initiative to add free public Wi-Fi access across the county.

The free access is available at the following Kentwood locations:

Bowen Station Park, 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE

City Campus — City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE

City Campus — volleyball courts, 5068 Breton Ave. SE

East Paris Nature Park, 5995 East Paris Ave. SE

Home Acres Park, 145 Farnham St. SE

Jaycee Park, 1088 Gentian Drive SE

Kellogg Woods Park, 275 Kellogg Woods Park Drive SE

Northeast Park, 1900 Middleground Drive SE

Old Farm Park, 2350 Embro Drive SE

Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE

Stanaback Park, 3717 Whitebud Drive

Stauffer Station Park, 2360 52nd St. SE

Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE

Kent County was awarded $114.6 million in CARES Act funding for COVID-19 economic relief efforts. Of that, $1 million was allocated for near-term solutions for free public Wi-Fi access throughout the county.

The costs of Kentwood’s newest Wi-Fi access points and their installation were covered by Kent County through the CARES Act funding. The total infrastructure investment in the City of Kentwood was $60,855, according to a city statement.

The City of Kentwood will also pay electricity and monthly Wi-Fi service charges. The total cost for the city is expected to be $18,000 over the next two years.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

As the Greater Grand Rapids area moves into the new year, the possibilities of many still working and attending school virtually remains high, which is why earlier in December the Kent District Library made the announcement that it has made it mobile wi-fi hotspots available at all of its 22 locations.

KDL mobile hotspots are now available at all of its branches. (Supplied/KDL)

“Previously, they had only been available at seven more real locations,” said Elizabeth Guarino-Kozlowicz, KDL manager of library collections. “We’re hoping to help more patrons in Kent County as we continue to chip away at the digital divide.”

Another change is that patrons can now checkout a wi-fi hotspot for up to four months. In the past, it was for three weeks.

KDL has more than 1,000 hotspots available for checkout. The hotspots are part of the Beyond Books Collection and are available to library cardholders age 18 and older. Demand for the hotspots have been high especially since state guidelines have pushed many families to work and attend school from home. KDL staff estimates that currently about 800 of its hotspots are currently checked with about 200 hotspots having been loaned to Northview Public Schools and Kelloggsville High School.

“With an estimated 37,000 households without broadband Internet access in Kent County, during this time of crisis, it’s important to help as many people as we can,” said Carrie Wilson, director of library services at KDL. “With so many people working and learning from home, the need for Internet access is greater than ever before.”

To check out a hotspot, visit kdl.org and search on the term “hotspot” to place a hold. Hotspots can be picked up and returned at any KDL branch. People who live in the KDL service area and do not have a library card can register for one online at kdl.org/virtual or by calling616-784-2007.

A wi-fi hotspot is a small piece of equipment that will set up a wireless network that allows a houseful of people to connect to the Internet via cellular service.