Muni-WiFi operator Champion WiFi is vying for a portion of the federal government's stimulus funds for broadband deployments in underserved areas.
The Champion Broadband subsidiary has partnered with the southern California city of Monrovia to apply for $2.7 million to overlay a dual-band 2.4 GHz and 4.9 GHz network over the city. The new WiFi facilities will overlay on Champion's existing network using BelAir nodes.
This is a no-brainer for us," said Monrovia's deputy city manager Dick Singer in an interview with InformationWeek. "It will cover our Old Town area, public safety computers, a park area, and the library."
Champion plans to fund 20 percent of the project if it wins approval.
Meanwhile, mobile WiMAX player Clearwire said it applied for some "modest grants" under the government's broadband stimulus program, one of the most high-profile telecom operators to acknowledge an application for funds. "These projects would have no significant impact on our funding or our existing buildout plans, but demonstrate our support of the government's initiative to bring broadband to underserved areas," Clearwire spokeswoman Susan Johnston told Unstrung. "Additional details will be available once the filings are made public."
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