Wi-Fi Kankakee, LLC.

Posted Online: October 13, 2006

WiFi Kankakee on cutting edge

By Roy Bernard
rbernard@daily-journal.com
815-929-5408

Kankakee continues to be wavelengths ahead of other cities nationwide when it comes to establishing a wireless Internet system.

Now, the local pioneers of wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, are looking to the business community to expand the service even further.

Wi-Fi in Kankakee has nearly 400 users, said Wade LeBeau, information services director for The Daily Journal.

"We are getting subscribers from Bradley and Bourbonnais who want to use Wi-Fi in Kankakee," LeBeau told about 50 business and city leaders during the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Kankakee Development Corporation on Wednesday.

Wi-Fi in Kankakee is being developed through a cooperative effort between the city and The Daily Journal. Through that effort, a new company called WiFi Kankakee LLC was formed in May. Since that agreement was reached, the Wi-Fi service has quickly expanded.

Wi-Fi is already available in three areas of Kankakee:

From East Avenue to Dearborn Avenue, from Chestnut Street to Hickory Street.
South of the Kankakee River, from Main Street to South Schuyler Avenue and south to Charles Street.
Beckman Park, Kankakee Community College, the OAK Sports Arena and the Splash Valley Aquatic Center.

Tim Schmidt, KDC executive director, said that having Wi-Fi hot spots in Kankakee already is paying off. An insurance claims adjuster used a spot near the gazebo downtown to hook up to the Internet and expedite a claim. Instead of taking a week to receive a check, the customer was paid the same day.

"It's a good way to bring people back downtown," LeBeau said.

Karen Hertzberger said she can operate her three businesses by using Wi-Fi.

"This is a great thing, and the service has been great," Hertzberger said.

Kankakee's Community Development Agency Director Larry Nolan uses Wi-Fi from an office at the Depot.

"It really cuts through the red tape for me," Nolan said. "It really helps."

Future hot spots are planned at the Hilton Garden Inn & Suites in south Kankakee, East Court Village apartments and Northfield Square Mall.

Pete Schiel, assistant superintendent of utility operations for the Kankakee Municipal Utility, said the Wi-Fi system could grow even faster if the business community was willing to sponsor ads to pay for the additional expenses.

"The more we support the Wi-Fi project," Schiel said, "the faster we grow and the faster we'll get to your neighborhood."

Sponsorships are available for $300 annually.