Y-FI and YCEDC Strategic Partners

It has been a while since I’ve updated you on the progress with Y-FI, York’s Free community wireless initiative. The project which I started in late 2009 with just 2 nodes, grew throughout 2010 and now includes over 30 wireless nodes in York City. The pace has been quickening and I’m receiving more and more inquiries from residents and businesses that want to participate. Much of the current coverage area surrounds Central Market, Strand-Capitol and the Beaver Street shops, but we’ve branched out into other areas of the city.

In 2010 we developed partners and installed several nodes in the Avenues. We also have a cluster forming around the E Philadelphia/N Queen Street intersection. Most recently we’ve begun a partnership with the YWCA to rollout Y-FI in parts of the Olde Town East neighborhood, allowing the YWCA and the neighborhood association to continue their service to their neighbors. Y-FI is fortunate to have many supporting partners, both residents and businesses. Our website is always the best place to see who is supporting Y-FI. Our network growth sees user traffic over 10Gb per day and loads of users. I’m thankful for the support this idea has received thus far and I’m excited about where 2011 is going to take us.

And that brings me to …

Yesterday we announced that Y-FI is now in partnership with the York County Economic Development Corporation to expand and grow Y-FI in York City. This is a great strategic partnership for Y-FI and allows both the YCEDC and myself to focus on what we do best. The YCEDC is able to bring its large wealth of development knowledge and its long list of resources to Y-FI, to help our community network grow larger and more consistently through 2011. Their staff has relationships with many of the business owners and potential supporting partners downtown and can make the vital connections that will allow Y-FI to flourish.

As you may know, IT and internet networking is not my full time occupation. The development work on Y-FI happens after hours and on weekends. It takes numerous hours to setup and maintain the network. Keeping the network running consistently and performing well, leaves few hours left for developing the supporting connections that continue to be critical to Y-FI’s future. That’s where the YCEDC will make it’s biggest impact.

Y-FI is completely free to use and enjoy, but that means we have costs that we have to develop funding for. Working with our existing partners, our new partners and the YCEDC I’m hopeful we can raise the funding needed to expand over much more of the central business district as well as being able to support the growth in other residential areas. How can you support Y-FI and the greater community? I’m glad you asked Visit our website for ways several ways you can help Y-FI continue brining this free tool to our city.

For More information about the Y-FI / YCEDC partnership
Click this link to see the Press Release.

Thank you. We look forward to providing expanded free wireless coverage in York City this year!