Wireless networking appeals to cities around Milwaukee

Following a previously reported initiative to establish a citywide wireless network in Milwaukee, the surrounding communities of Waukesha, Wauwatosa and Brookfield are getting into the act.

Waukesha and Wauwatosa are already being pitched by Cellnet, the provider that has made a deal with the city of Madison. Milwaukee's network is being built by a different company, Midwest Fiber Networks.

In the deals established so far, the city is essentially leasing space or the use of municipal facilities such as lamp posts to infrastructure providers, who are building the networks at their own expense – then contracting with Internet service providers to sell wireless access to consumers.

• GM Today: Business community embraces Wi-Fi in Waukesha

• Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Brookfield gears up to study going wireless