City Of Portland Approves Project For Wi-Fi Enabled Lighting

You may be able to get a free Wi-Fi signal from street lamps in downtown Portland as soon as next year after the City Council voted unanimously to approve a project to buy its street lights from Central Maine Power Co for downtown Portland and several islands in Casco Bay for $8.5 million according to The Portland Press Herald.

City Manager Jon Jennings said the city wants to install LED lights, which are more cost efficient, saving up to $1 million a year. They also will install Wi-Fi. The new system would have different color warning lights to alert residents to parking bans or emergencies. The project also includes digital information kiosks throughout downtown.