San Jose already has free downtown wifi. Casual users to not have to login or provide a password. Their planned new expanded network will also be used by city employees, satellite fire stations, wireless parking meters, signs that provide real-time information on available parking in city garages, and to relieve congestion on crowded cell networks. It will support tens of thousands of users.
Daily Wireless has lots more info on San Jose’s upgraded municipal wifi. The new system will cost a suprisingly low $94,000 to install and $22,000 a year to run. What a great idea!