WeCAN - Wireless Enabled Community Access Network

Wireless Enabled Community Access Network

HOUSTONWiFi currently provides free Internet broadband service at over 150 locations in 10 neighborhoods and business centers throughout Houston with plans to expand this service to aproximately 500 locations in 30 neigborhoods and business centers in 2010.

CURRENT SERVICE AREAS: DOWNTOWN - GULFTON - FIFTH WARD - THIRD WARD - SUNNYSIDE - SECOND WARD - OST/SOUTH UNION - MIDTOWN

WeCAN Works is a public/private partnership that provides the means to train the underserved, unskilled, and underemployed for sustainable career paths and jobs.

Get Involved!

WeCAN is providing a trusted (moderated) community resource portal that enables community members to easily connect with each other, and citywide and neighborhood quality of life programs.

Organize - Create groups to organize community programs, development, projects, etc.
Manage Projects - Share Documents, assign tasks, online whiteboards, etc.
Events - Communicate events, RSVP, email notifications to large target audiences, etc.
Show Support - Post your location to show the world that you are one of thousands of Houstonians that use and support WeCANservices.

Empowering Houston Communities and Citizens to Succeed in the 21st Century through:

Digital Literacy and Workforce Readiness Training
Free Neighborhood Broadband Service for Underserved Communities
Affordable Equipment
Expanded Neighborhood Computer Access locations
Trusted Community Social Network Services

WeCAN Services

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Unlike many Houstonians that enjoy Internet access through a choice of high capacity broadband services, over 300-thousand Houstonians live in underserved broadband areas due to limited profit driven broadband infrastructure investment. This condition limits these communities to slower copper based DSL service that does not provide access speeds required to effectively used current Internet media based services (i.e., video, VoIP, e-learning, e-commerce, etc.). WeCAN bridges this gap by providing these communities with municipal WiFi service that enable community access equivalent to expensive cable and fiber optic broadband service.

ACCELERATE BROADBAND ADOPTION FOR UNDERSERVED HOUSTONIANS

WeCAN employs a strategy that includes community broadband access, online software services, equipment purchasing programs, public computer centers, and training and awareness programs.

SUSTAINABILITY
WeCAN is a partner with the City of Houston to expand a citywide WiMax and WiFi network that will enable free community and retail broadband access for 300,000 residents living in underserved communities as well as interconnect 5,000 traffic signals and school zone flashers, over 500 remote offices and facilities, 500,000 water meter accounts, 1,500 field workers, and over 1,500 electronic parking pay stations. This municipal broadband network will enable the City to save millions of dollars each year through reduced commercial broadband service costs.