Carrie Andrews

Wi-Fi in Rochester? Not according to Monroe County Republicans.

I hear a lot of talk about job creation and economic development these days. Discussions about how to revitalize downtown, how to bring new businesses to Rochester and keep the ones we have, and how to keep young people here. It's a vitally important topic for the future of our area.

And then, once in a while I hear a good idea that may help. Something concrete that may actually do something to propel Rochester into the future and steer it away from following in the footsteps of our neighboring cities to our east and west. A way to stop our backward decline. And yet, despite all the rhetoric about wanting to foster economic development and bring new jobs to the area, the idea gets shot down by the Republicans without even giving it a second of consideration.

A Democratic proposal, put forward to a committee of the Monroe County Legislature this week asked for a taskforce to be created to study the idea of municipal broadband wireless access, wi-fi, in the county. The proposal didn't even suggest implementing it, just studying it. And the Republican majority on the Planning and Economic Development Committee said "no."

No. It wouldn't even approve a taskforce to study it. Chairman Mark Assini (R) said that it's not the role of government to come in and subsidize a service already provided by private industry. Already being provided? I don't think so-we have very few wi-fi hotspots in downtown Rochester, and no hotspots over broad geography in Monroe County. But aside from that misguided statement, is it not the role of government to promote policies that could foster economic growth and development? Don't we want to be a community on the cutting edge of technology? We certainly talk like we do. But then when it comes to action, that's a different story.

How are we supposed to attract these new businesses if we don't ever give them a reason to come? How are we supposed to retain our young people and create good jobs if we don't try to keep up, or better yet, stay ahead of the rest of the country?

This is a great possibility to create a wireless network to entice businesses to this community. This is the kind of forward thinking that we need to reinvigorate our downtown area and create new jobs. This could be a real reason for businesses to want to come to Rochester. If we're talking about being a part of the 21st century we need to have the technology of the 21st century.

Leading cities across the county are bringing wi-fi to their residents. Seattle, Philadelphia and San Mateo to name a few. And, closer to home, even Canandaigua is doing it. Rochester should be chomping at the bit to bring wi-fi here. But instead, we won't even study it.

For all the talk of fostering economic development and working in a bi-partisan manner, the Republicans shot this proposal down without missing a heart beat. I fail to understand why they would take such a position-unless they only care to support job creation ideas that originate from their side of the aisle. That couldn't be it, could it?

Maybe, as a member of this frequently referred to and sought after group of "young people," I can more easily understand why researching new technologies is a great thing to do and a great way for the county to improve its image and ability to attract and retain residents. I am far from understanding the technology behind wi-fi, but I know that it's a great service in hotels, coffee shops and cafes and I would welcome its presence in public spaces too.

It's been said again and again that new ideas will help us improve our state of being. Well, new ideas don't get implemented on their own. They need support and fostering in order to get off the ground. We're living in a fast-paced and competitive era. It's crucial that we not be left behind in the 20th century and look forward to the future. Enough talk; action is what is needed now.

Certainly it appears that the Republicans in the County Legislature are lacking in the ability to think towards tomorrow and are more focused on standing put where we are today. Well, I don't believe staying where we are today is acceptable. This type of mentality won't help our city to go forward toward an era of prosperity at all. And we wonder why Rochester is in a state of economic decline? If we constantly reject thinking about the future in ways that could help our community, we will always fail to advance.

(A version of this editorial was printed in the Democrat and Chronicle on March 13, 2005.)

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