Google Grant Brings Free Wi-Fi To The Dalles

Google will be providing a $100,000 grant to The Dalles, Oregon, to build and operate a Wi-Fi cloud that covers the city's business district.The Dalles is home to a major Google data center, as can be seen in this InformationWeek photo gallery.

According to The Dalles Chronicle, Google's grant comes with some strings attached. In exchange for the funding, the city must agree not to filter any content.

Google remains under pressure in many places around the world, such as Australia and China, to filter online content.

The agreement also gives Google final approval over the content and design of the splash page and landing page displayed to those logging onto the Wi-Fi network.

The Dalles City Council approved the agreement in a vote on Monday.

For Google, efficient Internet connectivity is good for business. The company recently sponsored free Wi-Fi at several U.S. airports over the holidays. It currently provides free Wi-Fi for residents of Mountain View, Calif., where the company has its headquarters.

Earlier this week, Google announced plans to deploy experimental ultrafast broadband networks in an undetermined number of communities for as many as 500,000 people, an project intended to help shape U.S. broadband strategy.

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