Town of Amherst, Massachusetts

Town of Amherst Public

Amherst's Community Wireless Mesh Network

This public service comes through a Community Wireless partnership between the Town’s Information Technology Department and UMass Amherst’s Computer Science Department. Wireless access is now available in most public buildings and outdoor public places in the downtown area!

October 10, 2007 Joint Press Release

Town Information Technology Department:

www.amherstma.gov/itd

info@amherstma.gov

"We have received an incredible amount of positive feedback from citizens, professionals and visitors and I'm delighted we are able to deliver such an amazing system in this community using funds provided exclusively through an external partnership. I believe this system will not only have a positive impact on Town services, like providing citizens the ability pay for parking with a credit card, or traffic calming though connected traffic signals, but I also believe the possibilities surrounding economic development are endless. I am very excited about where this system, and this partnership with the University, will take this community." -Kristopher J. Pacunas, Director of Information Technology

UMass Computer Science Department:

www.cs.umass.edu

prisms.cs.umass.edu (PRISMS lab site)

"We believe that the greatest research results come from experimentation from a real testbed. The cooperation between the town and our research lab will be a major accelerant in gaining valuable insights into mobile systems." -Mark Corner, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, UMass Amherst.

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Funding for the Downtown Community Wireless Project is provided through UMass by grants from the National Science Foundation and DARPA:

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FAST FACTS:

The Wireless Network Identifier, or SSID, is Town of Amherst Public.
New! Coverage Map
Users will need a properly configured WiFi compliant 802.11b/g wireless device to use this system.
This is an experimental service and may be discontinued at any time.
This system is mainly intended for Internet browsing and email. The system supports HTTP and HTTPS, SMTP, POP and IMAP.
This system is for occasional use; users should not rely on this system as their only means of Internet access.
Minimum Internet speeds are not guaranteed.
Town staff is strictly prohibited from handling or troubleshooting users’ equipment and software.
Coming Soon, printing to the Jones Library public color printer will be available from the wireless network.
By connecting to the Wireless Internet users acknowledge all associated risks and agree to the Disclaimer and Terms of Use.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is 802.11b/g?

IEEE 802.11 is an international standard for wireless networking. It permits different devices to communicate with one another using this standard. There are different versions of this standard and The Town of Amherst has chosen the most common one, 802.11b/g. Your laptop or PDA device must be enabled with an 802.11b/g network adaptor or chip in order to communicate with this system.

How does this service work?

The Town of Amherst has installed wireless access points near the coverage locations, which transmit a radio signal wirelessly to a user's Wireless 802.11b/g wireless network adaptor. With a properly installed wireless network adapter, a user launches their browser and receives the Wireless Internet disclaimer page. Once they ok the Disclaimer and Terms of Use, they are able to connect to Public Wireless Service.

What do I need to connect to this service?

You will need a Wireless compliant 802.11b/g wireless Ethernet device in your laptop or another device with WiFi capability. You must have DHCP enabled, that is, no static IP address. You must not have a static proxy server or static DNS server specified.

How fast is this service?

The Town of Amherst connects to the Internet via a single shared Internet connection. The actual throughput (speed) varies depending on the number of concurrent users. Download speeds will usually range from 1Mbps to 45Mbps, however the Town does not guarantee this service or minimum throughput speeds.

Can I access my business network through this service?

No, the Town of Amherst has disabled all ports not necessary for simple Internet browsing and email communications.

What operating systems are compatible with this service?

The Wireless Internet is not OS-specific, and will work with any operating systems as long as there is a compatible, properly configured network adapter.

What if I have problems connecting to this service?

For liability and cost reasons Town staff are strictly prohibited from handling or troubleshooting users' personal computers. If Town staff are contacted they will only verify the current operation state of the Public Wireless Internet.

Where can I connect to this system?

This system is currently available in the Town Hall meeting rooms, Bangs Community Center meeting rooms and courtyard, Jones Library and Branches, the Town Common and Sweetster Park.

How secure is this system?

We do not enable WEP (Wired Equivalency Protection), WPA, or any other encryption methods on any of the wireless equipment used in our network. Therefore, no special keys are required to use the service. WEP encryption is not yet practical for a public access network, due in part to the absence of a standardized method for relaying encryption keys between different manufacturers' equipment. We also encourage our subscribers to observe good security practices.

GOOD INTERNET SECURITY PRACTICES:

Keep your operating system and software applications up-to-date.
Use up-to-date antivirus and malware protection.
Use an Internet firewall.
Don't send confidential or personal financial information over the Wireless Internet.

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WIRELESS INTERNET DISCLAIMER AND TERMS OF USE:

The Town has no control over the information available over the Internet and cannot be held responsible for content or accuracy. The Town cannot be held responsible for any confidential or financial information patrons may send over the Wireless Internet. A person’s use of the Wireless Internet leaves electronic information in the public domain. Internet communications are not private, nor are they confidential. Parents and guardians are expected to monitor children’s use of the Internet. This is an experimental service and may be discontinued at anytime without prior notice. The Town disclaims any liability for unauthorized security breaches. By connecting to the Wireless Internet users acknowledge all associated risks. The Town encourages all users to adhere to good security practices. Town staff is not permitted to support user connectivity issues or user computer issues of any type. If Town staff is contacted for assistance they will only verify the current operational state of the Wireless Internet System. The Information Technology Department will treat repair issues related to the Wireless Internet as a lower priority than work orders and issues directly affecting Town departments, boards and committees.

This limited Internet service should be used for occasional access to the internet only, and should not be relied on as a person’s only means of internet access. All Internet ports not needed for Internet browsing and simple email communications are blocked. The Town does not guarantee minimum Internet connection speeds. Maximum Internet connection speeds are limited to 1Mbps per user.

If you do not understand and agree to this Disclaimer and Terms of Use you are not permitted to use this service. Public computers with Internet access are available at the Jones Library and branches.

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Email us your questions or comments: info@amherstma.gov.