South Bend will expand its Open WiFi program in 2022

The city of South Bend (IN) has plans to expand free WiFi and become more fiber-friendly in 2022. The city currently has over 30 access points for free WiFi, many of which are in public parks or city buildings. Chief Innovation Officer Denise Riedl said the city has state and federal grant money to add even more access points in 2022. She said the city will start taking public input on where those access points should be in early 2022. Riedl said the city is also looking to expand its fiber optic cable capacity in the future. Fiber offers faster internet speeds than DSL and cable, and Riedl said South Bend has less of it than comparable cities like Fort Wayne (IN) and Urbana-Champaign (IL). Riedl said the city plans to pursue policy changes that will make laying fiber in South Bend easier and less expensive. She said it will also put out a request for information to internet service providers to see how the city can attract more – and more equitable – broadband investment.

[Editors note: Denise Riedl is a member of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society board of directors]