Mar Vista Opens Internet Access for Everyone

Free public access to broadband Internet available on Westside. Open Wi-Fi event planned for Sunday May 3rd at the Mar Vista Farmers Market.

Mar Vista, CA - April 28, 2009 – Modeled on the successful Free The Net project now providing wireless Internet access to over 300,000 residents in San Francisco, Open Mar Vista is a powerful, high speed, open and affordable wireless mesh network with widespread Wi-Fi coverage.

Open Mar Vista was inspired by Mayor Villaraigosa’s LA Wi-Fi initiative unveiled in 2007 with the goal of developing a wireless network throughout the City to connect Los Angeles residents, businesses and visitors to the global community.

The Mar Vista Community Council has recently installed city-owned outdoor community wireless (Wi-Fi) antennas along Venice Blvd. to provide open access to high-speed Internet to Mar Vista residents.

Building on this effort, Open Mar Vista has coordinated with local businesses who are sharing their broadband service in the neighborhood via Open Wi-Fi to create a broadband wireless network offering public access to high speed Internet service.

Neighborhood businesses sponsoring the initiative include Venice Grind cafe, Soaptopia, the Curious Palate, Time Warp Music, Club Good Hurt, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, the Coffee Connection, and Waconah Construction, New School West pre-school, the Mar Vista Farmers Market, and the Mar Vista Community Council.

Open Wi-Fi is also available to numerous adjacent residents and at Mar Vista locations including Oasis Healing Center, Valle de Oaxaca restaurant, District Board Shop and Universal Adult Day Health Care.

Over 8,000 Mar Vista users have already accessed the high-speed Internet for free via Open Wi-Fi, with an estimated 1,000 users logging on each week. More information about the Open Wi-Fi program and details on participation is available at www.openmarvista.net/openwifi.

Open Mar Vista Wi-Fi is organized by team members of Open Neighborhoods, a Los Angeles-based member organization of InternetForEveryone.org. Open Mar Vista invites you to an Open Wi-Fi launch event planned for Sunday May 3rd at the Mar Vista Farmers Market. Responding to strong local interest, Open Neighborhoods is developing similar Open Wi-Fi initiatives in Santa Monica, Venice and other surrounding communities.