Song in my head: I felt so helpless what could I do........Shangri Las

Hood River Hot Spot

An hour east of Portland, Oregon lies the little town of Hood River. My home for the last 10 years, Hood River is a world class destination for windsurfers, kayakers, skiiers and outdoor enthusiasts in general. Surrounded by two snow capped mountains, Mount Hood and Mount Adams in Washington, the natural beauty of this area attracts many tourists all year long. Summertime is especially busy with boardheads sailing on the gusty white capped Columbia River.

Now Hood River is testing the market for a new kind of surfing…in cyberspace. For the next 90 days (start date was June 2) residents, tourists and commercial customers are treated to free Wi-Fi.

The city and other public agencies are encouraging the community to make use of the Wi-Fi service, to gauge public interest. Public safety and public works employees, residents, and visitors have free access wireless mobile broadband technology for e-mail, browsing and downloading from most locations in Hood River. Hood River News Link

According to a recent Oregonian article Portland is contracting for a free wifi in the near future and a few Oregon towns have made progressive steps already.

Several small Oregon cities, including Sandy, Sherwood and Hermiston, have wireless networks, and Portland has contracted to build a free Wi-Fi system covering 134 square miles. If the Portland City Council approves the privately funded project next month, construction of that network could start this summer. Oregonian Link

[Crossposted with a half hitch at Wagontongues]