A local group advocating for free wireless Internet access in Ames is waiting to gauge interest in other communities before taking a request before city officials.

Mark Kassis, founder of the Story County Free Wireless Project, said the group will eventually approach the city.

Kassis, co-owner of Lucullan’s Restaurant, 400 Main St., said City Council or voter approval will be required before any proposals for municipal wireless go forward.

“We’re waiting for over 20 Iowa communities to vote to preserve their right to create a public utility for wireless,” he said.

The votes from other communities in Iowa will provide an indicator of the popular support for free wireless, he said.

He said a presentation to the Ames City Council would follow the results of other communities’ votes in November.

This item is not on the ballot in the city of Ames.

Plans for public wireless access are already being implemented in downtown areas of Marshalltown and the “corridor” cities of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Coralville. Marshalltown chose to contract with Mediacom, a major Internet provider, and the “corridor” is awaiting equipment to arrive before construction finalizes on their network.

Steve Schainker, Ames city manager, said the City of Ames had received budget requests for a feasibility study but was awaiting for more data from the Story County Free Wireless Project and from other residents.

“It’s a good time for the City Council to consider a [feasibility study] during budget time,” he said.

Since the community wireless idea could be achieved privately, through a public utility, or through a non-profit organization, Schainker said the details of the city’s involvement in the project need to be clarified before more work on Ames’ wireless is considered.

“The decision has to be made by [the City Council] as to how much the city of Ames will be involved,” he said.

“Sometimes the city is criticized if they compete with the private sector.”

Plans for free wireless access in the growing “corridor” of eastern Iowa are attracting more enthusiastic reactions.

“I think it’s a very positive experience and it’s something people are starting to look for,” said Mayor Jim Fausett of Coralville.

He said the wireless network in Coralville could increase student visibility and involvement.

“Young people … and a lot of students in areas like Ames, Coralville or Iowa City, these are young people you want to see active and around in the community,” he said.

Jamie Licko, executive director of Cedar Rapids Downtown District, said she has heard only positive feedback on the area’s planned wireless.

“The buzz on [wireless] is great,” Licko said. “Excitement is huge and businesses have all been asking when the connection will be working.”

Her advice to Ames is to delay building the network until after the technology and consumer demand have been evaluated.

“Technology is changing quickly, and we didn’t want to put in things which would become obsolete after two years,” Licko said.

Although most people can easily install a home or office wireless network, Licko said the set-up of a region like the corridor involves many other challenges and risks.

“We could have confronted some challenges before we started, like the use of public space, installing the gear and using power.” she said.

“That’s what’s taken the most time for us.”

Some technical difficulties stand in the way of the project in Ames. Richard Pulley, area director of operations for Mediacom, said the presence of the official ISU network, multiple providers and access points, and students’ networks complicate service to Campustown.

“When we get so many frequencies, that causes some collisions,” he said.

Two thousand access points for wireless exist throughout the city of Ames, although many of them are encrypted and closed to the public.