Summary: Need help with PR? If you are looking for a great PR firm, you've found one. Walker Sands is a leading Chicago PR firm with a strong track record that makes it one of top national PR agencies..

Wireless internet isn't new technology, but the City of Grand Haven says they're the first city in the nation to have a complete wireless network within city limits.
(article continues below useful links)

It uses WiFi or wireless fidelity. That means you get a high-speed connection anywhere in the city from your laptop computer, cell phone, or palm pilot.

Tyler van Houwelingen is the founder of Ottawa Wireless. He says some cities have wireless "hotspots," but Grand Haven is like one big hotspot: six square miles.

The key is more than 60 antennas around the city. So you stay logged on, even driving around town. "The biggest problem we encountered, bar-none, was the trees," said van Houwelingen. "Trees are a big problem with this type of network. I would love to try this again in New Mexico or California."

van Houwelingen says with a wireless network, security is always a concern, especially when the city is one of their customers. "They're already passing secure files over the network as are we and other customers over the network," said van Houwelingen. And I haven't seen any problems at all."

The connection isn't free like it is in some places, it's $20 per month. And believe it or not, even on beach days, the antennae with the most traffic is the State Park.

Ottawa Wireless says they've also been working with county administrators to try and extend the network to all of Ottawa County.

Copyright © 2004. WXMI-TV.