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Supervisors forward Google/Cisco/Ruckus donations to bring free Wi‑Fi to San Francisco parks
Summary
The Budget & Finance Subcommittee recommended that the Board accept roughly $600,000 in cash from the San Francisco Citizens Initiative for Technology and Innovation plus donated equipment from Cisco and Ruckus to install free wireless Internet in more than 30 parks, plazas and public spaces; installations are planned for this summer and the Department of Technology will operate the service.
Supervisor Mark Farrell asked the committee to recommend that the full Board accept a package of public‑private donations to provide free Wi‑Fi in neighborhood parks, plazas and open spaces across San Francisco.
The resolutions — taken together as items 1–3 — would authorize the Department of Technology to accept roughly $600,000 in cash from the San Francisco Citizens Initiative for Technology and Innovation and equipment, software and services from Cisco Inc. and Ruckus Wireless Inc., enabling free wireless access at multiple locations. The Department of Technology would install and own the equipment and Rec & Park would host the installations, with the city operating the service under a five‑year maintenance arrangement.
"This project actually started three years ago," Farrell said, noting the gifts are intended to help close digital‑access gaps and to place Wi‑Fi in every supervisorial district. Mark Tuohitu, chief information officer for the Department of Technology, said the program has governance and a project management plan in place and that the initial set of parks could be completed this summer. Tuohitu also said Union Square was used as a pilot site, bringing the total to 32 locations during testing.
Katie Patruccione, director of administration and finance for Recreation and Parks, said the gift will benefit park visitors and allow rec centers to offer online program registration and basic staff connectivity. Richard Lee of the Department of Public Health summarized an independent consultant’s assessment (Hammond Edison), concluding that routine park use would not cause radio‑frequency overexposure and that post‑installation measurements typically show even lower levels than predicted.
The clerk opened public comment on the items and recorded none. Committee members approved technical amendments to the whereas language and moved items 1–3 forward to the full Board as amended without objection.
The items will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for consideration, with installation and maintenance to be handled by the Department of Technology and Rec & Park serving as host agencies.
