Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Portland City Council Wednesday approved a permit extension giving internet service provider Clearwire access to install wireless equipment on city streets.  As Pete Springer reports, this puts the city one step closer to its first WiMAX service.

WiMAX is a sort of super-charged WiFi. 

It has a range of three to thirty miles compared with WiFi's range of only couple hundred feet.

Barry Davis is with Clearwire.

Barry Davis: “The big difference here is that WiMAX, right, is what we term as a mobile broadband technology.  Which means that WiMAX is designed to be used wherever you are, whenever you are.”

Another difference is that unlike the city’s defunct attempt at free municipal WiFi, WiMAX will require a monthly fee.

Clearwire won’t confirm monthy fees for WiMAX, but their current internet rates start at $38 a month.

Meanwhile, Portland officials have given the company that developed the city’s failed municipal WiFi until the end of the year to remove the equipment it installed on city utility poles.