Computer users will soon be able to access the Internet on the streets of Downtown L.A.'s historic district of Little Tokyo, for free and "without wires." On April 19, the Little Tokyo Service Center, a nonprofit community development corporation, formally launches Little Tokyo Unplugged, a community Wi-Fi network and website portal project. 

Yuki Sherab-Khandro Cushing-Murray, 59, is a resident of the Far East Building in Little Tokyo, and is enthusiastic about Wi-Fi coming into her neighborhood.

“As a handicapped person, this benefits people like me who are homebound,” said Cushing-Murray, who is in a wheelchair. “It’s also helpful for seniors who don’t have many options to communicate, such as emailing to others in Japan. It also helps other people open their minds about the community, about where they are, what the town is doing, and the possibility of joining the community.”

The 6-month demonstration project, which will provide free Wi-Fi coverage to Little Tokyo community members, visitors, and tourists, is funded by grants from the Community Technology Foundation of California and the California Consumer Protection Foundation. The project was made possible through a partnership with the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which initially funded a wireless distribution network for nonprofit groups and small businesses through a fiber optic connection. 

Pro911 Systems, a Laguna Beach-based wireless network planning firm, provided donated equipment and technical assistance, and has helped LTSC deploy over a dozen access points in the community using wireless mesh technology.

"It is only fitting that a dynamic, multi-generational community like Little Tokyo embrace WI-FI technology,” said Councilwoman Jan Perry who worked closely with the Little Tokyo community to see this demonstration project come to fruition. “Through this partnership, we are connecting seniors, young people, adults, and visitors to the many possibilities that the Internet has to offer. And, we are further promoting our community as not only a great place to live but a great place to visit."

“Little Tokyo is fortunate to have leaders who can look ahead and keep abreast of new technologies in the IT world,” said Tom Kamei, chair of the Little Tokyo Community Council, a 70-member group that represents the interests of residents, small business owners, churches and temples, nonprofits, and other stakeholders. “Residents of and visitors to Little Tokyo as well as those who work here will greatly benefit as a result of easy access to information and ease of communicating with each other.”

Little Tokyo Unplugged, guided by its Community Advisory Committee, will establish wireless Wi-Fi hotspots along many of the public spaces and plazas throughout Little Tokyo such as the Japanese American National Museum, the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center, and the Go For Broke Veteran’s Monument. Other access points, or “wireless hotspots”, include some of Little Tokyo’s low income residential buildings.

The Little Tokyo project comes at the heels of the city’s recent announcement of plans for a citywide Wi-Fi network.

“Providing free WiFi in Little Tokyo is a great amenity for people who live, work or visit this redevelopment project area and this demonstration project will provide important information for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s efforts to provide citywide WiFi,” said William Jackson, Chairman of the CRA/LA Board of Commissioners.

Users with Wi-Fi enabled computers or personal digital assistants (PDA’s) will be taken to a community web portal that will connect users with information about the historic LT district, festivals and activities, shops and restaurants for visitors, and social service resources for low income users and seniors. The portal, developed by ExperienceLA.com, will provide users with an updated one-stop website on information and events in Little Tokyo.

"Little Tokyo, as an historic ethnic neighborhood, is a visitor destination as well as a thriving neighborhood of residents and businesses, said LTSC Director Bill Watanabe. “Having Wi-Fi capabilities will be a big plus for all the stakeholders of Little Tokyo, and will help position it better for the future and other technological things to come. "

To help provide wireless Internet connections to users who don’t own computers, LTSC distributed 20 free computers to families, seniors, and youth living in some of Little Tokyo’s affordable housing communities, and is collecting donations to equip their computers with wireless antennas and to continue the program to reach out to other families in need.

The Little Tokyo Wireless Community Advisory Committee provides community input into the development of the community wireless project, and advocates for the importance of wireless Internet access in the Little Tokyo neighborhood. Its members include

• Nancy Alcarez (Little Tokyo Resident)
• Mary Amason (Little Tokyo Resident)
• Yuki Cushing-Murray (Little Tokyo Resident)
• Ellen Endo (Go For Broke, LTBID)
• Ron Fong (LTSC)
• Kerwin Fujikami (JACCC)
• Rev. Nori Ito (Higashi Honganji Temple, LTCC)
• Brian Kito (Fugetsu-Do, LT Public Safety Assoc.)
• Chris Komai (JANM, LTCC)
• Jeff Liu (Visual Communications)
• Stephanie Magnien (Councilmember Jan Perry)
• David Mitchell (Pro911 Systems)
• Eiji Morishita (SushiGo55, LTBA)
• Charity Tran (Civic Resource Group, ExperienceLA.com)
• Evelyn Yoshimura (LTSC)