Public broadband at Cheyenne Depot Plaza to go live Wednesday

The “Depot Goes Live” Broadband Launch will feature Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon; state Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne; state Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne; Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr; Cheyenne City Council President Rocky Case, and other City Council members and local dignitaries.

“We are proud to celebrate the launch of the Depot Plaza Community WiFi system during Cheyenne Frontier Days, along with our partners, the City of Cheyenne, the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and Charter Communications, who took Microsoft’s investment and helped bring it to life,” Dennis Ellis, Microsoft TechSpark Wyoming manager, said in a news release. “Microsoft has a history of community investment, as Cheyenne is home to one of its data centers and one of six TechSpark communities where the company is partnering on the local level to foster new economic opportunities.

“Cheyenne is committed to creating a connected city, and this free WiFi system that anyone can use to access the internet will make the Depot Plaza area an even more attractive destination for visitors, residents and the local businesses they support.”

Microsoft supplied the Greater Cheyenne Foundation $150,000 to supply public broadband in January. The pilot project designated the Cheyenne Depot Plaza and the Cheyenne Depot Museum as the primary location for this initial launch. Charter Communications conducted the installation of the free WiFi during the last six months, and completed the project ahead of schedule.