Knight Center of Digital Excellence 

A grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to OneCommunity will create the Knight Center in Akron. Knight has committed up to $25 million over five years to universal access initiatives in the 26 Knight Communities. Read more about the Center of Digital Excellence, or watch the April 10 press conference announcing the creation of the Center.

From left) Vivian Celeste Neal, Knight Foundation Program Director, Akron;
Paula Lynn Ellis, Knight Foundation Vice President for Strategic Initiatives; Don Plusquellic, Mayor of Akron;
Scot Rourke, OneCommunity President & CEO; and Jorge Martinez, Knight Foundation Director of Information Systems

Media Coverage

Free wireless corridor offered in Akron by end of year - The Akron-Beacon Journal (April 10, 2008)

Muni Wireless Is Dead. Here Comes a New Way to Connect - Wired (April 10, 2008)

Akron to be HQ for Internet access initiative - Crain's Cleveland Business (April 10, 2008)

Free Internet For Akron - Akron News Now WQMX (April 10, 2008)

Foundation helping to turn Akron into a "center of digital excellence" - WKYC (April 10, 2008)

Foundation helping create free wireless network for Akron - The Plain Dealer (April 11, 2008)

Akron gets wireless corridor, headquarters new digital think tank - WKSU (April 11, 2008)

New funds take Ohio muni fiber model nationwide - Telephony Online (April 11, 2008)

Millions promised for community-based “universal access” - Network World (April 11, 2008)

OneCommunity to Spur Digital Inclusion in 26 Knight Communities and Beyond - W2i (April 11, 2008)

Akron Wireless

Propelled by a grant from Knight Foundation, Akron is the first Knight Community to embark on the journey toward universal access through the Center of Digital Excellence led by OneCommunity.

The first step for Akron is a wireless network covering 8-12 square miles of the downtown area, providing hundreds of businesses and thousands of residents and visitors with free wireless Internet access.

View the Akron Wireless coverage map

View a fact sheet on the Akron Wireless project

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic (left) and Knight Foundation Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Paula Lynn Ellis speak
about the wireless network that OneCommunity is deploying in downtown Akron.