Communities looking for a real-life example of community broadband access need look no further than Akron, Ohio, where the city recently launched the first phase of its Connect Akron Wireless Network.

The launch is the beginning of a build out that reflects two years of planning and partnership between the City of Akron and OneCommunity, a nonprofit organization that serves Northern Ohio by connecting public and nonprofit institutions to its next-generation fiber-optic network. OneCommunity also operates the Knight Center of Digital Excellence through a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The city showed off its new wireless capability to the public by hosting a small Internet café at Lock 3 Park. The first phase of the network covers one mile of the city, which includes the Cascade Plaza, the neighboring museums and library, as well as all three downtown hospitals and neighborhoods in three adjoining areas.

The Connect Akron Wireless Network is schedule to be fully built out and live by October and when completed, the 10-square-mile network will serve between 80,000 and 90,000 Akron residents and over 30,000 downtown workers. All 10 of Akron’s wards are able to participate in the demonstration over the next year. Residents and businesses have open Internet access with a robust download speed of five to 10 Mbps.

But keep in mind the initial build out is, well, initial.

City officials are hoping federal stimulus money will be available to extend wireless to the other 52 square miles of the city. Deputy Mayor David Lieberth estimated a full city build out could cost $7 to $9 million. OneCommunity is assisting Akron in its bid for broadband stimulus funds.

Overall, it’s a big step for a city that has been very active in trying to get connected. In addition, Akron’s current build out serves as an example of not only what’s possible, but what’s in the pipeline for communities just as committed as Akron.

“This network will act as a nationwide model,” said Mark Ansboury, vice president and chief technical officer of OneCommunity. “We’re hoping that Akron will be a showcase for how cities might create sustainable systems, provide better services to residents and streamline government.”