Writing for the American Express Open Forum, author Jack Shultz helped to compile a list of what he considers the best small towns for business in the U.S.
Ponca City made the list and was specifically singled out for the wireless network owned by the City:
This town has a very progressive economic development organization. They even have their own Youtube video promoting Ponca City as the place to locate your business. The city’s history has been shaped by the petroleum industry since Conoco Oil once had their headquarters here. Now, they highlight their fast-track permitting, workforce training, state and local incentive programs and a completely wireless community. [emphasis in original]
A local article in Ponca City News notes,
All residents in the city limits of Ponca City have access to free Wi-Fi adding to the ease of web-based business and small start-ups.
As we have noted many times, publicly owned broadband networks can play an important role in economic development strategies.
