Administrative Services

Deb Busey
County Administrator

Public Wireless Internet Access during Meetings

Free Public wireless internet access during County Board Meetings held in the Lyle Shields Meeting Room at the Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 E. Washington, Urbana, IL 61802 was approved by the Champaign County Board on May 24, 2007.  Below is published the Acceptable Use Policy & Disclaimer and frequently asked questions.

Acceptable Use Policy & Disclaimer

By using Champaign County's wi-fi service and connecting to this network, you are agreeing that you will not use this service to violate any applicable law or regulation.

All that is being provided through Champaign County's wi-fi service is "free" Internet access.  Champaign County is not providing security, support or related services, and all questions regarding these topics, and whether and how a user should use the service, should be directed to an "IT" professional familiar with the user's hardware, software and/or use policies.

By using Champaign County's wi-fi service, you assume all risks associated with the use of this service, including but not limited to, any risk to your computer, software or data of being damaged by any virus, software, or any other file which might be transmitted or activated due to use of the service. You should be aware that the network may be required to disclose data related to the use of this service if it is served with a legal subpoena or court order.  In order to comply with such subpoena, any and all network traffic may be captured, monitored and stored at the discretion of Champaign County.

Champaign County shall not be liable for any special, incidental or consequential damages, including, without limitation, lost revenues or lost profits, resulting from the use or misuse of this service.  By using the free Internet service provided by Champaign County, you are agreeing to the disclaimer set forth above

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTING TO AN UNSECURED NETWORK. THE WIRELESS NETWORK IS CONFIGURED FOR OPEN ACCESS.  INFORMATION SENT OVER THIS NETWORK MAY BE VISIBLE TO OTHERS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost to use the service?

No, this is a free service and there are no registration requirements.

What equipment do I need to use Wi-Fi?

To use the service, your device (laptop, PDA, cell phone) must be wi-fi enabled. Both PCs and Macs can be used. Using Champaign County's wi-fi service is similar to connecting with other wireless Internet services in cafes, office buildings, or other wireless hot spots.

How do I connect?

In most instances, your wi-fi enabled device will report available networks within its range.  In the Brookens building it should report network cobdmr1 as being available and open.

Is wi-fi available when meetings are not in session?

No, electrical power to the wi-fi access point is cut off when the sound system in the meeting room is turned off.

What about bandwidth and network speed?

Wi-fi service can accommodate basic Internet browsing, checking and sending e-mails, streaming multi-media, downloads, and file transfers. In addition, overall connection speed may be affected by the number of wi-fi users in the meeting room or surrounding areas.

What do I do if I'm having trouble using the service?

If you have tried unsuccessfully to connect to the Internet, or service has been interrupted and you're unable to reconnect, you should report the problem to Champaign County by e-mailing ithelpdesk@co.champaign.il.us when you have an Internet connection available whether in the Brookens building or elsewhere. Please do not ask County Board members for assistance with your wi-fi connection. County Board members have not been trained to evaluate and fix Internet-related problems.