Newly Revamped City of The Dalles Public Wi-Fi System Keeps Residents Connected During Rowena Fire Emergency
From City of The Dalles:
By Amie Ell
The Dalles, Ore., June 26, 2025 — During the recent Rowena wildfire, the City of The Dalles’ upgraded public Wi-Fi network played a vital role in keeping people connected when cell phone service became unreliable.
The system, owned by the City and rebuilt by local provider Actual Broadband in partnership with Q-Life Network, helped residents, emergency workers, and supporting agencies stay informed, message loved ones, and access emergency updates when it mattered most.
In a fast-moving emergency like the Rowena Fire, communication between local agencies, mutual aid partners, and the public must be seamless. “We had several layers of communication in place, and having reliable cell service and public internet access made all the difference,” said Stephanie Krell, Public Information Officer for Wasco County. “Thanks to strong connectivity throughout The Dalles, our teams and partner organizations were able to stay coordinated, share timely updates, reunite families, and ensure the community–and even displaced animals–received the care and information they needed.”
“Reliable internet access has never been more important,” said Dr. Liz Lance, Executive Director of Q-Life. “The Rowena fire was a powerful reminder that connectivity can be lifesaving. We’re proud the City of The Dalles has selected Actual Broadband and Q-Life to build a system that truly serves our community.”
Actual Broadband, a The Dalles-based company led by Joshua Pool, redesigned the public Wi-Fi network to be stronger, more stable, and ready for both everyday use and emergencies. It connects directly to the Q-Life fiber network—The Dalles’ high-speed internet backbone—providing fast and reliable service across the city.
Today’s smartphones are built to switch automatically and securely from cellular to Wi-Fi when it improves performance. That’s exactly what happened during the fire—helping ease the strain on overloaded cell networks and keeping communication flowing. The system supported an average of 30GB per day of voice and data offloading, making a meaningful impact on total wireless capacity.
Beyond everyday use, the public Wi-Fi also served as a lifeline for support organizations assisting during the Rowena Fire. Several community partners and volunteers who lacked emergency radio equipment relied on the network to stay in touch. Whether helping reunite families, care for animals, or coordinate resources, expanded cellular capacity and Wi-Fi access allowed them to communicate quickly and effectively, ensuring smoother response efforts during a chaotic time.
The City’s public Wi-Fi was originally launched in 2011 and has seen some upgrades over the years. But by 2023, it was clear the system needed serious attention. A survey conducted by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) found that two-thirds of users in The Dalles’ downtown area had problems using the system, and more than one-third felt the experience didn’t meet their needs.
In response, the City Council committed to a full system revamp in 2024. That investment has resulted in a network that finally meets the expectations of a connected, modern community. “Reliable internet is essential, especially during emergencies. We’re glad our survey helped highlight the need, and we’re proud to see The Dalles, Q-Life, and Actual Broadband step up to support the community,” said Jessica Metta, Executive Director at MCEDD.
Mayor Rich Mays agreed, underscoring the importance of infrastructure that can serve both daily life and emergency response. “The Rowena Fire showed us how essential reliable wireless communication and internet access has become—not just in emergencies, but every day,” said Mayor Mays. “This public Wi-Fi system is more than a convenience—it’s critical infrastructure that helps our residents, businesses, and visitors stay informed, connected, and safe. We’re proud to invest in technology that strengthens our community.”
The network is built to support public events, day-to-day use, and critical needs during emergencies. As the community continues to grow, there’s also room to expand the system to new areas. Today, public Wi-Fi is available at the following locations:
Firehouse Park
2nd and Federal Street
Lewis and Clark Festival Park
Sorosis Park
City Park
The Cruise Ship Dock
Thompson City Park
Contact: City Clerk & Public Information Officer Amie Ell at amell@ci.the-dalles.or.us
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The City of The Dalles is the largest city in Wasco County and serves as a regional hub for commerce, recreation, and public services along the Columbia River Gorge. The City is committed to investing in infrastructure that improves quality of life, supports economic development, and enhances public safety. Through partnerships with local organizations and service providers, The Dalles works to expand access to technology and ensure resilient, future-ready services for its residents and visitors. Visit https://www.thedalles.org/ for more information or contact PIO Amie Ell.
Actual Broadband is a locally owned and operated internet service provider based in The Dalles, Oregon. With a mission to deliver fast, reliable, and community-focused connectivity, Actual Broadband specializes in building resilient, high-performance networks that meet the unique needs of rural and urban communities alike. As a key partner in The Dalles’ public Wi-Fi revitalization, Actual Broadband brings innovative design, technical expertise, and a deep commitment to local service. Learn more at www.actualbroadband.com or email info@actualbroadband.com.
The QualityLife Intergovernmental Agency (Q-Life) is a collaborative effort of public entities in The Dalles, Oregon, and was established in 2002. Q-Life operates a 17-mile fiber optic loop through the city, providing reliable, cost-effective, open-access telecommunications infrastructure to enhance economic development in Wasco County. Q-Life’s mission is to facilitate access to scalable telecommunication infrastructure to enable affordable broadband-level Internet across Wasco County, guided by its core values of being action-oriented, nimble, focused on strategic partnerships, proactive/sustainable, responsible, affordable, and committed to redundancy and resilience. For more information, visit www.qlife.net or email contact@qlife.net.
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