[Archived] City Council Considers Inviting Bids to Create Citywide Wireless Network

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	May 9, 2006 PIO# 122-06/sjm	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City Council Considers Inviting Bids to Create Citywide Wireless Network
Project Will Benefit Residents, Businesses, and Government
While Reducing Digital Divide

The City of Alexandria, which since April 2005 has provided the D.C. region’s first free, outdoor, wireless Internet zone, today began the formal process to foster creation of a citywide wireless network. Based on the success of the “Wireless Alexandria” pilot project, the need for wireless support for municipal operations, and the City’s desire to increase broadband Internet access and options for all types of users, City Council intends to undertake a competitive selection process to grant a franchise for wireless Internet service.

“Wireless Alexandria has been a huge success so far, and we’re looking to take the next logical step in expanding the benefits of this technology to our entire community,” said Alexandria Mayor William Euille.

The City hopes to contract with a private firm or group of firms that will install and operate the network at the firm’s own expense, with no taxpayer funding. To provide a return on its investment, the company will sell retail wireless Internet access to residential and business customers, and wholesale network access to other providers for resale. Prices should be competitive with other Internet options currently on the market, and will allow consumers an additional choice when shopping for broadband Internet access.

In exchange for permission to mount equipment in public rights-of-way and on other public property at little or no cost, the company might also offer public benefits that might include such services as free access to the network for city government use; free public wireless Internet access in certain outdoor areas and public facilities such as pedestrian corridors and parks; free or reduced-price Internet access for low-income residents, and access for high school and ninth grade center students with existing school-issued laptops. The actual public benefits will be negotiated as part of the franchise agreement between the City and the selected private company.

“The key here is that Alexandria’s model would result in a tremendous savings for taxpayers over the traditional means of connecting City workers and devices in the field, while at the same time helping those residents who can least afford to be part of the digital age,” Euille said. “We hope to stimulate the market to offer new and creative options to consumers, without government competition with the private sector.”

City Council will hold a public hearing on the wireless franchise ordinance at its May 20 meeting, and could adopt the measure after receiving public comment. Bids would be then be due by June 23, and City Council could award the franchise as early as September. Construction of the network, which is likely to consist of small radio units mounted on traffic signals, street lights, building rooftops, and other such structures, is expected to take six to nine months after a franchise is granted.

The current Wireless Alexandria outdoor coverage area is centered along the King Street pedestrian corridor in Old Town, and includes outdoor dining, Market Square, and the City Marina and Potomac River waterfront. Wireless Alexandria is also available at all Alexandria public libraries.

For more information about this initiative, contact E-Government Manager Craig Fifer at craig.fifer@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-6333 x537.

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