I'm glad they recognized there would be a problem giving one person an
exclusive contract to serve the entire city, via city property.
I'm especially glad they got down to the technical details of unlicensed
frequency, in a public way.
Of course it helps when there is a councilman who understands the issues.
As it stands now, there does not need to be exclusive contracts, just
let the wisps deploy at will.
Dawn DiPietro wrote:
Council rejects wireless proposal
By Adrian Sanchez/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
COLUMBUS - The City Council rejected Frontier Communications' proposal
to deploy a wireless broadband network in Columbus in a 5-3 Monday night
vote.
Councilmen Joe Jarecke, Ron Bogus and Jim Bulkley voted in favor of the
proposal after extensive discussion. Frontier representatives exited the
council chambers immediately following the council vote.
Kerry Haley, vice president and general manager of the Frontier wireless
division, declined to comment on the council's decision, but did
summarize her reaction in one word: “Disappointed.”
Linda Aerni, president of Community Internet and Wire Free Nebraska
Inc., and Paul Schumacher, a business partner of Aerni, celebrated the
decision.
Aerni said the council did a good job of processing a lot of
technological information and made the right decision for the city.
“The council voted the right way, not holding the city to a 10-year
obligation,” she said. “Technology has changed so much, even in the last
month.”
When asked if Community Internet is considering deploying a network on
its own, Aerni said “of course.”
“Community Internet has already deployed wireless Internet outside
Columbus,” she said.
Schumacher said there was no need to rush into any agreement, and if and
when Community Internet does decide to implement a network, “the city
wouldn't be in the middle of it.”
A report by Robert Tupper, chief telecommunications engineer for RVW
Inc., and Donn C. Swedenburg, telecommunications specialist for RVW, may
have influenced the council's decision.
The proposed contract stipulated no other devices that may degrade
Frontier's network “as determined by Frontier” could be attached to city
property.
The report stated “the characteristics of unlicensed operation present
many challenges.” According to Federal Communication Commission
regulations, devices for operation of an unlicensed band, such as
Frontier proposed, “must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.”
Tupper said deployment of two wireless, broadband, mesh networks was
possible but may not be feasible.
“Co-existing within the 2.4 gHz spectrum is the toughest coordination,”
he said. “I am not going to say it can be done. I am not going to say it
can't be done.”
Whether it can or can't, it would “be difficult to have two widely
deployed mesh networks ... from an economics standpoint,” Tupper said.
Councilman Chuck Whitney objected to Frontier's sole discretion to
determine interference and network pricing differences between Frontier
and non-Frontier customers.
“If I am a Frontier customer I pay $9.99 a month and a customer of
Community Internet/Megavision would pay $9.99 per day,” Whitney said.
“There can be no discrimination in pricing.”
Mayor Mike Moser said the council made the right decision regarding the
Frontier proposal.
“I think the council came up with right decision. There were a lot of
unknowns, and before entering into a contract, all the blanks should be
filled in,” Moser said. “I didn't feel the city was getting enough out
of it to make it work.
“If somebody else comes up with plan they can bring it to city the to
look at it, but it is not something we are actively looking for at this
moment. The ultimate result was where it should be gone.”
--
George Rogato
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