Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania issued a request for information and comments on 6 October 2005 with responses due less than two weeks later (19 October 2005) for a citywide wireless broadband network that will cover 7 square miles and be operational by 31 December 2005. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania issued a request for information and comments on 6 October 2005 with responses due less than two weeks later (19 October 2005) for a citywide wireless broadband network that will cover 7 square miles and be operational by 31 December 2005.
The city is thinking of creating a non-profit to contract for the construction and maintenance of the network (similar to Wireless Philadelphia). It is also looking at several models to fund the deployment and maintenance: (a) city hires third party to build and maintain network using tax money but city owns and controls the network; (b) city finds third party to build and maintain network at the latter’s own expense, but city does not own the network; (c) other kinds of joint ventures or partnerships that respondents may suggest.
What I did notice is that the Definition of Basic Requirements (pages 7 to 9) of the Wilkes-Barre RFI/C looks a lot like Section 10 (Definition of Basic Requirements), pages 7 to 9 of the San Francisco RFI/C.
To view the Wilkes-Barre RFI/C click here; and to view the SF RFI/C, click here.
I also notice that they want to have the network underway by December 31st 2005, in order to beat the deadline set in last year’s anti municipal internet legislation — Act 183.
http://muniwireless.com/municipal/watch/871