MuniWireless

Welcome to the MuniWireless HotList, which highlights municipal broadband networks that are delivering clear benefits to their local communities. MuniWireless.com updates the HotList the first Monday of every month. To be considered for the list, which is presented alphabetically, please email MuniWireless Editor in Chief Joe Panettieri (joe[[at]]muniwireless.com). MuniWireless verifies the accuracy of each submission by contacting the municipality’s IT or government leaders.

Municipality: Annapolis, MD

Application: Public access

Network Operational Since: 2006

Key Fact: Network is free, supported by local advertising

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Annapolis Wireless Internet (Annapolis, MD)

Names To Know: Paul Thorn, IT manager

Municipality URL: www.ci.annapolis.md.us

Municipality: Aurora, IL

Application: Public safety; digital inclusion

Network Operational Since: 2007

Key Fact: Network provides WiFi access from within the city’s coverage areas

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: MetroFi (Mountain View, CA)

Municipality URL: www.aurora-il.org

Municipality: Buffalo, MN

Application: Public safety

Network Operational Since: 2005

Key Fact: Significant ROI from improved productivity and leased-line replacements

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Scientel (Lombard, IL)

Names To Know: Mitch Weinzetl, chief of police

Municipality URL: www.ci.buffalo.mn.us

Municipality: Cambridge, MA

Application: Public access; digital inclusion

Network Operational Since: 2005

Key Fact: Project grew out of joint venture with MIT

Names To Know: Mary Hart, chief information officer
Municipality URL: www.cambridgema.gov

Municipality: Carlsbad, NM
Application: Public access; economic development
Network Operational Since: 2006
Key Fact: Wireless solution for rural community seeking broadband coverage
Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Windstream ()
Names To Know: Robert Detweiler, executive director, Carlsbad Dept. of Development
Municipality URL: www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com

Municipality: Chaska, MN

Application: Public access; public safety; SCADA

Network Operational Since: 2004

Key Fact: More than doubled network node density for improved performance

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: First Mile Wireless (Blaine, MN)

Names To Know: Brad Mayer, information services manager

Municipality URL: www.chaskamn.com

Municipality: Corpus Christi, TX

Application: Automated meter reading, building inspection, telehealth, public access

Network Operational Since: 2004

Key Fact: Corpus Christi may have the most successful wireless initiative of any mid-sized city

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Northrop Grumman (McLean, VA)

Names To Know: Leonard Scott, MIS manager/project leader

Municipality URL: www.cctexas.com

Municipality: Decatur, GA

Application: Public access; digital inclusion; mobile government workers

Network Operational Since: 2007

Key Fact: Part of state-wide technology initiative in Georgia

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Excelsio Communications (Alpharetta, GA)

Names To Know: Andrea Arnold, assistant city manager

Municipality URL: www.decaturga.com

Municipality: Dublin, OH

Application: Building inspection/permitting; GIS asset inventory; city event services; public safety

Network Operational Since: 2006

Key Fact: Wireless network integrated with city’s existing Voice over IP technology

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: DHB Networks (Dublin, OH)

Names To Know: Bob Schaber, network operations manager

Municipality URL: www.dublin.oh.us

Municipality: Fort Collins, CO

Application: Public access; AMR

Network Operational Since: 2007

Key Fact: Wireless network integrated with existing fiber backbone

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Front Range Internet

Municipality URL: www.ci.fort-collins.co.us

Municipality: Malden, MA

Application: Public safety, SCADA, AMR, education

Network Operational Since: 2007

Key Fact: Deploying WiMAX for backhaul

Names To Know: Anthony Rodrigues, IT director

Municipality URL: www.ci.malden.ma.us

Municipality: Miami-Dade County, FL

Application: Public safety

Network Operational Since: 2006

Key Fact: Next move is to support Voice over WiFi for leased-line replacement

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Nortel Networks (Research Triangle Park, NC)

Names To Know: Bob Reyes, system support manager, Miami Dade Police Dept.

Municipality URL: www.miamidade.gov

Municipality: Minneapolis, MN

Application: Public access; public safety

Network Operational Since: 2007

Key Fact: Public safety teams were able to use the network to help in recovery efforts after 2007 bridge collapse

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: US Internet (Minnetonka, MN)

Names To Know: Lynn Willingbring, chief information officer

Municipality URL: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Municipality: Phoenix, AZ

Application: Public safety (video surveillance)

Network Operational Since: 2006

Key Fact: Network was deployed and became operational within two weeks of receiving equipment

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Avrio (Easton, MD)

Names To Know: Charles Thompson, chief information officer; Det. Chris Jensen, Phoenix Police Dept.

Municipality URL: www.phoenix.gov

Municipality: Providence, RI

Application: Public safety

Network Operational Since: 2006

Key Fact: City decided against a public-access model for the initial implementation to ensure that the network performance and security met public safety requirements

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Scientel (Lombard, IL)

Names To Know: Charles Hewitt, chief information officer

Municipality URL: www.providenceri.com

Municipality: Richardson, TX

Application: Public access; public safety

Network Operational Since: 2004

Key Fact: Current groups of public hot spots will be upgraded to a citywide network in 2008

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Nortel Networks (Research Triangle Park, NC)

Names To Know: Steve Graves, chief information officer

Municipality URL: www.cor.gov

Municipality: Pepperell, MA

Application: Voice over IP; SCADA; public safety

Network Operational Since: 2006

Key Fact: Inexpensive network using municipal staff and local volunteers

Names To Know: Den Conners, systems manager

Municipality URL: www.town.pepperell.ma.us

Municipality: Plano, TX

Application: Public safety; traffic control; building inspection

Network Operational Since: 2006

Key Fact: Mixed-use network ‚Äö?Ñ?¨ 4.9 GHz frequency for public safety and 2.4 GHz for other municipal applications

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Scientel (Lombard, IL)

Names To Know: David Stephens, IT director

Municipality URL: www.plano.gov

Municipality: Rockford, IL

Application: Public safety (video surveillance)

Network Operational Since: 2005

Key Fact: Wireless network improved security force productivity by 4-6 hours per week

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Montel Technologies (Rockford, IL)

Names To Know: Paul Hackerson, director of security, Rockford Public Housing Authority

Municipality URL: www.rockfordha.org

Municipality: Seattle, WA

Application: Public access; digital access

Network Operational Since: 2005

Key Fact: WiFi network integrated with city’s extensive fiber network

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: Pacific Northwest Gigapop (Seattle)

Names To Know: David Keyes, community technology manager

Municipality URL: www.seattle.gov

Municipality: Tucson, AZ

Application: Public safety; traffic monitoring/management

Network Operational Since: 2007

Key Fact: 200 video surveillance cameras and 450 traffic signals will be part of the full deployment in 2008

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: N/A

Names To Know: Francisco Leyva, project manager

Municipality URL: www.ci.tucsonaz.gov

Municipality: Umatilla County, OR

Application: Public safety

Network Operational Since: 2004

Key Fact: Network funded by grants from U.S. Army and Federal Emergency Management Agency for chemical gas stockpile disposal

Service Provider/Systems Integrator: EZ Wireless (Portland, OR)

Names To Know: Dan Coulombe, police chief, city of Hermiston, OR

Municipality URL: www.co.umatilla.or.us