The state of Georgia has just announced several generous grants to extend wireless Internet access in cities. Savannah, Ga., received a $600,000 to unwire a corridor of the city and the city of Statesboro was granted $323,298.00 to deploy a city-wide WiMAX network.
Savannah’s grant from grant from the Georgia Technology Authority will be used to establish a public-private partnership with an Internet Service Provider to deliver Internet access free and at reduced and market rates to local residents and businesses. This appears to be a multi-use network that will offer programs to address the digital divide, support educational access, enhance government services and provide public safety with surveillance cameras, police mobile data terminals and applications to support inspections operations.The Martin Luther King Project, as it is known, is a partnership between the city, the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, the Housing Authority of Savannah, the Creative Coast, Savannah Technical College and the Equal Opportunity Authority.
Statesboro’s grant came through the Wireless Communities Georgia (WCG) program, which provides funding to local governments to build wireless networks. The grant will be applied to the total estimated cost of $487,200. The state requires a 50 percent matching grant of $163,902, from the city. The city is working with consultant Karl Edwards of Excelsio Communications to develop a business model for the system and, once that is complete, will solicit bids.
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