Hot Spots Cool City Grand Rapids Wireless Broadband Project

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Hot Spots Cool CityGrand Rapids Wireless
Broadband Project Presented by Thomas A.
McQuillanInformation Technology DirectorCity of
Grand Rapids
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What is wireless broadband?

• Wireless networks use radio waves to set up
  communication links between devices and the
  Internet. These devices include.laptops,
  personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld
  personal computers, and nearly 1,000 other
  devices currently on the market.

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How Wireless Broadband Works?

• Access points connect devices to the network and
  Internet through radio signals
• Some of the access points are connected to the
  Internet by wires. Most will only require access
  to a power source thought to be readily available
  on existing utility poles.

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How Wireless Broadband Works?

• Wireless connections will be available as access
  points are installed.
• Similar to a cellular phone network, access
  points can be combined to provide mobile
  connectivity anywhere in the coverage area.

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How Wireless Broadband Works?

• Access points do not need to be mounted on
  towers they can be placed on utility poles or
  buildings.
• They can even be mounted on City vehicles so that
  the vehicle becomes part of the network,
  providing connectivity anywhere within a 300-foot
  radius of the vehicle.

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City Goals

• The City does not plan to compete with private
  business to sell wireless broadband.
• The City will deploy a solution using proven
  technology that is cost effective, self-funded,
  and will continue to serve our citizens for an
  extended period
• Our goal is to leverage the governments
  infrastructure to partner with private providers,
  community institutions, businesses, and community
  organizations to

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Benefits of a Wireless Network

• Enhance Public Safety by dramatically increasing
  the information available to mobile police
  officers and fire fighters
• Reduce the digital divide with affordable
  high-speed broadband service
• Improve service delivery to residents and reduce
  the cost of government

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Benefits of a Wireless Network

• Provide an economic development tool to attract
  and retain business
• Facilitate wireless technology use for citizens
  and visitors
• Create a seamless wireless infrastructure to
  attract and retain young professionals
• To establish a wireless broadband network without
  a burden on taxpayers.

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G.R.s Hot Spot Cool City Initiative

• Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell outlined his
  vision for bringing a wireless broadband network
  to our community.
• City Manager, Kurt Kimball assigned a team to
  research wireless technology, best practices,
  funding models, and applications.
• A City staff team was assigned to research
  wireless technology, best practices, funding
  models, applications, and what other cities are
  doing.

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Demonstration Networks

• The City sought proposals from wireless
  technology providers that were prepared to
  install and operate a ¼ square mile wireless
  demonstration network for eight weeks, at their
  expense, for technology comparison, testing, and
  evaluation purposes.
• There were
• 47 letters of intent
• 13 proposals
• 10 providers

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City and its Partners Provide

• Broadband connectivity
• Power (vendor responsible for connection)
• GIS maps of the assigned demonstration network
  area
• Demographic information for the assigned
  demonstration network area
• Access to utility poles and City-owned buildings

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Vendor Responsibilities

• Vendors incur all costs other than those assigned
  to the City
• The City is "held harmless"
• Proof of insurance is required
• General Liability per occurrence limit
  1,000,000
• Workers Compensation statutory limits
• Auto 1,000,000 combined single limit, including
  hired/non-owned liability
• Vendors provide wireless network management
  software.

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Demonstration Networks
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Splash Page

• Consistent Header SSID
• Acceptable Use
• Agreement
• Content
• MLive
• TV13
• Survey
• Contact Us

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Our Partners
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Applications/Needs
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Security

• Built upon strong Advanced Encryption
  Standard-Counter Mode/ CBC-MAC Protocol (AES-CCMP
  )-based encryption, 802.11i avoids the
  initialization vector and Message Integrity Check
  flaws that doomed the WEP (Wired Equivalent
  Privacy security standard.
• By relying on AES-CCMP, a block cipher, 802.11i
  ensures not only that the packet data payload is
  encrypted but also that selected packet header
  fields are protected.

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• Chart shows literally hundreds of APs in downtown
• How many APs have we found in GR so far?

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City of Grand RapidsWireless Evaluation and
Engineering Consultant
Bill Stark, President Excelsio Communications 6825
Shiloh Road East, Suite B3 Alpharetta, GA
30005 770-205-1832 bstark_at_excelsiocomm.com
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Business Model Continuum

• City owned and Privately Operated
• St. Cloud, FL
• Chaska, MN
• Corpus Christi, TX

• Cooperative Wholesale
• Philly

• Privately Owned City Supported
• Walla Walla, WA
• Atlanta WiFi
• Minneapolis, MN

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Legislation

• Federal
• Senator John McCain, R-Ariz.
• Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.
• State
• House
• Senate

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Grand Rapids Timeline
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Conclusion

• You need
• A Vision and Passion
• Elected and Executive Leadership
• A Committed Team
• Collaboration/Partners
• A Business Model/Funding Source
• Legislation Supporting Wireless Broadband
  Deployment
• Sustainability