The deal is official ? Independence Township is formally a part of Phase II for Wireless Oakland.
The township board voted unanimously to sign an interlocal agreement with Oakland County in order to be a pilot community for the second phase of the program. To date, 40 communities have signed the agreement.
Wireless Oakland is a program spearheaded by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson with the goals of providing free wireless internet access to everyone (at 128K, four times faster than dial-up); assist in planning and improve the use of technology in government; and provide equipment and training to lower income-lower education residents.
Through the program, residents who wish to do so will have the opportunity to purchase higher speeds from Michtel, the private provider for the project. Oakland County has entered a six year agreement, with the option to renew, with the private corporation.
‘This will be the largest project of its kind in the world,? said Oakland County Deputy Executive Phil Bertolini during the July 18 board meeting. ‘We are going to be the first entire county to be wireless.?
Independence Township applied in the fall of 2005 for the program. Included with the application was a listing of the township’s ‘elevated assets,? such as utility poles, cell towers or water towers.
During board discussion, Trustee Dan Travis asked about the equipment involved with the network. He questioned the appearance of the access points on utility poles and the equipment needed in a home.
Bertolini said their will be two layers of networking: a high (large band width) network and low (short band width), street level network.
The high network will be placed on assets such as water towers and will involved dishes and 11x14x2 networking boxes.
The low level, about 15 to 20 feet from the ground, will have similar sized networking boxes with 12-inch antennas spaced around a quarter-mile apart.
As for home equipment needs, Bertolini said most newer computers come with the required Wi-Fi cards. He added that upgrading slightly older models can be done affordably.
Trustee Larry Rosso asked whether providing free internet will create tension and opposition from existing providers. Bertolini assured the board that local providers are offering higher speeds and therefore not conflicting.
‘However, residents do have the option to purchase higher speeds from Michtel, which will offer them on the open market. This means other providers will have to commit and compete,? explained Bertolini. ‘Hopefully we all benefit with lower prices.?
The board passed a motion to sign the interlocal agreement with Oakland County by mid-August. Supervisor Dave Wagner assured those in attendance the documents would be signed the following day, July 19.