Wireless internet for everyone is one step closer to coming to Independence Township.
Although Independence Township was not one of the first seven pilot communities to be part of Oakland County’s Wireless Oakland initiative, the township did file the necessary paperwork to be considered in the next wave of communities.
‘We want to join Wireless Oakland as soon as possible, it’s one of the better programs Brooks Patterson has done,? said Independence Township Supervisor Dave Wagner.
‘We submitted the application to them last November, which was too late for the first round,? said Linda Richardson of the township’s Department of Public Works. ‘We’re quite enthusiastic about the whole thing because it will help benefit the township and our department.?
Deputy County Executive/CIO Phil Bertolini said the township is in the process of submitting, but did not provide their proposal in time to be considered for the first wave of pilots.
Installation of the initial pilots kicked off on Dec. 22 at the Troy Civic Center. The other pilot areas include the cities of Birmingham, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pontiac, Royal Oak and Wixom. The service is scheduled to come to these areas between Jan. and March 2006, according to a press release from Oakland County.
Bertolini said a number of criteria was used to determine the initial seven pilots from 30 applicants including: interest, technical feasibility and topography.
According to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Winter 2005 newsletter, the first installation brings wireless internet to portions of the seven communities in the 18.5 mile trial effort affecting 78,000 people. The county’s goal is to have all 910 square miles of Oakland County blanketed with wireless service within the next two years.
‘Everything has gone as planned thus far with deadlines and we intend to meet the rest,? said Bertolini who confirmed the goal of installation by the end of 2007.
Bertolini said to his knowledge, Springfield Township had yet to apply to be a pilot.
‘We have not filed to be a pilot. It’s my understanding its automatic once they get it up and running,? said Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls.
‘There’s not enough density (in Springfield) to make it worthwhile for the county as a pilot.?
Wireless Oakland is an initiative by Oakland County to bring wireless internet capability to the entire county. The project is funded by MichTel Communications and its partners. MichTel, a Pontiac based company, will own, operate and maintain the network. MichTel was selected by the Wireless Oakland Project Team from 13 private-sector bidders on Oct. 31, 2005.
The lowerband internet service will be provided for free, but a higherband service will be available for additional fees, said Bertolini.
For more information visit www.wirelessoakland.org.