Osage City Council looks at wireless system

Wayne White
Managing Editor

The Osage City Council had a first look last week at a proposal that would allow wireless connectivity in the city’s downtown.

In October, the council approved seeking proposals for a wireless system that would provide low-cost, short range, broadband services for citizens and businesses to access the Internet using laptops or Wi-Fi capable phones. Included in the current year’s budget for the project was $55,000.

At the Feb. 12 council meeting, Joshua Montgomery, of Community Wireless Communications, based in Lawrence, presented a proposal that would initially provide service in an area bordered approximately by Second, Seventh, Lord and Holliday streets. As proposed, the expandable system would also provide services in Jones Park.

Montgomery’s company has successfully deployed a similar system in Lawrence and is working on a system for North Newton.

Montgomery said that due to technological advances, it is wise for communities to be considering wireless systems.

“I’ve noticed that you all were very forward thinking many years ago and built your own power utility,” Montgomery said. “The debate about Internet access in communities should be on the same level as debates about electricity, water, or transportation or any other utility.”

He said the goal of such a project initially gives citizens access to the Internet, but high bandwidth technology could eventually provide other basic services, such as telephone and television.

He said that over time, services that municipalities currently receive franchise fees for will come from the Internet.

Montgomery said he uses the Lawrence wireless system at his home for such things as watching video, using the phone, and accessing the Internet, and “the municipality gets no franchise fees for services I use at my house.”

Wireless systems have become less expensive to build over the past five years, he said. As proposed, the downtown area system could be built for $55,895. It would include equipment to be installed in city hall, a radio on the water tower and radio transmitters on poles. The targeted area would include Osage City’s downtown, city hall, the library, Jones Park, Lincoln Park, and the schools. It was noted the system could cost more or less depending upon the number of access points deployed.

Montgomery recommended that the city work with the schools to determine if service should be provided there.

“Sometimes schools don’t want the Internet access because kids can use it in inappropriate ways,” he said.

Montgomery said his company’s system requires an account to be set up before access is allowed. He explained that when a user accesses the system, a login screen appears, requiring an e-mail address and other identifying information. The same system could later be modified to be fee based.

“By putting a payment gateway in place, you force those people to create an account and actually log in,” he said. Identifying users helps if someone is using the system inappropriately or is spreading computer viruses.

Initially, though, he said, “In order to keep costs down it’s cheaper to just make it free.”

The company’s proposal also includes training for city personnel to provide routine maintenance.

The proposal does not include monthly data fees that are paid to telephone companies, which he estimated to be $650 per month for the proposed service area. To serve the entire city, data fees could be as much as $3,000 a month. Other costs the city could incur would include electrical connections for access points, and required permits or fees.

Montgomery said of his company, “We’re really the team to do it.”

“Our goal is make sure everyone has access to the Internet, not so much to come in and extract as much money from communities as we possibly can.”

The council took no action on Montgomery’s proposal. It was noted that another company also plans to submit a proposal.

In other business, the council:

• tentatively approved rental agreements for city-owned buildings such as the community building, Santa Fe Depot, and the Santa Fe Park shelter house. City staff is to present the agreements for formal approval by the council at a future meeting. As proposed, non-profit organizations will be allowed to make an annual request for use of the buildings on a recurring basis on Mondays through Thursdays. Scheduling conflicts will be resolved by determination of city staff or the council.

• approved a 36-month lease agreement for a Savin C4540 copy machine for the city office at a cost of $382.46 per month.

• heard the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has notified the city that runway and tarmac resurfacing is being considered for the Osage City Airport. The total project is expected to cost $160,000 with the FAA providing $152,000.

• heard the Osage City Planning Commission is preparing to distribute a community survey in anticipation of a review of land use regulations.

• heard that city manager Brian Silcott and street superintendent Fred Hallowell are conducting a street and alley inventory in response to citizen concerns about street and alley maintenance.