Following a phased-in installation across the city, the entire network is slated to be online by July 2007. Pricing, depending on desired bandwidth speed, will range from $14.95 to $29.95, plus an optional subscriber bridge to enhance performance. "This decision not only places St. Louis Park among other cities offering citywide wireless service, but makes the city a pioneer in the use of solar energy," said City Manager Tom Harmening. "We are enthusiastic about offering this opportunity to our community and look forward to completing the launch next summer."
ParkWi-Fi, which has been available in four pilot areas of the city since this April, will now be accessible to all citizens and businesses in the city's boundaries. The council's decision comes after two years of diligent fact finding, the successful 2006 pilot program, and a public bidding process that attracted vendors from around the nation. "It has been a long process, but one that has resulted in the best-possible service for our community," said Clint Pires, director of technology and support services for the city. "St. Louis Park is proud to be on the cutting edge of this technology and provide this valuable tool. We also believe it will be a drawing card for those looking to relocate to the city."
Next steps include finalizing agreements with ARINC Inc., the lowest responsible bidder for supply and implementation of the network, and with Unplugged Cities, LLC, management partner to provide subscription, help desk, and technical support services. St. Louis Park will retain ownership of the network that will be built by ARINC and the management, operation, and maintenance will be provided by the private partner, Unplugged Cities. Unplugged Cities will be required to meet quality of service (QOS) performance parameters as part of the contractual obligations. Engineers and analysts from Columbia Telecommunications Corporation (CTC) assisted the city with a feasibility study and the development of a business plan for the network. CTC then assisted the city as it moved forward with the pilot this year.
At this time, it is anticipated that service to most of St. Louis Park will be completed by mid-2007. Only residential units in about a dozen of the largest buildings and some commercial buildings could see service come later. Managers and owners of such buildings will be invited to cooperate in allowing installation of indoor facilities to best serve residents. Most single-family homes, multiple dwelling units, and small businesses will be served through outdoor wireless facilities. Outdoor access will also be available to subscribers, including guest passes. Plans also include roaming agreements with other cities providing Wi-Fi who are interested in providing roaming for subscribers. Service to the existing pilot areas will continue through the build out of the city-wide project. There will likely be brief interruptions of service as more outdoor radios are installed, and subscriber equipment is upgraded in some cases.
