The city will seek a partnership with an Internet service provider to install a high-speed wireless network "cloud" that will cover the city of 25-square miles, as well as outlying areas served by the city.
"We want to establish a public-private partnership that will create a network for wireless Internet access for the people of San Marcos," said Mayor Susan Narvaiz. "This network will not only help us provide city government services more efficiently, but also bring broadband to all the citizens of San Marcos."
The city recently contracted with MetroNetIQ, an Austin-based consulting firm that works with cities to help them get metropolitan broadband projects like this started.
"The wireless network will enable the city to do automated meter reading for our electric and water utilities," said City Manager Dan O'Leary. "In addition, our police and fire departments will be able to use it connect to data and applications as they patrol our community. All of our employees in the field will be able to stay in touch better, and that's good for our citizens and our city."
A citywide wireless network would feature wireless radios about the size of shoe boxes installed on light poles to relay wireless signals to and from Wi-Fi equipped devices to the Internet.
