HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 08/21/2006TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
August 21, 2006
6:00 PM
Council Liaison: David Roy
Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh, Communications and Technology Services; 221-6522
Board Chair: Curt Cramer
Vice Chair: Herb Saperstone
Present: Curt Cramer, Herb Saperstone, Ted Funk, Robert Reichenberger,
Chip Cushman, David Heiberg
Absent: Larry Bontempo
Guest: Bill Somers, Tropos Wireless
Staff: Eric Dahlgren, Kraig Ecton, Liz Stroh
Chair Curt Cramer called the meeting to order at 6: 00 PM.
Public Input: None
Minutes: Chip Cushman moved to approve minutes, seconded by Ted Funk.
Minutes were unanimously approved.
Tropos Wireless Presentation
Bill Somers of Tropos, a partner of Mobile Pro spoke to the Board about the
desire to bring broadband wireless to the City. He explained how the company is
working with the City of Longmont to provide the City with Broadband capacity in
exchange for use of poles and other City owned facilities on which to place
antennas. The company would offer both wifi and wimax, and have both indoor
and outside access. A modem is used for connectivity indoors using 802.11
client, and a wireless card in a laptop will work for the outside connection.
Tropos/Mobile Pro would also offer bandwidth that could be used inside a
business for internal communication. Herb asked about the radius; Mr. Somers
responded that it is about 100 to 150 ft.
Herb asked how the service compares to Cable modems. Mr. Somers stated the
company guarantees 1 mg up and back, consistent service with mobility. David
Heiberg asked about capacity. Mr. Somers said the available bandwidth was 1
mg both up and back. David also asked whether higher bandwidth was available
for businesses. Mr. Somers responded that it could go up to 1.5 or more
depending on what extra equipment might be needed. In response to a question
by Ted Funk, Mr. Somers reported that Longmont will be the location for the
service center. VLan's can be set up, and defined by port or by application
server's IP address.
Mr. Somers emphasized that his company's focus is the municipal wireless
market and that it built systems in the same geographical areas. Because of the
company's presence in Longmont, Fort Collins is a logical expansion for Tropos.
Tropos, Kite, and Mobile Pro companies work together in various capacities to
provide the services, and customers who travel to areas that are served by any
of these can connect to the wireless service.
Curt Cramer thanked Mr. Somers for the presentation and asked Liz to keep the
Board updated on any progress of the City's broadband wireless feasibility
project.
The Board also asked Liz to find out how the wireless network at the Public
Library is set up.
Other business
None
Herb Saperstone moved to adjourn, seconded by David Heiberg. The motion
passed unanimously
Adjourned at 7:15 PM
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