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Commissioners want to blanket county with high-speed wireless Internet
Mar 08, 2010 (The Times-Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Lackawanna County is pursuing a $6 million project to install a countywide, high-speed wireless Internet service cheaper than that offered through cable or telephone lines for public agencies, school districts, hospitals, colleges -- and perhaps businesses and residents.
County officials began serious lobbying among local municipal and school leaders just recently to garner support for the project, and county commissioners will vote this week to apply for federal stimulus funding and partner with Cumberland, Md.-based Conxx Inc. to provide the system.
The network, being dubbed "NEPA Connected," would use seven existing county-owned towers -- used already for public safety communications -- and possibly building an eighth tower to blanket all of Lackawanna County with wireless network access, said county information technology supervisor Jeff Mando. The system would use microwaves through a proprietary Conxx system for specific private connections -- such as for police uses -- or for general Internet access, said Dave Kartchner, an executive vice president and a founder of the company.
"It's wireless-based and it's designed to have the same kind of services you would have through DSL or cable or those types of networks," Mr. Kartchner said.
Officials say the potential is huge for the county.
The system could be used, for example, to provide a secure video camera feed into every police car that could be monitored from a police station while an officer is making a traffic stop, Mr. Mando said. It can also be used more broadly to provide Internet access to county and municipal governments, hospitals and business, he said.
Mr. Mando said it is premature to say if the county would act as an Internet service provider, or ISP, in a larger capacity for residents and businesses -- or sell access to the network to another ISP, such as Comcast, which could then potentially offer cheaper rates to consumers.
Comcast spokesman Bob Grove said he was not familiar with the project and could not comment.
The project could propel the county into competing with private business, whether it be providing Internet to hospitals or to individual residents. Austin Burke, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, said from what he has learned from the project, it would be positive for the community.
"There is a digital divide between poor families who cannot afford hookups for computers for their children and have to go to school to use it" and others, Mr. Burke said. "It would be a much more productive experience for those children if they could very cheaply hook into something like this."
Few communities offer this type of service, and majority Commissioner Mike Washo said it could give Lackawanna County an extra tool to attract business to the area.
"We're competing with communities throughout the United States and if we can show a level of technological sophistication, it keeps us in the ballgame Ac EUR and shows we're a progressive county and region," Mr. Washo said.
The county has been studying the idea for close to two years, said majority Commissioner Corey O'Brien. Not only will it reduce the cost of government, but it offers possibilities to improve public safety and education.
"By taking Lackawanna County wireless, we would be taking a giant leap forward," he said.
Mr. Mando said the network could potentially expand into neighboring towns and counties.
"This could spread, and we would be the center of it," he said.
The operating cost would be covered from the savings the county government would see from not having to pay for Internet services, Mr. Mando said.
Contact the writer: cschillinger@timesshamrock.com
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