Corpus Christi, one of the first publically funded WiFi cities in the United States, sold the system to Earthlink in 2007. The city hoped Earthlink would provide Wi-Fi more broadly to residents of the city. Now the city may be getting it back.
Earthlink officially launched their $7 million city-owned wireless broadband network, at a ribbon cutting ceremony in December, 2006. The new commerical network was declared done and dedicated in August of last year. Earthlink promised a Wi-Fi network with coverage to 90% of the city’s population of about 277,000 residents across more than 100 square miles of the city.
Tropos teamed with prime contractor Northrop Grumman to build the Wi-Fi networking system. It utilized Automated Meter Reading system for gas and water services. Vehicles for police, fire and other public safety officers were equipped with mobile computer systems.
The city began rolling out its initial 20-square-mile pilot project in 2004. It was focused on automated meter reading for utilities and government workers. The city hoped Earthlink could manage the system better than city government and expand its footprint.
But with Earthlink getting out of the municipal wireless business, the city is now working on an agreement with Earthlink to transfer the network back to the city. Reportedly, the transfer wouldn’t cost anything to the city but would allow Earthlink to get out of owing over one-and-a-half million dollars left as the balance on the transaction.
The transfer will give the city back rights to the 147 square miles of network, as well as improvements made by EarthLink totalling $1.76 million. EarthLink also would provide the city with about $830,000 of radios and equipment used for the network.
If the transfer moves forward, the city will retain all rights to the network but it will be used solely for government purposes (such as meter reading) and won’t be accessible as a wireless network for residents to use.
Automated meter reading (AMR) is often cited as one application for municipal wireless networks. Utilimetrics is their trade association and has industry news.
Corpus Christi is automatically reading the utility meters using Tropos gear. Gas, water and electricity meters are read several times a day, instead of once a month with manual reading. A typical AMR system consists of low cost Meter Transmission Units (MTUs) that transmit data using low frequency wireless to Data Collector Units.
These devices can be co-located on lampposts with routers like Tropos’ popular MetroMesh access points. In addition, Wi-Fi enabled parking meters, that take credit cards, may be available as replacements for standard mechanical meters, and can save money by reducing maintenance while increasing revenue.
Related Dailywireless articles include, Corpus Christi & Portland: Cutting The Cord, Corpus Christi Cloud, City Clouds Turn On, Remote Monitoring 2007, Aeris + PacifiCorp: CDMA Meter Reading, Wireless Parking, Houston Gets it’s Money Back from Earthlink and Earthlink Restructures, MuniFi Holds Breath.
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