Minutes

Chamber of Commerce Wireless Committee

Friday, August 13, 2004

Attending: Bill Arledge, Adam Cooper, Don Davis, R. E. Faulkner, Elaine Fox, Monty Fuchs, Ginny Harder, Bob Houghton, Debbie Manley, Todd Mostowy, Leroy Spooner, Russell Thomas, Stephen Thomas, Paul Weinburg, Wallace Wilcox,

The above named committee convened at 9am and the following items and issues were discussed:

the system was deployed 1.5 years ago;

established as a marketing initiative for local businesses and a

community service;

allows businesses to direct the network, the

maintenance and broadband;

provides exposure for PDAs and laptops;

home page displays sponsors of the network, chamber information and

city sites;

free to end users;

used as an Economic Stimulus Package

- users choose which businesses to patronize;

allows non-profits (community centers, libraries, etc.) free access

to wireless capabilities;

real estate on the home page costs a business $3-5000 with monthly

expenses of $3-400, or quarterly sponsorship of $250/mo

A discussion ensued as to the existence of other models that are popular throughout the country. Verizon wireless system which is popular in airports was offered as an alternative to Gorilla network. Mr. Milam was asked whether or not an analysis had been conducted in Asheville as to the need and extent of existing wireless capabilities. He indicated that had not yet been done. He described the method used to installing the system in Greenville using an initial installation with broadband expanded through the use of repeaters and antenna with the signal fed through a single Charter pipe. This system could be readily adapted to any other city interested in establishing a wireless system in their community. Gorilla Networks has finalized plans with Clinton, SC and is seeking to establish a wireless system in Spartanburg, SC with a goal in mind of making an Upstate Network, resulting in a wireless environment throughout. Mr. Milam indicated that convincing the City to provide access to light posts, thereby ensuring a continuous and adequate power supply for the Broadband, is essential to a system's success.

Concern was expressed that Gorilla Network was being endorsed by the Chamber without adequate consideration being given to existing wireless networks in Asheville. Sharon Willen clarified the task of the committee was not to endorse any one service but rather to discuss the value of wireless to business, the residents and tourists to this city. Questions such as "Should we deploy wireless?", if so, "What model?", "Why?" and "How can this be done so Asheville can serve as a national model for other cities?" needed to be answered. She reminded the committee that Mr. Milam had been invited to present one model and that the Chamber is not endorsing one model over any other.

Bean Post Wireless, an Asheville based company, currently has wireless capabilities available for users in downtown Asheville.

This company has been working for 1.5 years to connect downtown Asheville. The service is currently free to tourists and others, but consistent users will eventually have to subscribe paying a monthly fee. The service currently covers all of downtown Asheville with 16 locations overall beginning at the Flat Iron Building. There are OC12 access points. One site exists at the Old Europe Coffee shop with icons in front of the Woolworth's building and elsewhere. In addition, the system is designed to be available in the common areas of the city, ie Prichard Park, Pack Square, etc. The goal of Bean Post's marketing plan is to have Asheville perceived as being "one hip techno city"!

Many committee members expressed surprise at both the existence and extent of the Bean Post operations. Several members observed that there may be other wireless systems available in Asheville of which the committee is unaware. Several expressed the belief that we need to cooperate and support those which are in place, and market what we have. Reportedly there were 53 people using the Bean Post system yesterday. The web-cam system consistently has 4-5000 hits per week. Discussion continued with the point being made that marketing is essential to the success of any system that might be installed.

There was consensus that a system of unearthing what is available is needed. Bob Houghton requested that those on the committee who are aware of wireless service send him a map of those catchment areas and he will compile the information graphically using the map of the economic zones in Asheville, both downtown and West Asheville. Another suggestion was made that the committee needs data on the size, range, business model and access points of all the available systems. The point was made that this is the kind of information  that needs to be shared with the political decision makers. Bob

Houghton informed the committee that there is new concept known as a "Structured Wireless Mesh"which can prevent the corruption of signals as a result of many signals competing for the same physical space.

The committee was once again reminded of the need to address the value of what exists and might exist to residents and tourists and how that can be tied to business/economic advantage.

The committee was reminded of several upcoming conferences of interest:

August 17th: Meeting of the Entrepreneurial Council at 5:30,ABTech-Enka Campus

Sept 14th: Entrepreneur and Capital Conference - Crest Mountain Center

December 7: SouthEastern Wireless Symposium in Winston Salem

The next committee meeting is September 17@ 9am.

Submitted by Elaine Fox