Manchester Area Wireless Washtenaw Update - December 9, 2006

1. Equipment Installation Status

The 20/20 Communications and Siemens team has completed installation of radio equipment and antennas on the top of the Manchester water tower, which will serve as the transmitting location for the pilot program. There are two types of radios currently installed on top of the water tower. The 2.4 GHz radio system (a traditional 802.11b/g Wi-Fi system) is omnidirectional, and will provide very localized service in the immediate village area around the water tower. The 5.7 GHz radio system (a new 802.11a, “pre-WiMAX design) uses three directional antennas to boost range for transmission over distances of 1-3 miles, depending on topography. This 5.7 GHz technology is the primary design intended for the main village and rural area penetration. The radios and antennas have been certified by Siemens, and the system is now ready for pilot test connection.

The “backhaul” connection for the pilot program (the primary connection to the Internet for carrying traffic back and forth to the Ann Arbor based hub) is a hardwired T1 line. The T1 line was installed as a short-term feed for the pilot, due to the relatively low elevation of the Manchester water tower. This low elevation prevents direct communication by wireless radio to other existing towers or structures which contain 20/20 equipment. Upon completion of the pilot program, additional backhaul capability into/out of Manchester will be constructed, to boost both the capacity and redundancy of the system for future use. We are currently working on establishing these backhaul routes. Additional “point of presence” broadcasting locations in the local area are also being identified by field surveys and discussions with local property owners.

Initial radio signal strength monitoring and mapping around the Manchester area was completed on December 8. This data will help in the selection of pilot testers.

20/20 Communications has also completed the installation of Wireless Washtenaw pilots in the City of Ann Arbor and the City of Saline.

2. Pilot Testing Program

The Manchester area pilot will consist of approximately 30 residential users, who will be geographically and radially distributed about the water tower location. The pilot tester count will be limited due to the capacity of the initial backhaul system. The pilot testers will be selected based upon expressed interest in participating in the pilot, their location, their ability to receive the radio signal, and their willingness to participate in data gathering and user surveys. The pilot test will focus on the 5.7 GHz system to provide the best possible information on wireless signal penetration into the rural areas. The system will run at about 500 Kbps during the pilot. User installations will start the week of December 11.

The pilot should be viewed as a network and performance test, not an assurance of continuous, flawless service. There will be tests conducted by Siemens and 20/20 personnel during the pilot, and the system may be unavailable or operating at lower levels while these tests are conducted. It is stressed that pilot testers not abandon their current Internet provider, if they have one. It is an important element of the pilot program to determine the success of the 5.7 GHz system and equipment under all conditions, particularly in the rural areas.

During the pilot program, there will be no equipment charges for the pilot users, and a minimal $2 monthly charge for usage. Usage after the pilot is complete will be subject to the rates established by the program. Once the pilot evaluation is complete and the County’s Wireless Washtenaw team has certified the results, 20/20 will begin deployment to the rest of the County. A complete deployment schedule will be available in the first quarter of 2007. 20/20 Communications has indicated that the Manchester area and surrounding townships are high on the schedule list for rollout after the pilot is completed. We are still on target for December 2007 as the completion date for complete county-wide rollout.

A community forum will be held in January in Manchester to provide details on the results to date of the pilot program, and to answer resident questions on the program in general. This event will be publicized by 20/20 Communications and the County’s Wireless Washtenaw team.

The pilot will last 30-90 days, dependent on test and acceptance standards being met to the satisfaction of the Wireless Washtenaw team.

20/20 Communications has established a Manchester area pilot page at their web site, www.2020comm.com. Click on the Wireless Washtenaw button to be taken to the pilot program page, where continuous updates and other information are posted.

3. Long-Term Wireless Washtenaw Program and Schedule

After the pilot is completed, the full system rollout will commence. All residents and guests of Washtenaw County will receive a free continuous connection to the Internet at 84 Kbps, which is approximately twice the speed of the average dial-up connection. Premium services will be available for-fee. The following pricing was proposed by 20/20 Communications in their Wireless Washtenaw bid package for speeds up to 1 Mbps.

            Residential Households (with advertising) $35/month
            Residential Households (no advertising)   $50/month
            Business Data Paid (with advertising)  $49/month
            Business Data Paid (no advertising)  $65/month
            Visitor’s 7 Day Pass $15/week
            Visitor’s 1 Day Pass  $8/day

Residents utilizing the 5.7 GHz system will need to purchase an external CPE (Consumer Premise Equipment) device to receive service within their residence. It will cost approximately $180 and is slightly larger than a shoebox. This device can be mounted on a roof, deck, window siding or any other strategically located outside mounting location. The CPE device is AC-powered, and provides the Internet signal to your computer either by an Ethernet connection cable or by a standard wireless router. While 802.11a, 5.7 GHz technology cards are available for purchase on the Internet, and some newer computers are available with 802.11a/b/g chips, it is not yet determined how well these chips/cards will detect the 5.7 GHz signal at any distance from the transmitting point. More information on this will be forthcoming after tests are conducted

20/20 Communications will provide a local “storefront” presence in Manchester, and will provide a range of installation options and service support for customer choice. More information on this will be provided shortly. The pilot installations will be handled directly by 20/20 teams in the field.

Village residents able to access the 2.4 GHz system will also have to purchase a CPE if they want to include a signal in their homes. Any Manchester area resident with an 802.11 b/g enabled laptop will be able to go to Ann Arbor and utilize the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi based system there as part of their contract.

Ultimately, 2.4 GHz “hot spots” will be created in downtown Manchester along Main Street for use by residents and visitors, and also in the Carr Park area to facilitate the Riverfolk Festival and other activities.

Installation and support will be offered by both 20/20 Communications and Siemens. A help desk will be available Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, and Sunday from 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM to assist residents with troubleshooting.

After the pilot phase, Siemens will complete a radio frequency study of Washtenaw County, which will help determine where additional infrastructure is needed to complete county-wide deployment. This information will be used to expand the network beyond the pilot locations. Areas with existing public infrastructure (water towers, communication towers, etc.) will likely receive service first. 20/20 Communications will then secure and/or build the additional infrastructure needed to complete county-wide deployment.

Weekly updates are available from 20/20 Communications at (734) 973-2020, Option #1. Residents interested in future service may also register with 20/20 Communications at the above general number, or on-line at www.2020comm.com.

Ray Berg
SWWCOG representative to Wireless Washtenaw
December 9, 2006
rayberg@att.net