Chapel Hill Technology Advisory Committee

[Terri Buckner <tbuckner AT ibiblio.org>]

Notes from September 8 Downtown Wifi meeting

*Council resolution:*
"...the petitions from the DECD and the four members of the Technology 
Committee are referred to the Manager, the Attorney, and the Technology 
Committee with a request for reports and options for consideration by 
the Council regarding establishment of a wireless Internet environment 
in the downtown and in the neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown such 
as the Northside and Pine Knolls neighborhoods."

*Attendance:*
Ray Reitz and Doug Noell: Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
Joel Dunn, UNC
Andrea Rohrbacher and Liz Parham: Downtown Economic Development Comm.
Delores Bailey: Empowerment Inc.
Jeremy Collins, Wireless Subcommittee of IT Advisory Committee
Brandon Perkins, Wireless Subcommittee of IT Advisory Committee
Allan Polak, Wireless Subcommittee of IT Advisory Committee
Terri Buckner, Wireless Subcommittee of IT Advisory Committee
Steve Irving: IT Advisory Committee

Questions discussed:

1. Who will be the partners in conducting the feasibility study (as 
described in the Council resolution)?

*Discussion:*
a. Each group represented in the meeting wants to stay involved as a 
steering committee. The IT Committee should take the lead.

b. Determination of the extent of involvement should wait until we have 
a sense of the costs involved.

c. We should also explore additional partners including but not limited 
to the Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Emergency Management Services, 
Chapel Hill Transit and Public Safety.
(NOTE: Jason Jolley from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce 
has expressed his interest and willingness to join in future discussions)

2. Who are the constituencies that should be involved in providing input 
for the study?

*Discussion:* This question should be addressed once we have a better 
idea of the cost estimate. The majority of individuals present did agree 
that access to the Internet is a basic economic development issue for 
residents as well as businesses.

3. Can we pursue a short-term project, such as access to Pine Knolls, 
while investigating a larger scale deployment?

*Discussion:* This question should be addressed once we have a better 
idea of the cost estimates and the extent of a reasonably-sized deployment.

4. What are the next steps for this group?

*Discussion:*
a. Interview owners of Panera and Weaver Street to determine what 
business purpose their current public wifi projects serve.

b. Create a fact sheet for partners (not the general public) outlining 
the different types of deployment that might be pursued (free love 
model, infrastructure model, mixed use model (internet, phone, cable))

c. Get estimates for a cost study from contractors. The TechComm's Wifi 
subcommittee will put together a list of questions to be asked of 
potential vendors. Brandon Perkins will schedule a conference call for 
week of Sept 12 for the Wifi subcomm to iron out the questions so that 
we can begin contacting vendors ASAP. Terri Buckner will contact the 
Chapel Hill GIS specialist to have the area map redrawn to include the 
entire DEDC service area along with calculated surface areas for 
downtown business district and the two neighborhoods.