October 18 , 2006
By Dylan Skriloff
The RBA’s long-standing push for a County-wide broadband internet network appears to finally be turning into a reality.
Inspired by the RBA's efforts, the County of Rockland has filed an "RFI," Request for Information, to create a Countywide WIMax/WI-FI Network. The County is calling the project Rockland Online.
The objective of the RFI is to identify wireless service providers interested in establishing, owning and operating a countywide WiMAX/Wi-Fi network that will offer broadband wireless Internet access to residential customers, schools, government agencies, outdoor venues, businesses and visitors of the County of Rockland.
The five-page RFI says "the initiative resulted from interest shown by our local business community."
”Al Samuels (President /CEO of the Rockland Business Association) has been pushing this for a while. We took a good look to see if it was feasible and we think it is,” Assistant to the County Executive Gerry Walsh said.
“It’s a good feeling personally having advanced this issue for six years and it’s exciting for the County. We in the business community have long been aware that universal wireless internet access could be a boon for all levels of the Rockland community. It looks like steps now are being taken to make it a reality,” Samuels said.
The RFI said the cooperation of local municipalities will be sought in bringing the plan to fruition. The document states that the County would like to see the system coverage deployed within 12-24 months of the project start date in a phased approach. The County hopes that the network will be phased in community by community as it is implemented.
On September 7, representatives from the County attended the RBA’s Technology Initiative presentation on a broadband grant program offered through Empire State Development Corporation. Walsh said the presentation was helpful, though the County was not looking in to that grant at this time. Instead it is trying to find a private entity that would finance the project as its own business project.
“I am very pleased to see that the Technology Initiative was able to encourage the County to explore the opportunity to offer broadband wi-fi to the businesses and communities in Rockland,” Co-chair of the RBA Technology Initiative Howard Reis said.
Reis’s company Hudson Valley DataNet LLC lays down broadband fiber-optic cables and said he could help any company that bids on the County’s proposal connect their wi-fi network to the standing fiber-optic networks.
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