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After the Smoke and Mirrors Clear O’Fallon Wireless is Just a Trick
February 12, 2008 |

O’Fallon, Mo’s City Hall has completed a city wide wireless network installed and managed by Network 1 Communications. The city is using phrases such as “it’s free for the city” or “doesn’t cost the city.” One would think a non-profit organization is providing charitable services to the city.

First, clarification regarding this article is needed. A wireless network is an asset for any city and I support such programs if they are capable of doing what the provider claims they can.

My contention with O’Fallon officials is how O’Fallon Wireless was selected behind closed doors with no transparency to the citizens of O’Fallon. Brian Bazzell, O’Fallon Director of Information Systems, points out O’Fallon chose Network 1 because O’Fallon obtains wireless access to the Internet free.

Free for who? The irony is the service is free only for the O’Fallon government; the citizens bear the cost of $19.95 to $49.95 a month Network 1 charges for access.

City officials report the feedback is “overwhelming” in support of the wireless network. Not according to an article by Tim Logan of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The article reports Network 1 currently has 150 customers. One-hundred and fifty customers, after three months in operation, isn’t saying much when Mark O’Neal, the company vice president of sales, has to pay 12 employees. That tallys out to 12.5 customers per employee after 90-days of operations.

Who side is the government of O’Fallon on? St. Peters offers it’s citizens the Internet for free in city parks and other areas of the like. O’Fallon offers it’s citizens the Internet for a fee not free.



http://www.netnetblog.com/?p=289