Plan would provide Internet service county-wide

Fond du Lac County intends to be the first county in Wisconsin to bring wireless Internet capability to all its citizens. The Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night to enter into a five-year agreement with Dotnet Acquisition Company of Fond du Lac for the trailblazing technology.
Dotnet plans to lease space on six county radio towers in exchange for construction of a high-speed wireless infrastructure. Fond du Lac County government will be provided service at no cost, but citizens and businesses will have to contract with Dotnet to utilize the service.
"It's going to be great," said County Executive Allen Buechel, noting the positive implications for the county citizens and businesses — manufacturing, education, health care among them.
The service, he said, will have a major effect on the workings of departments within county government.
The agreement would bring wireless Internet service to remote and rural areas of the county that now either have no service or only limited service.
Increased efficiency
It also will be welcome at a number of county work sites located outside the City County Government Center — the Medical Examiner's office, the Highway Department offices, Job Service and the Fairgrounds.
County Public Health and Care Management Organization workers would have the capability of entering data immediately instead of waiting to return to their offices. The wireless update is expected to bring increased efficiency for all departments.
Officials said Mobile Data Computers used in Sheriff's Department patrol vehicles need improved infrastructure. Estimates are that it would take $250,000 to replace the infrastructure.
Buechel, who lives in Malone, said he's looking forward to having a laptop computer at home that he can carry and use anywhere around the house and at functions anywhere in the county.
He said discussions about wireless service have take place over the past 15 months, primarily between county Director of Administration Ellen Sorensen and Dotnet Acquisitions President Frank Cumberbatch.
Sorensen told board members about the numerous benefits she envisioned if an agreement was reached. Fond du Lac County's progressive thinking in social services programs — it piloted W2 and Family Care — is now moving to technology and commerce.
"We can get giddy just talking about it," she said, noting no one else has the technology for county-wide Internet.
Of note is the ability for the Fairgrounds to be used as a backup site for Fond du Lac County and emergency dispatch operations.
"If this place flooded or blew up or there was a chemical spill, a wireless system will allow us … to transfer our dispatch center out there. We would move everything out there."
Infrastructure
After infrastructure is established at the six county towers, Dotnet will likely look for other opportunities to locate infrastructure, possibly on water towers or silos, Cumberbatch said. The firm also may construct some of its own towers.
He said the infrastructure would be built over the next one to two years and would start in Fond du Lac, Ripon and Waucousta/town of Osceola.
Board member Tom Dornbrook asked Sorensen about any other potential offers to lease space on the county towers.
Sorensen noted that negotiations have "broken off" with one firm when its offer was so low it wasn't worth consideration. The county is seeking another tenant to locate on five of its six towers.
Marketing tool
Buechel said wireless capability will provide an excellent marketing tool for economic development.
"There is absolutely no doubt," Sorensen said, "this puts Fond du Lac County at the head of the line statewide and at the top of the list nationally."
Cumberbatch mentioned his plan to get computers and service to low-income children and their families. Sorensen said Dotnet hopes to partner with the Fond du Lac School District and explore assistance through grants and foundations.
Sorensen said that with four institutions of higher learning located in the county, there could be opportunities for students.
"We have the work force to do call centers," she said. "Look at the students we have. They would be available to work off-hours and maybe they work from home."
Sorensen said she believes wireless technology is the wave of the future and soon will be the standard rather than the exception.
She said she's happy to know that Fond du Lac County is "far ahead of the curve."
Discussion at the Tuesday night meeting continued for nearly an hour.
"I was skeptical at first," said County Board member John Zorn, who asked a number of questions and told the crowd he previously owned a local Alltel franchise for 21 years. "I understand a lot of what is being talked about (tonight.) I think it's a good deal for us."
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090122/FON0101/901220420/1289/FON01