2007TCMN0321

Town of Rensselaerville

Telecommunications Committee

March 21, 2007

Location: Town Hall

Present: Cathleen Bobrick, Member

Jost Nicklesberg, Member

Don Parker, Member

Fred Urretia, Member

Phil Pearson, Member

Arnie Cavalliaro, Owner, Radical Systemz

Joe Camadine, Radical Systemz

Disscussed wireless internet line of sight and non line of sight. Arnie mentioned towns in Colombia County that are partnering to run fiber to the home. Bonds and grants are used to finance the fiber lines.

If two wireless providers are in one area, they can cause interference. Radical is having that trouble at presenct in Durham. 40% of the town of Rensselaerville is geographically covered by wireless internet. 90% coverage is possible using additional site and/or tower placements. Arnie said Verizon will put up a tower just about anywhere. Nextel will not come if they see a problem with the sight plan review or SEQRA. American tower offered Radical lease placement on that existing tower for $800 per month.

Additional notes from Fred:

• Radical Systemz is using a particular broadband HW in a 900 MHz band
• I spoke to some guys I know at Telesat Canada familiar with that HW, it is among the best available, base is about $1,600, receiver/router ~$350, 3Mbps theoretical throughput @ access point, designed for 250 users, but in actual practice 100-150 users per access point, uses 4 non-overlapping channels
• System is susceptible to interference from older 900 MHz portable (wireless) phones (they were typically high power and sloppy RF stage), but that can be resolved by replacing with a newer $40 phone
• Another system is Motorola “Canopy” service, also very nice, but more expensive
• RS provided street name listing, but not very useable as it does not provide info on where they can reach on these streets
• Update to questions about using cellular repeaters and yagi antenna to “boost” cellular access
• Technically legal with permission of cellular carriers, but no carriers have a process for approving their use
• According to NY Times article they are used in some areas “illegally” (without permission)
• Concern is over causing interference with other services (including other nearby cellular cell sites)
• Anything powerful enough to cover areas in question will be too much to use, this may not be a practical solution for town; more applicable for an individual to increase coverage inside and around a residential property
• Update to grants & loans
• ERate program to libraries and schools, USDA still under discovery