The Midwest Fiber Networks Model for Bringing a Citywide Wireless Data Network to Milwaukee
Overview
Midwest Fiber Networks—a Milwaukee-based business with a strong record of designing, building and maintaining large-scale fiber optic and wireless data networks for prominent businesses and public entities—is offering to build and maintain a citywide wireless data network in Milwaukee, at no cost to taxpayers. This model has received strong support from city Mayor Tom Barrett and several Milwaukee Common Council members, who see our efforts as a means of making their “Milwaukee Wireless Initiative” a reality. City leaders have supported the Midwest Fiber model in part because we are a Milwaukee-based business that shares the city’s commitment to narrowing the so-called “digital divide” by providing low-cost Internet access to lower-income residents.
Under this model, we would pay fees to the city to lease rights of way on facilities such as buildings, streetlights, traffic signals and underground conduit on which to place hardware for the wireless network. The company already has similar licenses with the city as part of private networks the company has already built, so any agreement with the city would be an expansion of an already existing relationship.
Midwest Fiber would lease bandwidth to service providers, who would in turn offer Internet access services to end-users (city residents, businesses, institutions, community groups, etc.). Our model would not be exclusive, meaning that any other firm could negotiate with the city for permission to construct a similar network. Once our citywide network is in place, any service provider will be able to negotiate with us to lease bandwidth on the network.
The Process
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Midwest Fiber has entered negotiations with Milwaukee’s chief information officer for the proper rights of way and permits for the wireless network.
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If we reach an agreement, it would be submitted to the Milwaukee Common Council for review.
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Upon approval by the Common Council, we would begin building the network infrastructure, which is estimated to take six to 12 months.
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Once Midwest Fiber’s Wi-Fi infrastructure is in place, residents, institutions, community groups, businesses and other end-users would be able to contract with participating service providers.
Direct media inquiries to Karl Robe: krobe@insidesh.com
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