Wireless

Moss & Barnett recently served a lead legal counsel for the City of Minneapolis in negotiating the 84 page contract.  The contract contains specifications regarding the build-out of the system, pricing, performance and service level obligations, enforcement provisions, fiber construction obligations, pole and asset use requirements and fees, and related matters.

On November 1, 2006, the City of Minneapolis signed a 10-year contract with USI Wireless, Inc. (“USI”) to build, own and operate a $20 million wireless network covering all 59 square miles of Minneapolis. Minneapolis is the anchor tenant on the network committing $1.2 million per year for services ranging from remote cameras, emergency radio services, remote meter reading and a variety of other applications. The network provides residents, businesses and visitors with wireless broadband access anywhere in the City and allows the City to deliver services more efficiently and effective than ever before.

Highlights of the contract include:

·                      A 10-year fixed rate of $19.95 for 1-3 megabit residential service.

·                      USI will provide $500,000 to create a Digital Inclusion Fund (“DIF”) that will be used to promote affordable Internet access, low-cost hardware, local content and training. 

·                      USI will direct a minimum of 5% of the network’s net profits to the DIF for ongoing digital inclusion efforts.  In total, an estimated $11 million will be provided to the DIF over the 10 year term of the contract.

·                      Free service will be available in specified public locations, such as parks and plazas in Minneapolis.

·                      A free “walled garden” level of service will be available to people throughout the City for neighborhood, government and community services information.

·                      Designated community technology centers will receive free wireless access.

·                      Minimum service levels must be maintained on the network or USI will be subject to enforcement penalties from the City.

·                      Mandatory wholesale requirements and pricing to encourage open access to the network.

·                      Completion of the Minneapolis network is expected by the end of 2007.

Brian Grogan of Moss & Barnett served a lead legal counsel for the City of Minneapolis in negotiating the 84 page contract.  The contract contains specifications regarding the build-out of the system, pricing, performance and service level obligations, enforcement provisions, fiber construction obligations, pole and asset use requirements and fees, and related matters.

The articles below address wireless issues.

The newsletters below address wireless issues.