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The dream of ubiquitous free wireless in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties moved a step closer to reality Tuesday, when Metro Connect Silicon Valley was chosen to take on the initiative.
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The vendor is a partnership of Cisco Systems, IBM, SeaKay and Azulstar. Brian Moura, chair of the San Mateo County Telecommunications Authority and co-chair of Wireless Silicon Valley, the moniker given to the project, called it a "coalition of companies that brought different things to the party."

Seven bid applicants were narrowed to three last month before Metro Connect was chosen. It beat out VeriLan and MetroFi.

"They (Metro Connect) had sort of a better handle on the assignment than did the other finalists," said Moura, who is also San Carlos' assistant city manager.

The wireless project is being orchestrated by the Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, a public-private, nonprofit representing government and business leaders, and the telecommunications authority.

"This is really a consortium and partnership between business and community and local authorities who are driving to keep Silicon Valley at the edge," said Diana Hage, director of wireless services for IBM. "We're going to put allof our best players on this to make this a reality."

Tuesday's recommendation means that Metro Connect will be able to hammer out a model contract with local leaders. The contract then will be used as the basis for separate negotiations with the entities that have agreed to participate.

Forty-two agencies are in on the deal, including 38 cities, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and the Stanford Campus Residential Leaseholders. Los Altos and Cupertino were the latest cities to get on board last week.

Expected to give wireless access to 2.5 million people over 1,500 square miles, it is one of the largest regional free wireless initiatives in the country.

"In terms of number of square miles covered, it's easily one of the biggest," Moura said.

At no cost to the cities involved, Metro Connect intends to make its money back through advertisements and through charging user fees for faster connections. The service will be free at one megabyte per second downstream and 50 to 60KB upstream, and is primarily intended to be used outdoors. Indoor use probably will require a wireless signal booster.

But it will be awhile before anyone is able to connect.

Moura estimated the model agreement would not be completed until at least the end of next month. The 42 participating agencies then will have to give it their stamp of approval.

Redwood City Mayor Barbara Pierce said that the initiative has a "great deal of potential" and that details of the agreement will be carefully weighed.

"The key will be making sure that this is something that everyone can have access to," she said.

Metro Connect also will need to obtain approvals and permits from each city or agency to install the wireless antennae, mostly atop street light poles. The coalition estimates it will be 12 to 18 months before installations are complete, Moura said.

Besides free use for residents, many are excited by the initiative's prospect of providing another communication medium for fire, police and medical emergency personnel when traditional modes may not operate.

"This is fantastic, and I wholeheartedly support this," said Daly City Councilwoman Maggie Gomez. "I'm all for high technology, especially for public safety."

Metro Connect's 198-page proposal details a six-tier pay system that ranges from a slower free access to high-speed access that costs up to $59.95 for residents. The network would be a wireless mesh, or a web of access points such as the WiFi antennae that communicate with each other.

The network also will offer a free kids' service that includes filtering for adult content, and special services for municipalities.

Silicon Valley leaders touted the benefits of having one provider for all municipal operations, such as public safety.

Dan Fenton, a co-chair of the Wireless Silicon Valley project and president and chief executive of the San Jose Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau, said it is possible that all emergency services could be on the same network.

"People need to see the value of regionalization, the ability to move seamlessly throughout the valley on one platform," he said.

MediaNews business writer Sarah Jane Tribble contributed to this story.

Copyright © 2006.San Mateo County News.