Having combined efforts with our client in working with town decision-makers, we were able to formulate the most precise and applicable technology and business model. Aspen Wireless engineered an advanced network topology and unique business approach that, in combination with our client’s expertise as a service provider and a professionally written and presented proposal, won the bid over other local competition and many notable national players. The town’s choice was not made soley on technology or the business case, but rather the entire ‘eco-system’ of Aspen Wireless’ methodology appliedhand-in-hand with our client, which created the winning formula.

Let us help your community find its wireless direction!

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CenturyTel Wins Approval to Build Citywide Wi-Fi Network For Vail

MONROE, La., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Residents, businesses and visitors in Vail will soon have access to broadband wireless Internet service provided by CenturyTel and the Town of Vail. CenturyTel today announced that the Vail Town Council awarded the communications company a contract to build and operate a wireless broadband network for the Colorado ski resort destination.

Vail is the first Colorado city to move ahead with this type of partnership to build a municipal Wi-Fi network. The town selected CenturyTel to build its system following a competitive bid process that included proposals from six other companies. The agreement was unanimously approved by the Vail Town Council at its July 18 evening meeting.

CenturyTel will build a Wi-Fi mesh network in Vail and launch service by the end of 2006. Residents, businesses and visitors will be able to get free Internet access up to 300Kbps (kilobits per second) anywhere in town in one hour increments. Faster Internet service with speeds up to 3Mbps (megabits per second) will be available with pay plans for monthly, weekly or daily access.

“We applaud the Town of Vail for their forward thinking and initiative,” Karen Puckett, CenturyTel president and chief operating officer, said. “This is a strategic step for CenturyTel to expand our technologically advanced business outside of our traditional local telephone markets.”

CenturyTel and the Town of Vail worked together to develop additional services such as a Public Safety network and a private network for city workers. With these elements, the Town’s first responders and other public safety officials, as well as town employees will be able to securely connect to their intranet network and the Internet.

“We will have a state-of-the-art system that benefits everyone—residents, businesses, guests and our public safety personnel,” said Vail Mayor Rod Slifer. “This is the kind of innovation that continues to differentiate Vail from other ski resort destinations.”

The Wi-Fi network coverage will include the town limits/boundary of the Town of Vail. The network will deliver an affordable world-class Internet service to Vail residents, businesses and visitors. The citywide wireless system will use the latest in advanced carrier-grade mesh and wireless communications equipment to deliver high-speed wireless Internet access. Once the system is fully functional, it will be tested and fine-tuned to maximize the coverage area.

CenturyTel brings expert design and maintenance experience in building and operating communications networks. No capital will be required from the Town of Vail in the deployment or operation of the network. The company is committed to making the investment in capital and human resources to make the project a success. CenturyTel will bring advanced communications with a personal touch to the residents, businesses and visitors of Vail.

About CenturyTel
CenturyTel is a leading provider of communications, high-speed Internet and entertainment services in small-to-mid-size cities through our broadband and fiber transport networks. Included in the S&P 500 Index, CenturyTel delivers advanced communications with a personal touch to customers in 25 states. Visit CenturyTel at http://www.centurytel.com/.

CenturyTel

CONTACT: Media: Jeff Nevins, +1-318-330-6704, orjeff.nevins@centurytel.com; Investors: Tony Davis, +1-318-388-9525, ortony.davis@centurytel.com, both of CenturyTel

Web site: http://www.centurytel.com/

The technology has finally evolved. From our first ubiquitous Wi-Fi network in Aspen in 1999, we have been at the forefront, working with industry leaders to shape the technology into what has become a mature and reliable communications infrastructure. The business model works for both public and provate interests. The technology is stable, inexpensive and commonplace in our society. The combination of Broadband and Wireless has clearly shown to benefit to economic development and public safety significantly, and should be considered by both providers and communities alike.

For Service Providers
We have a methodology that is applied so the business and technology approach suits all, and the written response is crafted professionally and presented professionally for the powers that be. We will assist in relations with the decision-makers and follow through from contract to ribbon-cutting and beyond.

For Communities
We offer consulting services including feasibility studies and reports that delve into the impact of a wireless broadband (Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Mesh) network on economic development, public safety, and if it is right for your city or town. If wireless is right, vendor-neutral technology requirements are drafted and added to the report. Aspen Wireless also provides assistance in drafting RFI/C, RFQ, and RFP documents when the time is right.

More about this Service »

Learn about this Industry »

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Excerpt from Fast Company article:

What distinguishes the Ultimate Taxi from the standard fare? First, there’s the atmosphere. From the front seat of his 1978 Checker Cab, Barnes orchestrates a sophisticated in-taxi light show, complete with 9 lasers, 14 miniature stage lights, a revolving disco ball, and a $2,000 haze machine that pumps smoke at his passengers’ feet.

Finally, there’s the digital dimension. Using a wireless Internet connection, Barnes runs a Web site from the front seat of his cab. Want to alert him to your impending arrival? Just send him an email. Want a preview of your riding experience? Then listen to audio files of his sax solos, or look at photos of passengers that he’s shot with his digital “taxicam.”

“I like to think of this ride as a nondeletable file,” says Barnes. “It’s an experience that you’re stuck with forever.”

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Yes, you definitely are the Ultimate Taxi. With features like a fog machine, a mirror ball, a drum machine, keyboard, laser projector, black lights, strobe lights, laptop, digital photo printer, and Wi-Fi (and this is just a small fraction of the whole package), the Ultimate Taxi more or less speaks for itself. Congrats Jon on another notable mention!

http://www.ultimatetaxi.com

Next step is to deliver WiMAX and greater mobile broadband connectivity, our plan – 100Mbps… that’s near enough to “beam you down” are you ready?

“This is breathtaking,’’ said Michael Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, as the trio wrapped up its presentation. He was continually impressed, he added, at how modern technology has upended traditional assumptions of what it takes, in money and time, to create such a system.- Dan Gillmor, Mercury News Tech Columnist

San Jose Mercury News (FULL STORY – free registration)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/9489638.htm?1c

Dan Gillmor Blog Entry
http://weblog.siliconvalley.com/column/dangillmor/archives/010722.html#010722

“In scattered small towns of the prairie, one vigorous little business can make the difference between dissolution and survival. ”

The New York Times Article (registration needed)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/02/national/02KANS.html?th

The Rural Telephone Article (unregistered)
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031202/ZNYT01/312020347

Rural Telephone Company Web Site
http://www.ruraltelephone.com/

The showcase was designed to facilitate information dissemination about Rural WISPs as a compelling solution for rural broadband service. It also provided an opportunity for the Commission to learn what, if any, regulatory barriers stand in the way of rural WISP deployment.

The FCC Rural WISP Showcase
http://www.fcc.gov/osp/rural-wisp/

FCC Presentation
http://www.aspenwireless.net/selbystevens_aspenwireless.ppt

Take a look:
http://www.aspenwireless.net/orthogon_aspentestbed.html

Those with Wi-Fi had Internet access from within the bunkerlike conference room while BlackBerries were silenced.

All the telecommunications players agree that customers want Wi-Fi—and they’re all willing to provide it. The difference is, Selby believes he can make money offering Wi-Fi now, using fixed wireless service as a base, while Verizon Wireless, Qwest Communications and SBC Communications are searching for a model that makes sense.

In the meantime, the relatively inexpensive cost of rolling out Wi-Fi allows the larger companies to experiment without a lot of risk. FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy, a Republican who comes from the telecommunications industry, says the chance for businesses of all sizes to get involved shows the beauty of Wi-Fi and the unlicensed spectrum.

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60118,00.html

The “Gondola” article by CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/08/19/fcc.gondola.911.ap/

The Progress and Freedom Foundation
http://www.pff.org

The Wall Street Journal
http://www.wsj.com

WSJ article posted at siliconinvestor.com
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=16765583