Q1: What are some initial factors that need to be taken into consideration when planning a metro-scale wireless broadband infrastructure?
            A1: Select a core group of interested parties, and always chose your team members from a group of interested potential users to become part of your planning and implementation team. Educate the rest of your team and bring them up to speed on goals and expectations for the network. Hold meetings to discuss ideas and needs, and involve everyone who might use the system as well as potential partners to determine if is there an anchor tenancy potential for certain specific applications.

            Q2: Which are some of the more common and attractive applications that cities are considering today?
            A2: Improving technology has made it possible to automate and remotely monitor processes that are normally done manually, thus decreasing labor costs and time spent. Automated meter reading, video surveillance and public safety among the most common municipal and utility applications being deployed today, but a well developed plan for public and commercial access can still deliver success and an accelerated payback period.

            Q3: What are important aspects to be mindful of, and how far ahead should cities look when compiling projects and planning out the network?
            A3: Compile a list of all sources of potential income specifically looking at all money coming from outside sources as well as money currently being spent on services from outside suppliers. Also, be realistic about all costs and expenses; many expenses are upfront and one-time fees, and so income should flow easily with increases over time. Be meticulous when planning out a network! Constructing a matrix of projections year by year for five years, showing both revenue and expenses for each year is a good way to avoid common pitfalls and prevent unnecessary stalling or failure of the network down the road.

            Q4: What are some pitfalls and obstacles to watch out for and what are good ways to avoid them?
            A4: There are three main areas that can spell trouble for a network down the road if they are not properly and easily taken care of during the initial stages of preparation. They are: lack of planning or rushed and improper planning, too much reliance on outside funding, or system was poorly or improperly engineered. Most times the failure of a network can be attributed to one of these problems and can be avoided by studying successes and failures of those cities that did not appropriately deal with the issues ahead of time.

For more on building a municipal Wi-Fi infrastructure, check out the recording from the webinar, “Making the Case for Building a Municipal Wi-Fi Infrastructure” featuring Leonard Scott.