News Release

Contact: Sandra Fernandez
Manager of Public Relations
Houston Public Library
832.393.1381; cell 713.435.9448
sandra.fernandez@houstontx.gov

City of Houston named Community Broadband Organization of the Year

Houston Public Library, Public Works & Engineering Deploy Wireless Network To Serve Institutional And Public Needs

The City of Houston, in partnership with Alvarion, was named Community Broadband Wireless Network of the Year by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Board of Directors as part of their 2010 Community Broadband Awards. These honors are awarded to exceptional leaders and innovative programs that champion community interests and broadband deployment in local communities nationwide.

The City of Houston was honored for extensive effort and creativity of the Houston Public Library and the Public Works & Engineering Department in designing and deploying a wireless network to serve institutional and public needs. The NATOA award recipients were chosen based on their extraordinary efforts, achievements, and innovation in community-based approaches to broadband. These individuals, organizations, and communities have distinguished themselves in the effort to ensure that more American communities and citizens benefit from new technology.

The City of Houston chose Alvarion as the technology provider because they offered the best solution to meet the City’s goals. Working together they are deploying a WIMAX infrastructure and WiFi access to serve the City’s needs for wireless broadband applications. The network installed will:

• Enable more than 245,000 residents in underserved, underprivileged communities access to free broadband Internet through the Wireless Empowered Community Access Network (WECAN) WiFi Zones. Currently, next generation WiMAX technology has been successfully installed in seven of the ten targeted digital inclusion underserved neighborhoods.  WiMAX serves as backhaul for network and enables WiFi access in these neighborhoods.  Additionally, more than 65 WiFi zones have been deployed across these neighborhoods. WiMAX and WiFi establishment within the remaining three neighborhoods, which includes up to 185 WiFi zones, is expected to be completed by December 2011. 
• Provide the network infrastructure for the WECAN Community Access Locations (CALs) being created in schools, community centers and non-profit organization centers where children and adults can receive free Internet access and have a safe environment to stay and learn; A total of 17 community access locations have already been established across four targeted digital inclusion targeted neighborhoods. Additional establishment of up to 233 CALs is also expected to be completed by December 2011.
• Interconnect 2500 signalized interactions and school zone flashers to enable the central office staff to improve public safety and the quality of life by remotely managing citywide  traffic flow and school zone safety; and,
• Create a connection to water plants around the city (5 are currently connected and planning for 36 more). Enable reading water meters through wireless connectivity and controlling water usability. Reduce operational costs by replacing T1 service with WiMAX service at over 400 public utility locations.

About the Award

In recognition of the broadening role of government in technology, NATOA honors outstanding individuals and projects that seek to improve government and public options in broadband technology. This exceptional awards program was initiated to recognize and highlight some of the many extraordinary efforts going on at the local level to bring the benefits of technology to American communities. Throughout the United States, numerous exceptional leaders in government, business, organization and the community are serving as champions of local interests and needs in broadband and technology. NATOA’s Community Broadband Awards annually recognize these efforts and achievements.

“NATOA’s Community Broadband Awards proudly honor the people, communities, and organizations that lead the nation in improving government and public options in broadband technology,” said Ken Fellman, president of the NATOA Board of Directors. “The award recipients were chosen based on their extraordinary efforts, achievements, and innovation in community-based approaches to broadband. We applaud their efforts to ensure that more American communities and citizens benefit from new technology.”

About the Houston Public Library

The Houston Public Library (HPL) operates 35 neighborhood libraries, three HPL Express Libraries, a Central Library, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, The African American Library at the Gregory School, and the Parent Resource Library located in the Children’s Museum of Houston. Serving more than 4 million customers per year, HPL is committed to excellent customer service and equitable access to information and programs by providing library customers with free use of a diverse collection of printed materials and electronic resources, Internet, laptop and computer use, and a variety of database and reference resources with live assistance online 24/7.

For further information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313.

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