Wireless Internet Service

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May 16, 2008

FOR RESIDENTS

Wireless Internet

	M-F 8am - 4:30 pm
	(952) 924-2500
	Email St. Louis Park

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Wireless Internet Service Provider

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After months of missed deadlines and poor performance, the City Council found the contractor hired to build the citywide wireless Internet system, ARINC INC., in default of its obligations to complete the project in late December 2007.

Given this development and the city’s determination that it was not economically feasible to hire a new contractor to complete the system, the City Council decision was to end the ARINC project. With the default, the City Council has directed staff to pursue removal of the poles, solar panels and equipment by ARINC and end the current pilot program. The current pilot program will end April 30, allowing the 600-plus participants adequate time to find other service.

With these developments, the prospect of a different wireless project for the city remains unknown.

“We’re very disappointed by this outcome for our residents,” City Manager Tom Harmening said. “We’ve had great support from the community and continue to receive support. That support does not go unappreciated.”

The project had more than 600 households using the pilot service, some for more than two years. More than 4,000 people had pre-registered for service. Unfortunately, the project could not continue since service and delivery did not meet contract specifications and funding criteria.

“The Park is always forward-thinking,” Harmening said. “We wouldn’t have tried this project if our residents weren’t thinking about their future. Unfortunately, our contractor did not deliver on its promises.”

If you were a WiFi pilot subscriber and you need DSL or dial-up services, they are available through the ParkWiFi partner, Unplugged Cities, at discounted rates. If you want to keep your parkwifi.com e-mail address, that can be done at a cost of $3 per month or $30 per year. Please contact Unplugged Cities at (952) 928-2859 if you are interested in these alternative Internet services or keeping your parkwifi.com e-mail address.

If you are a subscriber and received equipment, please do the following:

Return your wireless modem, power cord, computer connection cord, and any original packaging to city hall.
Equipment should be returned to City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard between 7 a.m. and 4:30p.m. Monday through Friday.
Some subscribers who had external antennas attached to their house may schedule removal with Unplugged Cities by calling them at (952) 928-2859.

For more information you can call City Hall at (952)924-2500 or 952)924-2505

ParkWiFi Update

January 23, 2008 ParkWiFi Update

Contractor's default forces St. Louis Park out of planned citywide wireless Internet project
Council may explore other options for bringing WiFi to city

The St. Louis Park City Council directed city staff Tuesday to pursue negotiations with ARINC, Inc., that would effectively end the city's current plans to offer solar-powered, wireless Internet services citywide.

Council members said the decision does not mean that WiFi service is no longer an option for the city, but it acknowledged that it will have to consider whether beginning a new project is in the best interest of the city

The council declared ARINC, the Maryland-based company contracted to build a citywide wireless broadband network, in default of its obligations under contract to build the network last month. Since that time, staff has been in negotiations to end the contract with ARINC and provided the council two options in a special study session on Tuesday. The first option called for city staff to undertake negotiations with ARINC which would provide for the removal of all installed equipment and poles and termination of the contract. The second option called for the city to undertake negotiations with ARINC to provide for the termination of the contract and the transfer of all installed equipment and poles to the city to allow for the build out and completion of the WiFi system. The second option was estimated to cost about $3 million.

Chief Information Officer Clint Pires told the council that based on the contractor's failures to date, and what has been learned about ARINC's implementation of the system, he did not recommend that the city pursue negotiations that would involve taking over the system or finding another contractor to take it over .

The total financial impact of ARINC's failure to perform is currently under review. The city's pilot project cost approximately $380,000 and out-of-pocket costs related to the full build out total between $800,000 and $900,000.

The approximately 200 customers participating in the initial non-solar powered pilot program begun in April of 2006 will continue to receive service pending the City Council's direction.

December 26, 2007 ParkWiFi Update
The St. Louis Park City Council has declared ARINC, INC. in default of its obligations under contract to build a citywide wireless broadband network.

The action came Monday at the council’s regular meeting. The city entered into a contract on Dec. 14, 2006, with ARINC, a Maryland-based company providing mission critical communications, engineering and integration services for the purchase and installation of the wireless broadband network.

At the time, ARINC proved to be the lowest responsible bidder for the project which was put out for competitive bid. The company’s bid also positioned St. Louis Park to create the first citywide wireless project featuring solar power.

The project is several months behind schedule. In April, the city delayed the project for six weeks as it reviewed design criteria of the solar panels and pole locations after residents expressed concern. With this delay, Phase 1 of the service was scheduled to go live for service in June. ARINC has not completed Phase 1 or the other three phases of the project. The company has stopped work.

The approximately 200 customers participating in the initial non-solar powered pilot program begun in April of 2006 will continue to receive service pending the City Council’s direction. Service for pilot subscribers on the ARINC-installed solar-powered WiFi network will be intermittent at best or non-existent. This is because ARINC has stopped work on the project and its network is not currently performing reliably.

The city is recommending that the nearly 4,000 pre-registrants for the planned wireless service find other temporary solutions if Internet service is needed now, as no timeline or plan for completion of the project exists at this time.

Officials from ARINC have agreed to continue discussions with the city, and the parties are doing so. Information is being compiled and options for next steps will likely be presented to the City Council in January.

For the latest updates on the project, visit this website and for more information on other service options, visit www.parkwifi.com.

December 5, 2007 ParkWiFi Update
The failure of ARINC, the City of St. Louis Park’s WiFi contractor, to meet its Nov. 30, 2007, deadline to turn over a substantial portion of the network for testing has prompted city leaders to consider litigation against the company.

In light of these recent developments, the city is no longer able to provide a current project or service availability schedule. The matter continues to be under review by the city attorney. Once a legal strategy is determined, the council will discuss the strategy’s potential impact on the project.

The approximately 200 customers participating in the initial non-solar powered pilot program begun in April of 2006 will continue to receive service pending City Council direction. It is unknown at this time whether service will continue for the solar-powered WiFi pilot program participants. All pilot customers will be notified with further information.

Current subscribers can visit www.parkwifi.com for more information, including alternate service options if needed.

About ARINC
ARINC provides mission critical communications, engineering and integration services. Among its higher profile activities is servicing radio communications for many airlines. To learn more, visit www.arinc.com.

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