Town of Brookline

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Wireless Committee

Overview

Committee Members

Meeting Minutes

Comment to Wireless Committee

Policy and Technology

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Presentations and Vendor Information

Vendor Q & A

GIS Maps of Infrastructure - Key Locations

Wireless Broadband Initiative (Vendors) Request for Information

April 10, 2006 Public Hearing

Wireless Broadband Public Hearing Agenda, 4/10/06

Wireless Broadband Public Hearing, 12/1/05

Wireless Broadband Initiative: Executive Summary

Wireless Broadband Initiative: Project Description

Telecommunication Infrastructure Feasibility Study to Support Wireless Broadband

Overview

Many municipalities are faced with wireless communication issues ranging from signal degradation to public safety. With the proliferation of new technologies, Brookline Public Safety, Public Health and Public Works employees have become dependent on wireless communication and information for virtually all aspects of their daily operations. However, most local public agencies, including Brookline, experience serious problems with their wireless communication systems, which impair the effectiveness of their communication and, ultimately, may endanger the lives of their field personnel and the public they are entrusted to protect.

In addition, municipalities are faced with zoning issues relating to towers for cellular and PCS (Personal Communications Service) antennas and with leases for such antennas on municipal property. For reasons including aesthetics and public health, some are opposed to the placement of these devices in their area. The combination of federal laws, public safety, and day-to-day operations as we have come to know them are forcing communities to take a hard look at the options available for developing a comprehensive wireless strategy.

Therefore, I am recommending the formation of a committee to investigate the wireless options that best suit the needs of the Town - - both residents and town departments. This committee will help get the Town to a point where residents do not have to leave their house to use their cell phone; where those employees charged with protecting the citizens of the Town do not experience “black spots”; and where future educational applications can be made available to the children of the schools. On following list, while certainly not exhaustive, are some of the issues I foresee the committee reviewing:

Citizen issues associated with aesthetic/property value concerns.
Consumers and businesses issues primarily concerned with access to PCS (Personal Communication Services).
Town employee issues associated with signal degradation.
Landowner issues associated with generating revenue from leasing land to PCS providers.
PCS provider issues with complying with the external mandates from the Federal Government, recouping their investments in PCS licenses, the technical feasibility of providing services and getting through the local permitting process.
Local government issues concerned with complying with Federal Government mandates, ensuring due process and determining the pricing of public property for use by PCS providers. Additionally, some local governments have an interest in putting their communities in the forefront of technology adoption to generate revenues and spur economic development.
The state and Federal Government issues concerned mainly with ensuring that both the spirit and the content of existing laws are implemented properly by local governments. Otherwise, preemption of local authority is considered an option.

It is with these and other wireless communication issues in mind that I recommend the formation of a 10 member committee to begin the process of further identifying stakeholder issues and clarifying strategic direction. The following is the recommended committee makeup:

Wireless Committee Members
Selectmen	Michael Merrill
School Committee	Helen Charlupski
Advisory Committee	Neil Wishinsky (TMM Prec. 5)
Town Meeting Member	Gregg Shapiro (TMM Prec. 3)
Town Meeting Member	Janice Kahn (TMM Prec. 15)
Resident Volunteer	Ariel Soiffer
Information Technology Director	Kevin Stokes
ITAC (IT Advisory Committee)	Peter Groustra
ITAC (IT Advisory Committee)	Geoff Cohen (TMM Prec. 11)
Deputy Town Administrator	Sean Cronin
Planning	Polly Selkoe
Police Chief or designee	Daniel C. O'Leary
Public Works	DPW Commissioner or designee
Resident Volunteer	Sanford Goldfless