TOWN OF BROOKLINE TO ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF NATION’S FIRST TOWN-WIDE
COMBINED WI-FI/PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK
“Wire Cutting” Event with Galaxy Internet Services to be held on
July 18th at Devotion House on Harvard Street at 6pm.
BROOKLINE, Massachusetts, July 18, 2007 The Town of Brookline will
announce the launch of the region’s first border-to-border municipal
Wi-Fi network, which includes the nation’s first implementation of newly
licensed spectrum for public safety. The event is to be held in front of
the Devotion House at 345 Harvard Street in Brookline. The “Wire
Cutting” event will feature prominent speakers, raffles and giveaways.
The network was deployed in a public-private partnership between
Brookline and Galaxy Internet Services. The goal of the project was to
satisfy Brookline’s need for improved public safety and municipal
communications, while providing consumers and businesses with new
options for Internet access. Brookline is the first municipality in the
United States to have a border-to-border multi-use first responder Wi-Fi
network utilizing licensed frequencies for police and fire, and standard
Wi-Fi for consumers. The multi-use network is owned and operated by
Galaxy and is based on technology provided by Strix Systems.
In addition to paid wireless Internet access for consumers and
businesses, limited free access will be available in certain commercial
areas and public parks. Also, the Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) will
have access to free internet service in their community rooms. The
packages made available by Galaxy to residents and businesses will be
less costly for similar plan types offered by other companies.
Brookline will be utilizing the newly licensed 4.9 GHz spectrum on a
town-wide basis, dedicated to emergency services. First responders such
as police and fire will be able to exchange information with local,
state and federal agencies for improved security via a licensed
frequency reserved for emergency services. With broadband wireless
internet access, they will also be able to utilize new applications to
distribute information to personnel both in the field and in command
centers.
Brookline’s Chief Information Officer, Kevin Stokes, said “This is the
beginning of a robust alternative to some of the other broadband
services available in Brookline. The Town will be utilizing it to
enhance and lower the cost of communications, and increase the
efficiency of Town services”. Sean Cronin, Deputy Town Administrator,
added “This is truly one of those rare opportunities in local government
where everyone wins: residents, businesses, the Town and its employees,
and, ultimately, the taxpayers.”
According to Bob Carp, Galaxy’s president, “The Brookline Wi-Fi mesh
network, built on Strix Systems high performance multi-radio mesh
technology, is an excellent example how a single wireless infrastructure
can support both public safety and general public access in an area with
both high population density and an extremely dense tree canopy. Our
goal is to provide a network service with excellent performance and
excellent customer satisfaction, Accordingly, as we test and fine tune
the WiFi network, we encourage all users with any Wi-Fi device to
connect to ‘BrooklineWireless’ at no cost and go!”
During the free trial period, all town residents and visitors are
encouraged to access the wireless network to explore the robustness of
the Internet access, and the border to border mobility that will allow
them to use their notebook computers, PDA’s, and even the newest
IPhone’s Wi-Fi access abilities. The Wi-Fi network’s SSID is ‘BrooklineWireless’.
About Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts, is a 6.6 sq mi jewel of a suburb of 57,000
residents. Cheek to jowl with Boston, it has its own identity - a unique
mixture of busy streets and rolling countryside, upscale shops and
village pubs, gracious apartment buildings and large estates, and home
for legions of academic and scientific professionals, who work at the
nearby medical centers in Boston. Among its many unusual resources,
Brookline has its own working farm (with farm stand), the oldest country
club in the nation, a town golf course, the home in which John F.
Kennedy was born, a magnificent park on a hillside overlooking Boston
with a wonderful open air skating rink and marvelous transportation
museum, and numerous neighborhood parks and playgrounds scattered
throughout the Town. Its major retail centers, like Coolidge Corner and
Brookline Village, are bustling pedestrian-oriented shopping areas with
a variety of shops - antique stores, coffee shops, bookstores, fresh
fruit and vegetable markets, delicatessens and restaurants. Along with
offering both a city atmosphere and a feeling of being in the country,
there is a wonderful mix of people in Brookline: elderly, minorities,
immigrants from many lands, young families, and college students. With
its good schools (both public and private), good transportation (several
branches of the MBTA Green Line traverse the Town), and good government,
Brookline is a choice spot in which to reside or establish a business.
About Galaxy Internet Services, Inc.
Galaxy Internet Services Inc. is a Massachusetts based Internet service
provider which has been providing Internet and IT Solutions to the
public, private enterprise and government municipalities since 1995.
Galaxy’s mission is to enable wireless broadband access coupled with
intelligent internet services everywhere through innovative joint
partnerships with government municipalities and the private-sector.
Galaxy’s services include a wide range of Internet connectivity,
hosting, wide area networking and professional services. Galaxy operates
the border-to-border wireless service in Brookline, Massachusetts,
servicing public safety, municipal, commercial, and residential users .
Galaxy has also taken a prominent role in the Wi-Fi pilot projects
undertaken by the City of Boston. and the recently formed non-profit,
tasked with building a wireless network for the City. For more
information please visit www.gis.net ,
call 617-558-0900, or write to pr@gis.net
For more information, please contact:
Town of Brookline
Sean Cronin, Deputy Town Administrator
Tel: 617-730-2206
E-Mail:
sean_cronin@town.brookline.ma.us
Galaxy Internet Services Inc.
Bob Carp, President
Tel: 617-558-0900
E-Mail: bob@gis.net
http://www.brooklinewireless.com
July 18th, 2007 Wire Cutting
Pictures
Pictures courtesy of Parvaneh Kossari
Wire Cutting
The Wire is Cut!
Brookline CIO Kevin Stokes
Brookline CIO Kevin Stokes
Brookline Police Chief Daniel C. O'Leary
State Representative Frank Israel Smizik
Former Selectmen Michael Merrill
Selectmen Jesse Mermell
Deputy Town Administrator Sean Cronin, IT Officer
Scott Wilder, CIO Kevin Stokes
BROOKLINE Wi-Fi UPDATE
JUNE 17, 2007
Brookline’s Wireless initiative continues to make great progress and
deployment of the wireless network continues at a fast pace. While the
network installation, testing and performance enhancements continue,
Galaxy Internet Services invites use of the network for free and
encourages residents to try the service out.
For information on how to sign up, connect and enjoy your wireless
experience, please visit the Galaxy Internet sponsored WiFi information
website:
http://www.brooklinewireless.com
Please be on the look out for Wi-Fi day coming to Brookline this summer.
More information will be provided soon.
2/27/2007 WiFi Update at
Selectmen's Meeting
October 3, 2006
The Town of Brookline Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a License
with Galaxy Internet Services of Newton, Massachusetts to provide
Wireless Broadband Services throughout the Town. Referred to as WiFi,
Wireless Broadband is the only untethered access available which
currently offers the speed necessary to satisfy the mobile worker.
Under the terms of the license, Galaxy Internet will build and operate
an open network that will provide services to Municipal Government
Operations, Residents, Businesses and Visitors. The town will obtain
free access and services that will enhance Town services and vibrancy.
Town Municipal Operations will realize significant benefits and
budgetary savings via free accounts as par t of this agreement. Public
Safety personnel and field staff will leverage the WiFi network for
real-time access to existing applications. Moreover, future applications
will allow for more efficient operations of key infrastructure within
the Town.
As part of the agreement, Galaxy will provide free services to Community
Rooms in the 13 Brookline Housing Authority Community Rooms. Moreover,
key commercial and recreational areas within the Town will also have
free access.
Residents should benefit from increased competition and choice in
Internet access. WiFi will be an additional Broadband option; one that
provides flexibility and mobility. The WiFi network will be open
allowing for multiple Wireless Internet Service Providers to offer
services to residents and businesses while using a shared network.
Competition in offerings, service and pricing should provide a multitude
of options and a true best value for the subscriber.
For more information, please continue to check the Brookline Wireless
Broadband website:
http://www.townofbrooklinemass.com/boards/wireless.html
Contact Information:
Kevin Stokes
Chief Information Officer
Town of Brookline, Massachusetts
617.730.2313
kevin_stokes@town.brookline.ma.us
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