On Tuesday, April 7, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved a contract with 0Wire Communications “for the installation and operation of free Wi-Fi service for the county and associated entities at the CSU extension office and county fairgrounds, as well as free public Wi-Fi access at those locations,” the meeting agenda states.
The item was approved as part of the meeting’s consent agenda.
During a work session held earlier that day, Information Technology Coordinator Gabe Cersonsky and Fair Coordinator Tonya Steadmon briefed the BoCC on the contract.
Cersonsky explained that 0Wire “is a company from New York that wants to come here and put in some hardware and infrastructure on the county property.”
According to the land use management agreement included with the meeting’s agenda, 0Wire will not pay the county any monthly rental fee for using its space.
The agreement also explains that advertising revenue generated from digital displays and related advertising assets installed by 0Wire at the county’s properties will be split, with 70 percent going to 0Wire and 30 percent going to the county.
“Any money they take in for advertisement, they take 70 percent and we take 30 percent. So, it will actually bring in income,” Cersonsky said.
He explained that it will allow the county to put out free advertising at the county fairgrounds for its own events.
Cersonsky also explained that secondary public Wi-Fi will be available at the fairgrounds, along with improved security lighting being installed.
Steadmon then mentioned 0Wire’s infrastructure will benefit the area as a whole going east on U.S. 160 and south down U.S. 84, “which will solve a lot of the issues that we have on the grounds when we have events.”
Commissioner John Ranson asked if the infrastructure will improve cell-phone coverage in the area, to which Steadmon indicated that it will.
In response to a question from Commissioner Warren Brown, Cersonsky explained that this is not an exclusive contract and that if another provider approaches the county wanting to install its own equipment, they would be able to do so.
Cersonsky explained that 0Wire only has full rights to access their own hardware, adding, “Otherwise, we have full control.”
Also included with the meeting’s agenda is a master services agreement, equipment access agreement, a smart cities addendum and a location map.
According to the smart city addendum, 0Wire “shall provide certain Smart City services,” which may include: security cameras for public safety, cameras for traffic control and other forms of advanced monitoring, intelligent parking meters, environmental sensors for applications, digital signage and public Wi-Fi services.
According to the equipment access agreement, 0Wire will provide the following services to the county at no cost: free public Wi-Fi to the county fairgrounds, security camera services for the fairgrounds and Colorado State University (or CSU) Extension office, lighting services for the fairgrounds, and advertising services permitting the county and the Western Heritage Event Center to advertise their own events at no cost.
According to the master services agreement, the initial term for services will be for a period of 12 months, followed by an automatic 12-month renewal unless either party notifies the other 30 days prior to the expiration of the current agreement term.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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