If city officials can connect, Ketchum may be linked to cyberspace via a new wireless network in the foreseeable future.
The Ketchum City Council Monday evening heard a presentation from Ketchum Community Development Corporation member Heidi Dohse of Creative Ideas Consulting and NetLogix President Scott Akrie, who informed the city that it may qualify to be a NetLogix "broad band realization laboratory."
What that would mean is that vendors could provide equipment and devices to build a "showcase" wireless network to offset costs of building infrastructure. The area's affluence and relatively high visibility make it an attractive option, Akrie said.
NetLogix is a consulting firm that focuses on wireless broadband and related technologies, but the city has other options as well.
According to Dohse, establishing a network would require an up-front cost of roughly $100,000, with about $5,000 per month of ongoing management and maintenance costs.
The network could be city owned and managed, or a private wireless network provider could be hired. Finally, another option would be for the city to build and own the infrastructure and outsource network management.
"I'm guessing we don't know what the value of the asset (the network) is for another 10 years or so," said Mayor Randy Hall. "There are probably 1,000 different models out there for us to figure out what would be best for Ketchum. It just has tremendous potential. We should at least get started with the project."
Residents at the meeting were highly supportive. If Ketchum is to be a world-class resort, it must provide world-class amenities, they said.
"It seems like a fabulous opportunity and one where I hope the city will pursue the next steps," said Sun Valley Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Carol Waller.
Dave Chase, a member of the Ketchum Community Development Corporation, said the opportunity for the city to serve as a technology test laboratory is a unique one "where the vendors will dance a lot in order to get the opportunity to play."
The meeting was informational in nature, but city officials appeared anxious to move forward.
"This is just to get the idea out and to get some feedback," Hall said, "to take our temperature, to see if we want to go to the next step because I certainly hope that we are."
