Ketchum's free wireless Internet connection got at least a two-week respite, while the city considers one last option before shutting down the system.
Last week, Ketchum Community and Economic Development Director Lisa Horowitz said that the Wi-Fi system would be shut down on April 21 due to a lack of funding.
The network was originally created through an undisclosed grant from Allen & Co. and launched in September 2007. Since then it's allowed laptop computer users in the downtown core to log onto the Internet, for free.
Horowitz said she planned on making a recommendation to the Ketchum City Council at a meeting on Tuesday that they pull the plug.
At that meeting, however, Matthew Wheeler, president of Network Operations Co. in Nampa, presented a possible means of keeping the system in operation.
Wheeler said that he had read a story on the city's Wi-Fi troubles in the Friday, April 3, edition of the Mountain Express and saw an opportunity to reduce the cost to Ketchum and possibly keep the system in operation.
Horowitz said that the city received a monthly $2,500 bill to keep the Wi-Fi system operating. Of that amount, $1,300 goes to equipment and $1,200 to technical support.
However, Wheeler told the council he could likely reduce the monthly operating expense by $1,000 and could possibly reduce the cost further through corporate sponsorship. He said this could possibly include local businesses that would rather use the city's system than installing their own.
Wheeler said that his company would conduct more research over the next two weeks, looking at the system's capacity and equipment, and would likely present a final proposal to city officials at the April 20 City Council meeting.
"This is really good to see because there has been a lot of volunteer time and effort put into the Wi-Fi," Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall said.
Horowitz said the grant funded operation through 2008 and that the city had been working since then to find another corporate sponsor.
Horowitz said wireless provider Syringa Networks allowed the system to remain in operation for the past three months to give the city time to find funding. She said she looked for possible solutions with local computer consultant Heidi Dohse, who volunteered time to help get the system running and remain operational.
Horowitz also sought help from the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau, as well as the Ketchum Community Development Corp., but neither had the money or staff to help.
Horowitz said Ketchum owes Syringa Networks about $6,000.
At the meeting, Ketchum resident Lee Chubb suggested that even if Wheeler's proposal is not successful, the city should look into maintaining at least minimal free wireless service in Town Plaza as an amenity for tourists.
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com
