Cisco Puts Its Best Foot Forward, Shows Leadership

This event today was for me the first out of the shoot, and I was not disappointed. To the contrary, I was impressed! What makes this type of event especially interesting is the inclusion of Ciso Solution Partners, application providers whose products and services leverage Cisco's wireless infrastructure solution. To top it off, the host cities for these events are local cities whose leaders are actively considering or launching wireless network programs. This is a winning combination, and it went well indeed. With many more events like this, it's not hard to imagine the pace of municpal wireless deployments accelerate considerably!

Next week, there will be three more, all in a row: Monday, Nov 13 in Leander (a northwest Austin suburb), Tuesday, Nov 14 in San Marcos, and Wednesday, Nov 15 in Belton. These events are not only good for local staff and leadership, but also an opportunity for regional collaboration and discovery: for example, the invitation list for San Marcos, which I helped coordinate because San Marcos is my client, includes city government officials and staff in neighboring Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, New Braunfels, and Seguin, as well as Hays County officials and staff, and regional public school officials and staff. Who knows what good things may come from getting those folks together in one place to "imagine the possibilities?"

As mentioned above, these shows are not just about promoting Cisco wireless gear. Besides the Cisco staff demonstrating the Cisco wireless networking solution that ties everything together, a number of application providers (Cisco Solution Partners) are on hand to showcase their special hardware and software that works with the wireless network to enable lower costs, new levels of service and new ways of doing the old business of running a city. Including these partners and their solutions really leant relevance to the show, because this is where the benefits of networks accrue for city staff, and these applications are the best way for a city to make the business case to go forward with a wireless network project.

Here's a list of some of the different applications and specialty appliances that are being showcased at the road shows.

ACCELA provides enterprise software solutions, including asset management, mobile permitting, mobile inspections, and citizen access.

ARINC provides the ARINC Wireless Interoperable Network Solutions, known as "AWINS," which is a standards-based architecture that utilizes data networks to enable interoperability among disparate radios and other communication systems. This solution enables Cisco to tie together the disparate applications highlighted in this road show for an integrated and manageable solution for local government.

Azulstar Networks is a network operator that provides design and engineering services, as well as usability applications, such as billing and customer support systems. Azulstar combines WiFi (802.11 a/b/g) and WiMAX (802.16) for a comprehensive wireless network solution.

Blue Sky Mast provides portable masts for mounting wireless equipment. Such "elevating solutions" deliver speed, portability, versatility and dependability.

Cellnet provides automated meter reading solutions for electric, water, and gas utilities that rely on a fixed wireless network to bring the data back to the utility for a management solution.

Coban provides public safety digital video solutions in the vehicle.

e-Watch provides enterprise-class video security solutions that are operational on a wired or wireless network.

Naztec provides advanced traffic control hardware and software.

Parkeon provides digital parking meter solutions.

Spacenet provides customized broadband VSAT satellite networks to multi-location enterprises.

TracStar Systems, the leader in tracking innovations, provides two-way mobile broadband satellite solutions.

From what I saw today, I encourage all who read this to investigate these companies and understand better how they work together to make a comprehensive solution. I'll add any relevant documents I find to accompany this review.

This is a great opportunity for city government officials who have been curious about municipal wireless broadband, or have heard about it and wondered what all the fuss is about. But the event is helpful for all levels of experience - others have read about the trend for cities to take a more active role in leveraging wireless technologies or have even been to a conference or seminar to learn more. As stated above, some attendees may have direct experience with current engagement on a wireless project. Whatever the state of experience, attendees have a compelling opportunity to "try on" these new technologies and meet their counterparts from other cities in the local area, to compare notes and accelerate the learning process.

From the perspective of MetroNetIQ - we provide consulting for city and county governments, from early stage organizational awareness and business planning up to RFP design, vendor integration, and network deployment oversight - I found it fascinating to talk to city officials and see the similarities among different and disparate cities. The conversation today with City of Boerne staff, as well as staff from Kendall County (Boerne is the county seat), was very familiar, given my most recent experience with the folks in San Marcos.

These conversations so far reveal to me that it is likely quite common for city staff and elected officials to struggle to get over the hump and get a project started. Interested cities appear to share common issues of gaining focus and setting priorities, of generating awareness and building community consensus around a common vision, of overcoming political objections, and of simply managing the business basics of planning and execution.

So for me, with today's perspective of learning about the City of Boerne and its exciting prospects with these technologies in the near future, the process I went through with the City of San Marcos is looking more and more instructional. Today's experience shows me that it pays to move ahead deliberately and prudently when considering such an innovative approach to city government. It pays to build consensus and stakeholder buy-in. It pays to fully investigate the options before acting. And finally, it pays for a city to pony up a little money early on in order to move forward more quickly, with lower risks and better potential for long term success.

I'm looking forward to gathering more data points and additional perspective next week in Leander, San Marcos, and Belton, three very different communities. But three communities that, I suspect, may well have more in common than one would think initially, if today's experience holds true.