City OKs WiFi pact with Journal

Kankakee City Council members unanimously approved a cooperative agreement with The Daily Journal Monday evening that will bring wireless fidelity access downtown and eventually throughout the city.

Because of laws restricting municipalities from creating and profiting from WiFi networks, Kankakee and The Daily Journal started a new business, WiFi Kankakee LLC. The limited partnership will pay federal and state taxes.

Though initial estimates put start-up costs at $20,000, the deal approved Monday night put those costs at $14,500, which will be split between the partners.

Under the agreement, WiFi Kankakee will pay The Daily Journal $800 per month to provide a help desk, network support and to cover the electrical costs stemming from powering the system's server and an antenna. The business will pay the city $100 per year for equipment access. WiFi Kankakee has exclusive rights to place equipment on city streetlight poles, traffic signal supports and city-owned buildings.

In addition, the city agrees to promote the value and use of the community wireless system, including placing messages on city entry-point signs, on city publications and Web sites.

Any expansion of the system must first be agreed upon by both partners.

Businesses are being sought to sponsor the service, which would hasten the rate of expansion, said Pete Schiel, assistant superintendent of operations for the Kankakee Municipal Utility.

As required in the agreement, The Daily Journal will report weekly to the city on the usage of the system.

~ The Daily Journal staff report