HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Authorizing the Mayor to Submit a Letter of Support Regarding AraNet RESOLUTION NO. 19-626
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SUBMIT A LETTER OF SUPPORT
REGARDING ARANET ADVANCED WIRELESS RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND TO
ALLOW NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND
COOPERATE IN FINDING APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS FOR TRANSMISSION
EQUIPMENT ON ELECTRIC POLES, STREET LIGHTS,AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS,Iowa State University is preparing a proposal entitled"AraNet:Wireless Living
Lab for Smart and Connected Rural Communities"for submission to the National Platforms for the
Advanced Wireless Research(PAWR)program; and,
WHEREAS,the envisioned network will enable trustworthy,ultra-high reliability,and ultra-
low latency (TURL) wireless communication to provide transformative applications in various
domains such as agriculture, rural education, transportation, power grid, public safety, municipal
services, and manufacturing; and,
WHEREAS, Iowa State University submitted a similar proposal in 2018 and that proposal
was short-listed as one of the very few finalists,but ultimately was not selected for funding; and,
WHEREAS, the proposing team has been strongly encouraged to refine and resubmit its
proposal and research staff has consulted with the grant review team and have made a number of
updates to the proposal from last year; and,
WHEREAS, the updates include having a sharp focus on topics critical to the rural
communities (e.g., agriculture and rural education), refining the engineering and execution details
of the project, and refining the management plan and sustainability plan; and,
WHEREAS, the PAWR program is intended for University-City-industry proposals and
includes $100,000,000 to award between four projects; three having been funded and one more to
be funded in 2020, with a special focus on rural broadband; and,
WHEREAS, AraNet would provide a wireless network platform across Iowa State
University, Ames,Nevada, and other surrounding rural cities/communities and farms; and,
WHEREAS,AraNet is not intended as an internet service provider for individual customers,
but rather to provide a platform for a"living lab"for wireless research related to municipal services;
and,
WHEREAS, the proposal does not require any financial commitment from the City for the
development and deployment of the network;however,the City is being asked to allow the network
infrastructure in the right-of-way and cooperate in finding appropriate locations for transmission
equipment on electric poles, street lights, and traffic signals; and,
WHEREAS, the first five years of installation, development, deployment, operation, and
management would be entirely funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, and after
the five years,the City is being asked to provide representation on an AraNet Consortium controlling
board and on operational working groups; and,
WHEREAS,the City would also provide advice to the Consortium on developing strategies
for the long-term viability for the AraNet system, and a portion of the bandwidth of the network
would be dedicated to the City as a living lab for providing municipal services; and,
WHEREAS, the proposal submission is due by December 13, 2019, and a small group of
proposals will be selected by finalists by February 2020 with the winning projects will be announced
in the summer of 2020.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the Mayor is authorized to submit the letter of support for AraNet: "Wireless Living Lab for
Smart and Connected Rural Communities."
ADOPTED THIS 10'day of December, 2019.
Diane . Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Gartin
Seconded by: Betcher
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Martin,Nelson
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 10t1i day of December, 2019.