COMMITTEE OF WHOLE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	James Allen, Chief Information Officer
	PREPARED BY:	Sugun Rao, Technology Manager. Information Technology Services Department
	DATE OF MEETING:	2005-October-11
	SUBJECT:	Follow Up: Wireless Network Strategy.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated October 11, 2005 entitled “Follow Up: Wireless Network Strategy” be received;

AND THAT there is no additional cost to the Town in providing Free Public Access Hot Spots in the Centennial, Markham Village, Milliken Mills and Thornhill Community Centres/Libraries.

PURPOSE

On October 3, 2005 a report on Wireless Network Strategy was received by the General Committee. It was requested that staff provide a report on the cost for setting up additional Public Access Hot Spots in the Centennial, Markham Village, Milliken Mills and Thornhill Community Centres/Libraries.

BACKGROUND

The required Infrastructure and Technology to provide free public access hot- spots in these communities are already in place. This includes:

• Managed Switches - These devices are used to setup Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). VLAN is a mechanism for separating network traffic to multiple logical groups. A resource in one VLAN will not see the equipment in the other VLAN. This device will allow us to segment the network for staff with access to sensitive information into separate VLAN from the one accessed by the public.
• Backbone Router – This device manages the bandwidth allocation based on the VLAN. This will limit the bandwidth availability for the public and give priority to the Town staff

The Town currently offers free public access hot spots in the Great Hall area of the Civic centre and the Angus Glen Library and Community Centre.

Under the 2005 Wireless Network Implementation project, Town staff at other remote sites will have access to wireless network.

In addition, the Voice and Data communication Integration project for 2006 will increase existing bandwidth to Centennial, Markham Village, Milliken Mills and Thornhill Community Centres/Libraries.

COST

On completion of the above two projects the Town will be able to offer additional free public access hot spots at Centennial, Markham Village, Milliken Mills and Thornhill Community Centres/Libraries just by enabling VLAN’s on the existing technology and devices, and at no additional cost.

James Allen Chief Information Officer

Andy Taylor Commissioner of Corporate Services