DATE: November 14, 2006
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Providing Public Access Wireless Internet for San Diego County Customers
SUMMARY:
Overview
New and improved wireless communication technologies have brought the vision of anytime, anywhere access to information into reality. Laptop computers, Blackberries and other personal digital assistants, as well as new mobile phone technologies are now taking advantage of wireless infrastructure. Both County employees and the public they serve are faced with an ever-growing need to access information on the go.
As one of the first public agencies to partner with a private information technology company to provide information technology services to the public, the County of San Diego has leveraged its investment in new and innovative technology that improves customer service and increases productivity. Today’s recommendations direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to determine at which County facilities employees, residents and customers of the County would benefit from wireless Internet access and explore the feasibility of providing access at those locations.
Recommendations:
SUPERVISOR PAM SLATER-PRICE AND SUPERVISOR GREG COX:
- Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to determine at which County facilities, residents and customers of the County would benefit from wireless Internet access and explore the feasibility of providing access at those locations.
- Direct the CAO to explore funding options to provide wireless Internet access without any cost to public users.
- Direct the CAO to report back to the Board of Supervisors within 120 days with recommendations as to which County facilities would best serve as locations for wireless Internet access and how to implement and fund wireless Internet access at those locations.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s recommendations.
Background:
New and improved wireless communication technologies have brought the vision of anytime, anywhere access to information into reality. Laptop computers, Blackberries and other personal digital assistants, as well as new mobile phone technologies, are now taking advantage of wireless infrastructure. These types of devices use a WiFi, short for wireless fidelity, connection to the Internet. WiFi has become a popular alternative to a wired local access network. Many airports, hotels, businesses and governments have established “hot spots” that offer public access to the Internet WiFi.
This Board of Supervisors takes great pride in knowing San Diego County has been at the forefront of government technology best practices. As one of the first public agencies to partner with a private information technology company for information technology services, the County of San Diego has leveraged its investment in new and innovative technology while also improving customer service and increasing productivity.
Last year, nurses at the County's public health center in Escondido said goodbye to faxes, phone calls, searching through stacks of papers and driving back to the office to gather information and file reports. Now wireless Internet provides access to everything they need, from referrals to billing information, using electronic tablets, smaller than most laptop computers. The end result is an increased case load, while not increasing the number of hours. Inventive usage of technology, like electronic tablets for nurses in the field, are just one way that San Diego County has committed itself to using information technology as a tool to improve operational efficiency, decision making, and service to our customers.
Both County employees and the public they serve are faced with an ever-growing need to access information on the go. It is estimated that there will be 105 million mobile workers in the United States by the end of 2006. Business professionals working in the field with wireless notebooks can save an average of 14 hours a week by not having to collect and submit information at the office. Each day, hundreds of customers wait at County facilities for meetings or for their turn in line to conduct official business. Enabling County customers to connect to their e-mail, conduct research, provide county staff with valuable information, and execute their business related transactions, while waiting to conduct county business would cut down on the need for return trips and additional meetings, which in the end saves time for County staff.
Wireless internet hotspots are not something new to the County. Currently, some of the County’s libraries are providing Wi-Fi Internet access to customers. Today’s recommendations direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to determine in which county departments residents and customers would benefit from wireless internet access to explore the feasibility of providing access at those locations. We are also directing the CAO to explore funding options to provide wireless internet access without any cost to public users and return to the Board of Supervisors within 120 days with recommendations as to which County facilities would best serve as locations for wireless Internet access and how to implement and fund wireless Internet access at those locations.
Providing wireless Internet access in our public spaces will add to the vitality of our technology savvy community. By supporting today’s recommendations we will be taking the first step in transforming some of our County facilities into an “electronic town square” that will benefit residents, visitors, businesses, and public servants alike. Support for today’s recommendations will reaffirm our commitment to the public’s convenient and efficient access to County information and services.
We urge your support.
Respectfully submitted,
PAM SLATER-PRICE
Supervisor, Third District
GREG COX
Supervisor, First District