FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2003
CONTACT: Kay Hendricks, ACCD Coordinator of Communication
210.208.8006

ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT LAUNCHES WIRELESS INTERNET BUSINESS PARK IN DOWNTOWN S.A.

The Alamo Community College District (ACCD) launched the first wireless Internet business park in downtown San Antonio today at Market Square. The project, funded by a $250,000 grant from the state Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board, provides free wireless Internet access for the general public and businesses in the area.

"We are excited to be the first to offer this cutting-edge technology in San Antonio," said ACCD Interim Chancellor Dr. J. Parker Chesson, Jr. "This project is an excellent example of how the latest wireless technologies can be used to benefit small businesses and the general public in our community," he added.

To bring the project into being, ACCD, working with the city of San Antonio, installed a fiber optic cable connection between the ACCD data center and the Farmer's Market and Market Square buildings. This connection provides optimal high speed access from the Market Square area and the ACCD small business incubator resources and the Internet. The network uses industry standard 802.11b wireless technology to provide wireless network and Internet access to wireless-equipped laptop computers and handheld data devices.

Seven Cisco AP-1200 wireless access points were installed in the Market Square area. These access points use active Ethernet connections to carry the data signal and the power over the same standard cable. Two access points each in the Market Square and Farmer's Market buildings provide excellent wireless coverage throughout the interior of these busy areas. Three access points were installed along the main Market Square outdoor mall area. These access points provide wireless Internet access in the outdoor areas, as well as in the interior of the La Margarita and Mi Tierra restaurants and other Market Square businesses. To make sure their communications are secure, network users may employ a Virtual Private Network software client.

The wireless Internet business park is an extension of the ACCD's E-Force digital workforce training program for small businesses. The E-Force consortium of 600 Bexar County small businesses is one of the community partners in the wireless Internet business park project. Other partners are the city and county, Fiestas Market Square, Inc. and the UTSA Minority Business Development Center.