Fiber, Technology

& Tempe, Arizona

By Councilmember Onnie Shekerjian

WiFi Effort – Tempe’s Commitment to Lead

• In 2005, Tempe became the first city in the nation to offer a border to border wireless network

• 400 antenna and radio boxes hooked to streetlights and buildings throughout the city

• It was capable of serving more than 65,000 households, 1,100 businesses and 50,000 students

• Kite Networks, the operator, went out of business, but Tempe continues to offer two hours of free WiFi in the downtown area and many businesses throughout the community offer free service as well

Heavy Tech Users:1 mile Creative Corridor in downtown Tempe alone includes nearly 20 of these companies:

• Public relations

• Advertising

• Marketing

• Web design

• SEO/mobile app firms

• Social media

Tempe Elementary School District 2010 Upgrade • 13,257 students

• 25 schools, 1 District Office

• Moved from 6 mbps copper network to a 1G fiber-optic Metro Ethernet network

• Up to 600 simultaneous users now – about 200 classrooms

• File sizes of 25 MB – can now send morning video announcements to all students

Colleges and Universities• More than 100,000 students are enrolled in Tempe colleges and universities such as:

• Maricopa County Community College District

• Southwest Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (states largest clinic located here)

• University of Advancing Technology

• ITT Tech

• Lampson College

• Rio Salado College

• and many more

Research University:•Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University = Five buildings planned for pure scientific research

•Several other colleges throughout the university have intensive research initiatives, including Ira A Fulton School of Engineering

•http://www.asuchallenges.com/provides details for hundreds of research projects

End Global Warming!School of Sustainability doing research to save the planet

Interplanetary Impacts:Mars rovers partially developed through ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Save a Life.Research spins from university to new products and new companies. Recover from strokes faster, thanks to technology.

Spin off companies abound in Tempe.

Manufacturing and ResearchMedtronic and other Tempe manufacturing firms rely on technology to develop, improve and produce products that save lives.

ASU Research Park• 320 acres adjacent to freeway

• 50 research companies

• ASU resources and access

• Space available for custom buildings

ASU Research Park Saves SoldiersCompanies within the ASU Research Park are working on products such as flexible display technology, which would allow bendable and wearable ‘monitors,’ solar energy products and the like.

Tech-Friendly Future:• Exploring incubator space opportunities

• Determining if cloud computing can work for our municipality to save taxpayer dollars

• Pilot program for using smart grid technology

• Energy audits to best use our resources

• Working with banks to provide microloans to small business

• Keeping Tempe’s fun, active, smart vibe alive – 150 annual events, hiking, boating, Broadway shows, Ignite and more

What We Want:• Border to border high speed fiber in our city – the capability is out there. We are close. We are working with Cox toward this effort.

• We want our students, residents, visitors and workforce members to have access to the fastest network in the country

• We want those people who are part of Tempe’s community to be able to change the world faster and easier.

• We want to see the USA’s global fiber to the building ranking move from 10th to at least past Estonia, Slovenia and Lithuania to keep America’s standing as an innovative, creative nation and to enhance our standing in the world economy.

• To lead is to innovate. Tempe leads.

Reach Tempe:Web: www.tempe.gov

Latest news: www.tempe.gov/newsroom

Contact Me Directly:

Councilmember Onnie Shekerjian

480-350-8819onnie_shekerjian@tempe.gov

Tempe Economic Development:

480 858-2059

Facebook: Facebook.com/cityoftempe

Twitter: @tempegov

Blog: blogwithonnie.blogspot.com

Video: http://www.youtube.com/Tempe11Video