Press Release

Wireless Oakland Attracts Major Interest

Pontiac, MI, May 24, 2005 -- Oakland County has received 45 responses from potential vendors eager to become part of the Wireless Oakland project. The companies have responded to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by submitting intent to respond and nondisclosure forms. The next step in the process is a pre-bid meeting and afterwards interested companies will have until June 8^th to request clarifications on the RFQ.

The number of companies responding to the RFQ was much higher than expected, said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson who announced the project in his February State of the County address. I think the level of interest shown bodes well for the ultimate success of this project.

Vendors will have until June 27^th to respond to the RFQ. Public and private partners will be selected by August to begin the process of blanketing Oakland County with wireless service. Patterson hopes to have a demonstration project up and running by September along with several pilots before the end of the year. He also stresses that Oakland County will not own, operate or build Wireless Oakland. He says that will be left to the partners selected for the project.

For further information please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer at 248-858-1048.