Pontiac, Michigan, January 4, 2007 -- The Wireless Oakland Project Team and MichTel Communications, LLC are excited to announce that installation of wireless internet service will start in the seven Phase One communities in January 2007.  Installation will begin in Troy on January 18, 2007 and conclude with the completion of the Phase One communities in April 2007.  With the completion of these seven Phase One communities, free wireless internet service will be available to over 75,000 residents in the County.

"MichTel Communications and their partners have done a tremendous job making Wireless Oakland a reality," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said.  "We are confident this first phase of the project will be a success and Oakland County looks forward to being the largest wireless hotspot in the nation."

MichTel Communications, LLC also has attracted several new partners to the Wireless Oakland team.  The current team includes Cisco, RF Connect, Dykema, UHY Advisors, SMZ Advertising, Inc., and Johnson & Anderson, Inc.  This world class team has been expanded to also include Johnson Controls, XTnrgy, LECOM, Huntington Bank, and Cox, Hodgman, & Giarmarco, PC.

The County's private-sector partner will fund, own, operate and maintain the wireless network.  Free internet service will be offered at a lower bandwidth and the private sector partner will charge fees for additional services.

"MichTel looks forward to offering wireless internet service in the Phase One communities and throughout Oakland County.  Under the leadership of L. Brooks Patterson, Wireless Oakland will change the way people view southeast Michigan and further establish Oakland County as a great place to live, work and play," said Tony Yangouyian, MichTel Communications CFO.

Wireless Oakland is an initiative launched by County Executive L. Brooks Patterson that consists of three goals.  The first goal is to blanket the County's 910 square miles with free wireless internet service.  The second goal will directly address the County's "digital-divide" and provide low-cost or no-cost PC's and technology training to underserved population groups.  Finally, the third goal will develop a Telecommunication and Technology Planning Toolkit that will support continued high-tech investments in local government and promote the integration of those investments with local community character and quality of life.

Additional information about the Wireless Oakland initiative can be found at www.wirelessoakland.org.  For further information about the Press Release please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer at (248) 858-1048.  To view the presentation used during this press conference, click here.