July 16, 2007 -- The Wireless Oakland Project Team and MichTel Communications would like to share the following status of the Wireless Oakland Phase 1 Project.  The initial Phase 1 installation is complete in each of the seven Phase 1 areas, which include portions of Troy, Birmingham, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Madison Heights, Pontiac, and Wixom.  Service is available and being taken advantage of in each of these areas.  To date, more than 7,000 users have signed up for the free service, and nearly 100 users have upgraded and are now using the for-fee services.  Over 3 million minutes of free internet have been consumed which demonstrates how important access to the internet truly is.  Marketing materials will be sent to the homes and businesses located in the Phase 1 service areas very soon. 

The network is currently being evaluated to assess the level of coverage and quality of service so gaps in the service area may be addressed by adding or adjusting the wireless access points that populate the Phase 1 communities.  Service area maps will be published on the MichTel Communications website, www.michtel.com, showing the current state of coverage within the Phase 1 communities by the end of July. 

The pilot evaluation is providing valuable engineering information that is being incorporated into the full county deployment schedule.  MichTel Communications has been exercising what they have learned from the Phase 1 build-out to ensure that the most accurate schedule possible is released within the next 60 days.

We appreciate your patience while the Wireless Oakland project unfolds.  To date, we have already installed one of the largest wireless broadband networks in the Country.  This effort has not been without challenges and the entire team has overcome many obstacles in our path.