City considering alternate internet network provider
City officials are mulling a decision that could boost the speed of internet and eventually data sharing for city purposes.
Although no decision has been made by the Fort Scott City Commission, commissioners heard Tuesday from Slayden Davis, director of information technology for the city, and Casey Russell, representing the Kansas Research and Education Network (KANREN), regarding a possible change in dedicated internet connectivity for the city to KANREN, a nonprofit company.
Davis said during the meeting he has researched the issue, as well as KANREN and Suddenlink for the city's internet needs. Davis said he feels the best move in the long run is to go with KANREN, which would move the city from its current DSL connection to a high-speed 20-megabit line.
The KANREN connection would be for city government purposes - and used at City Hall and Memorial Hall - and is not available to citizens at this time, officials said.
"And eventually long-term we can be getting to the fire station and other places that need it, city-wise," Davis said. "We want to send a message to other providers in the area we're serious about this stuff (fiber optics). We want it. Why is it not available?"
Davis said Thursday he has talked with Bourbon County Geographic Information Systems Director Shane Walker and "the county may be going the same route."
"There's nothing set in stone price-wise or terms," Davis said. "(KANREN) is about $1,200 per month ... it would make it easier for the county and city getting (information) to other departments and sharing data."
Davis told the commission that the cost difference between Suddenlink and KANREN is $800 per month for Suddenlink and $1,200 per month for KANREN. With Suddenlink, the city would receive a 10mb line and with KANREN, the city will receive a 20mb line without purchasing any additional equipment.
"Their (KANREN) support sold me," Davis said. "If a line goes down ... their business model is something that interested me a lot. They call you."
Even though the cost is somewhat higher, Davis said he feels the "cost will be worth it in the long run." He added that, if given the choice when considering purchasing a vehicle, he would "always choose the car with full-coverage warranty."
"You feel someone actually has your back. KANREN seems to be that way. We have DSL right now and it's very slow. A service that's slow hinders workflow and people being able to do their jobs efficiently. A faster speed makes it more efficient."
Russell told the commission KANREN was built in 1991 to create a statewide backbone network to extend internet access to all Kansas higher education institutions and "control bandwidth."
Membership in KANREN is open to any college, university, library or school district in the state. Other nonprofit organizations may join subject to approval by the company's executive committee.
KANREN began with the University of Kansas and Kansas State University and a couple of other universities. The company has built a base network of K-12 schools. The company also interfaces with several state government agencies, Russell said.
KANREN has 85 members in the state including the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, Johnson County, Johnson County Community College and Fort Scott Community College. Russell said the network is "directly connected to the state telecommunications agency."
"The data does not leave here (Kansas) with KANREN," Davis said, adding with the change, the city would move from a current 2.5 to 3 mbs to a "guaranteed 20 megs."
"KANREN is best to work with for what we're trying to reach," he said.
Russell said KANREN has proposals out to various cities and counties the company is looking to pick up in the coming year, including Bourbon County, and may submit proposals to area schools and other institutions.
"Currently, the data leaves and goes to other areas," Russell said. "This assures the data stays in Kansas."
On Tuesday, commissioners were also informed a new contract with Incode, the city's new software vendor, should be ready for them to review by their next meeting on Jan. 21. The new contract will result in a change of location in which the city's new software would be hosted on Incode's server at another location, rather than the city's local server. Davis researched this and said the hosted solution would be better, although if it doesn't work out, Davis said a backup plan would be to move it to the city's server.
"Incode and Tyler Technologies will host a server in a data center at another location," he said.
Davis and Director of Finance Jon Garrison said the plan is to have prices worked out and approved and data put together for a contract with Incode and KANREN that could be presented to the commission at their next meeting.
On a related note, Davis said a meeting for anyone with concerns about internet connectivity and the speed of internet in Fort Scott and Southeast Kansas area will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the Duboc Room of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus, 2108 S. Horton.
The purpose of the meeting is to determine the next steps needed in order to improve internet access in Fort Scott. Representatives from the city and Project 17, a regional organization, are scheduled to be available for the discussion.
Davis said city officials have found that funds are available to do studies that could help to resolve the internet issue and get "fiber and broadband here for private citizens and other businesses."
"We're hoping it doesn't turn into a complaint session," he said.