Update: Full story here.

The city council is looking at potential contracts with companies that would provide wireless Internet access around Lancaster. Two companies have approached the city council with proposals for adding some kind of wireless capability in Lancaster, and now the city council is asking for formal proposals. I’ll have a more complete story ready tomorrow, but here are some basic points from the two companies who made the initial proposals:

Kudu Systems:

• Would provide a free low-end wireless Internet connection on the square and nearby streets
• Would provide a charge-based high-end wireless Internet connection in the same places
• When people join the network, they would pass through an authentication page with ads and city news
• Cost to city: possibly about $25 a year in electricity to power the repeaters that create the wireless network’s range

WiMax:

• Would provide a pay-for-service Internet access service in the Lancaster area
• Would provide free Internet access to city offices
• Would need to locate wireless equipment on top of the water tower near the square
• Would need access to the water tower for maintenance of equipment

These proposals aren’t necessarily what the companies will put forward again in their formal proposals, but I would expect them to look similar. More in tomorrow’s paper.