Algonquin eyes ways to become a hot spot

Algonquin moved a step closer Tuesday to getting wired in the world of high-speed Internet access, allowing residents to download movies and update their MySpace profiles.

Crystal Lake-based Heartland Communications will likely conduct a three-month study on the feasibility of providing Algonquin residents, schools and businesses with Wi-Fi technology, pending a board vote.

Through the research, the company, which already provides service to Crystal Lake, would determine competitive pricing plans and find additional places for its antennas.

Heartland has already identified 34 municipal sites for its antennas in Algonquin, but those won't be enough to cover the whole town, said Greg Parro, a municipal sales representative for the company.

As part of its study, Heartland would do further investigation to find other antenna sites.

Right now, the antennas would stand tall atop municipal buildings, tornado sirens and water towers, Parro said.

The company could turn to the school district and other agencies for additional space, and businesses and homes would be asked only as a "last resort," Parro explained.

"In the extreme condition … we might go into a neighborhood and say, 'Mr. Resident, we'd like to trade you free Internet service for us putting it on your home,' " Parro said.

But Trustee Jerry Glogowski said any talk of antennas atop people's homes was a throwback to the 1950s and 60s, when television antennas sprouted up in neighborhoods.

"I don't like the idea of seeing those things on rooftops," he said.

The village had previously considered two proposals for high-speed wireless access. Under the first, everyone would have to pay for access to the network.

Two levels existed on the second proposal: a free level that included advertising and a paid level without it. But this second proposal has been scrapped, as officials have found that ads wouldn't be enough to sustain such a system, assistant village manager Jenna Kollings said.