City of Concord
Signal for All
The City of Concord seeks to improve access to connectivity in their community as part of the 2021 Georgia Smart Communities Challenge!
“We have found that working together small cities and counties can provide solutions that will serve more people at a lower cost.”
– John Strickland, Mayor of Concord
In March of 2021, the City of Concord became a public Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) to serve community members without access to reliable broadband internet. This model has been effective in providing connectivity to areas that were previously unserved by major internet providers. Key stakeholders in the area hope to continue the momentum by expanding the number of residents the network serves. Concord looks to provide service to all 300 + community residents, as well as improve upon the current model’s reliability, speeds, and reach.
City representatives and Georgia Tech researchers Ada Gavrilovska and Ellen Zegura will work together over the duration of the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge two-year program to advance connectivity in the city through planning, testing, and evaluation. They look to overcome challenges to wireless networks including terrain, foliage, placement, and adoption, among other factors. Researchers will also assist Concord in exploring applications of connectivity such as having water sensors available in public facilities. Research efforts will be coordinated with surrounding communities including Pike County, where Concord is located, as well as the surrounding communities of the City of Woodbury and Spalding County.
