Do I have to make an exclusive commitment to telecom provider?

This column is part of a weekly question and answer series on telecommunications services designed to help real estate professionals compete for and retain tenants.

Today it is not just Silicon Alley tenants who want high-speed connectivity. Companies in every industry increasingly demand buildings with high-speed access to the Internet and advanced telecommunications capabilities. It has become critical for building owners to understand the part they can play in providing state-of-the-art communications services for their tenants.

Do I have to make an exclusive commitment to one telecom provider? What if my tenants want a different one?

Providers should not require you to make an exclusive commitment when upgrading your building's telecommunications capabilities. You should read every agreement carefully to be sure you are not asked to make such a commitment. By working with more than one provider, you can offer your tenants the opportunity to chose the telecom carrier(S) that best suit their needs.

What are fixed wireless services?

Fixed wireless services send voice and data communications signals between rooftop antennas, rather than using underground fiber optic cabling. Since the antennas can be installed more quickly than cabling, fixed wireless carriers can rapidly provide advanced communication services to buildings not served by fiber. For buildings with fiber service, fixed wireless can provide disaster protection and alternative signal routing for tenants with critical communications service needs.

Are there any health or environmental concerns associated with fixed wireless technology?

No. Fixed wireless technology transmits extremely low rf (radio frequency) signals between buildings. Once in the building, the signal is converted and travels over ordinary telephone wires, or alternatively, in building cablings, making it as safe as using your telephone. There is no danger to the building or the people who work there.

Term of the Week:

ATM: Not Automated Teller Machine, but Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a communications industry term. This is a technique that allows many streams of data to share an extremely high-speed communication line. Each data stream is broken into little packets that can be efficiently packed onto the line with other data. An ATM switch can handle data, graphics, voice and video at the same time, at line speeds from 45 million bits per second to 600 million bits per second.

Rick Uhl is President and COO of Winstar for Buildings. He welcomes questions for future columns (mail to: [e-mail] or call the New York Regional Office at 212-584-3372).