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Google/Earthlink Wins San Francisco WiFi Deal

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the googlelink dept.

maximander wrote to mention coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle of that city's final decision on their city-wide WiFi system. They've chosen to go with Google and EarthLink. From the article: "In choosing to negotiate with the Google-EarthLink team, the city is going with two Internet giants with marque names. Both firms have deep pockets and proven track records online, but only limited experience building a large wireless network. The project, championed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, is intended to boost the city's technology credentials and help bridge the digital divide between the Internet haves and have-nots. It has also generated intense interest from other cities looking to build similar networks. "

1 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Free speech, freedom of religion, and... by dada21 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I agree, but with some thoughts.

    I'm anarcho-capitalist, so I firmly believe that no government is the best form of government that can exist. That being said, I am more against Federal and State governments taking charge for providing services for people, since it is much harder to vote with my feet and exit the bad services (and their costs).

    Yet I also believe that individuals do have a right to select a government within small groups. San Fran is a large city, but I wouldn't live there myself. I think that if the citizens of a town really want to finance this boondoggle (it isn't being provided freely by Earthlink and Google right?), let them do it.

    I wouldn't live in a town with free WiFi. I live in a TINY village 1 hour from Milwaukee and Chicago each. We have 3 cheap WiFi providers in the area (very cheap), we have DSL and we have Cable, and now we have 2 more wired providers who are testing the waters. I see no reason to give free access on the taxpayer's backs.

    I do share my WiFi access point with my neighbors (only one would be considered "not middle class.") as long as they give me their MAC address to filter in. I see no reason why San Fran should be any different -- if you want the poor to have access, pay for your own access and give them access to your router or AP.