San Francisco Free Wi-Fi Plan Fails

Reader r writes with news from San Francisco that Earthlink has backed out of contract negotiations to blanket the city with free Wi-Fi, citing money problems. Seems like only yesterday that Chicago's Wi-Fi deal fell apart for much the same reason. Quoting: "The contract, which was three years in the making, had run into snags with the Board of Supervisors, but ultimately it was undone when Atlanta-based EarthLink announced Tuesday that it no longer believed providing citywide Wi-Fi was economically viable for the company... EarthLink spokesman Jerry Grasso said that EarthLink was willing to work with San Francisco but had decided that it 'was not willing to work in the business model where EarthLink fronts all the money to build, own and operate the network.'"

Comments

Wifi monopolies

[Colin Smith]

Really, why are authorities even promising monopoly wifi to companies anyway?

Re:Wifi monopolies

[Arthur B.]

And it's within their right not to fund the local government internet access through taxes. It's illegal though. So you can
- pay the local governement for internet access and use it, or
- pay the local government for internet access and not use it
Whao, that *is* choice!

Yesterday...

[AKAImBatman]

Seems like only yesterday that Chicago's Wi-Fi deal fell apart for much the same reason.

Because it was?

Ok, so it was reported yesterday, but it happened close enough to be reasonable called "yesterday". :-P

Minneapolis is almost done

[gone.fishing]

The city of Minneapolis, MN is going wireless and in some areas is already providing service. The estimated completion date is December 2007. The charge is pretty reasonable too, only $20 or $30 per month depending on access speed.

More info here: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/wirelessminneapoli s/

Many squad cars and firetrucks are already using the wireless technology and a number of cameras are used for survelence in high-crime areas. Since I drive through one of these areas every day, I can tell you the cameras have already made a real difference!

There is hope that with this kind of access, that the city will become a more livable place and that some lower income people will be able to use these services to better themseleves. While I hope that this is true, I'll also take it with a grain of salt and say that I will believe it when I see it.

This service was used for several days after the bridge disaster with very good results. Talk about trial by fire!

Perhaps this opens the door for MetroFi

[jockm]

Here in Portland, OR MetroFi and the city collaborated to provide a similar service. They haven't quite gotten all of the city done, but the core is covered (and is damned spiffy). Perhaps this opens the door for MetroFi, some other service, or maybe google alone to pick up the ball