DRC Forum » General Discussion » Absolute Random Insanity » Philadelphia Plans First U.S. Citywide Wi-Fi Network » Page 1 of 1

[Anonymous]

The city of Philadelphia will become the largest U.S. Internet "hot spot" next year under a plan to offer wireless access at about half the cost charged by commercial operators, city officials said on Thursday.

Last year, officials unveiled a pilot scheme offering users of Wi-Fi-enabled computers access to the Internet within a radius of about a mile of downtown's Love Park. Thursday's announcement expands the network to the city's entire 135-square-mile area, marking a U.S. first.

The "Wireless Philadelphia" network is expected to be up by late summer 2006 and available to computer users paying up to $20 a month. Commercial Wi-Fi services run about $40 monthly. "People are watching all over the world to determine whether a city of 135 square miles can become one big hot spot," Philadelphia Mayor John Street told reporters. "People want to be connected and we think it is our obligation to provide that kind of access," Street said.

The city hopes the plan will get 80 percent of Philadelphia households connected to the Internet within five years, up from the current level of 58 percent. City officials estimate it will create 3,000 jobs, mostly by creating the type of city attractive to tech-savvy people who want to be connected to the Internet at all times. The plan is opposed by some city lawmakers who say the network will cost more to build than estimated and that the work should be given to telecom companies such as Verizon Communications or Comcast Corp.

Source: Yahoo! News

[Sponsored Ad]

[Elusive]

nice, now oldie can game anywhere

[HAL9000]

_________________
46 and 2

[OLDie]

Yep! However, don't know how many of you follow out of state politics - Mayor Street is as crooked as they come. He is under Federal investigation and he and his brother have committed many many "cash flow" problems for this city. The city is a wreck and he has other political aspirations and my bet is that he sees this as a way to get a lift up in the higher political arena.

It will fail! Just like the Motorolla 2 way devices used in the Philly Police force. It is regularly down and they have has major communication problems thanks to this failure...

So with any luck the city will survive his tenure and move on. If he is successful with the WEP I would truly be amazed and then wonder how much he put in his pockets???!!

This political soap box was written and approved by the OLDie for Mayor campaign!
_________________
The Harder You Work The Luckier You Get!