SF Board delays vote on free Wi-Fi

SF BOARD DELAYS VOTE ON FREE WI-FI
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Heather Knight]
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors opted Tuesday to delay a key vote on free, citywide Internet access -- signaling what could be a long, drawn-out battle over the issue to come. Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed a free Wi-Fi system two years ago, and his administration last month revealed the outlines of a proposed contract between the city and EarthLink and Google. According to the contract, EarthLink would pay the city $2 million over four years for the right to build, own and maintain the network. Google would provide free Internet access, while EarthLink would offer a faster service that could be accessed for a $22 monthly fee. The terms of the deal haven't sat well with some members of the Board of Supervisors who say it's not good enough for the city. Board Budget Analyst Harvey Rose has said the city could run its own Wi-Fi system or contract with a nonprofit Internet provider -- but left the merits of such a decision to the supervisors.
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