Municipal Networks

Philly won't fight to save Wi-Fi network

The city of Philadelphia is moving on after its brief municipal Wi-Fi relationship with EarthLink, no longer trying to find a way to keep the network up and running. The city government isn't talking to EarthLink or doing anything else to save the network, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter said Wednesday.

Vint Cerf supports municipal broadband networkS, Network Neutrality

Municipal broadband networks could help boost the availability of high-speed Internet access and even help to ensure Net neutrality in the U.S., said Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist at Google.

EarthLink closing Philadelphia Wi-Fi network

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/05/13/earthlink_...

EarthLink vs. City of Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s Wi-Fi project is in jeopardy. Over the past year, Wi-Fi builder EarthLink has exited a number of municipal Wi-Fi projects claiming they were unprofitable. Now, it appears that the company is preparing to exit its most ambitious municipal Wi-Fi project: Philly.

International Summit for Community Wireless Networks

International Summit for Community Wireless Networks
Global Integration, Local Control

May 28 - 30, 2008

American Association for the Advancement of Science
1200 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC

The New America Foundation's Wireless Future Program is pleased to announce that the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks (IS4CWN) will be held on May 28th - May 30th, 2008 in Washington, DC.

EarthLink To Shut Down New Orleans' Municipal Wi-Fi

New Orleans is about to lose its municipal Wi-Fi network as EarthLink plans to halt its participation in the citywide project on May 18, an EarthLink spokesman said Friday. The Internet service provider had tried a three-pronged approach before it decided to terminate the network, said Chris Marshall, EarthLink's VP of corporate communications.

Eshoo Introduces Free Wireless Broadband Legislation

Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep. Christopher Cannon (R-UT) introduced the Wireless Internet Nationwide for Families Act (WIN) which, if enacted, would foster the deployment of a new nation-wide wireless broadband network.

More cities offer WiFi connection on buses

Commuter buses in more than 20 cities now offer wireless Internet, according to an informal survey by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Wireless service is also on some commuter trains.

Broadening Broadband

The big problem in providing Internet service to rural America is often called “the last mile” -- the difficulty in reaching the smallest communities and farthest-flung houses and farms. Broadband service is no longer a luxury. It has become a basic part of the infrastructure of education and democracy. EarthLink should fulfill the commitments it made. Even in these tough economic times, cities should keep pushing municipal Wi-Fi and looking for partners and plans that can make it a reality.

Public ownership of broadband access is best

Many citywide wireless networks are privately owned, depending on city government as an anchor tenant. The network requires city money without offering the city any control. Under such circumstances, owning beats renting.