City Wi-Fi: Fast, Cheap, and No You Can't Have It

[Commentary] City-owned networks have been gaining popularity nationwide as a way to bridge the digital divide between rich and poor, foster competition with cable companies, and provide high-speed internet in underserved areas. But there's one big obstacle to all of this: the telecom industry and its friends in Congress.

Some Republicans have branded municipal broadband as a form of socialism, because it uses public funds to compete with the private sector. They also say that local governments aren't tech-savvy enough to build and maintain their own networks. Like many cities, San Francisco (CA) already has a robust fiber network in place to serve government offices. Rob Vinson, San Francisco’s Chief Marketing Officer, believes that the $1.7 million that the city has spent to outfit its network with public Wi-Fi (not including a $600,000 grant from Google) is totally worth it. "There's absolutely no downside being able to provide access to the Internet, whether you are parking your car or waiting for a MUNI bus," he says. "It's one of those fundamental things. We fill potholes, we clean the streets, and yes, now we provide Wi-Fi. And our citizens expect that."