Philadelphia Wi-Fi Moves Closer

PHILADELPHIA WI-FI MOVES CLOSER
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Philadelphia's wireless Internet initiative cleared a critical hurdle on Wednesday, putting the city on track to become the first major metropolitan area with municipal broadband. But full deployment could be delayed a few months until the third quarter of 2007. The project got the green light from the city's technology and information services and public property and public works committees and is now headed for a vote before City Council. The Council is expected to approve the Wi-Fi initiative as early as next week. Under a 10-year contract, EarthLink Inc. will build, operate and maintain a wireless Internet network over Philadelphia's 135 square miles. Full deployment was initially expected next spring, but the project spent two months in committee, which wrangled over issues such as the participation of women and minority businesses. The committees added amendments that gave City Council members more oversight over Wireless Philadelphia, a nonprofit chartered by the city to oversee the Wi-Fi project. Wireless Philadelphia entered into a contract with Atlanta-based EarthLink to provide the high-speed Internet service. Changes include appointing a diversity oversight committee that would make sure Motorola Inc., which EarthLink hired to build the network, will give at least one-fourth of the business to women, minority and disabled business owners. Wireless Philadelphia also has to meet regularly with an advisory group that will be made up of members appointed by the City Council, the mayor and other officials.
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