Comments on: Philadelphia reveals Wi-Fi plan

After a contentious fight with Verizon, Philadelphia releases a report outlining its ambitions for citywide wireless Internet access.

[thetoadstool]

Who going to pay for it?

The city it running the biggest deficits ever, they're closing fire
houses, libraries, puplic pools and museums.... but there's money
for free internet for its low income residents?

What a mayor!

[nealda]

RTFA

You said:
"...but there's money
for free internet for
its low income residents?"

From the article:
"The city will build out the
infrastructure and then sell
wholesale access to Internet
service providers,
telecommunications companies
and nonprofit organizations.
ISPs and other providers will
handle all billing, marketing,
customer service and the
at-home equipment needed to
pick up the signals.

Philadelphia will become a
customer of the network by
allowing city departments to
buy broadband access to
communicate with one another."

Later in the article it says:
"Rather, the operation will not
be for profit and will sell access
in bulk at low rates to providers,
including Verizon. In the end,
residential consumers could get
1mbps of download and upload speeds
at prices ranging from $16 to $20 a month."

Free? Apparently this is some definition of the word "free" of which I was previously unaware.

[thetoadstool]

Who going to pay for it?

The city it running the biggest deficits ever, they're closing fire
houses, libraries, puplic pools and museums.... but there's money
for free internet for its low income residents?

What a mayor!

[nealda]

RTFA

You said:
"...but there's money
for free internet for
its low income residents?"

From the article:
"The city will build out the
infrastructure and then sell
wholesale access to Internet
service providers,
telecommunications companies
and nonprofit organizations.
ISPs and other providers will
handle all billing, marketing,
customer service and the
at-home equipment needed to
pick up the signals.

Philadelphia will become a
customer of the network by
allowing city departments to
buy broadband access to
communicate with one another."

Later in the article it says:
"Rather, the operation will not
be for profit and will sell access
in bulk at low rates to providers,
including Verizon. In the end,
residential consumers could get
1mbps of download and upload speeds
at prices ranging from $16 to $20 a month."

Free? Apparently this is some definition of the word "free" of which I was previously unaware.

[Chung Leong]

The power of broadband!

The low income residents of Philadelphia are probably wondering, will this Wi-Fi thing get the crack dealers off their streets?

[nealda]

And the answer is...

Quite possibly.
Public investment in this infrastructure project (an area of the economy where the public sector is vastly more competent than the private sector) has the potential to enable new business investment (public and private) in areas of the city that have become blighted. Robust infrastructure creates opportunities where none existed before. Opportunity gives a choice to inner-city youth who's only previous choice was crime.

[Chung Leong]

The power of broadband!

The low income residents of Philadelphia are probably wondering, will this Wi-Fi thing get the crack dealers off their streets?

[nealda]

And the answer is...

Quite possibly.
Public investment in this infrastructure project (an area of the economy where the public sector is vastly more competent than the private sector) has the potential to enable new business investment (public and private) in areas of the city that have become blighted. Robust infrastructure creates opportunities where none existed before. Opportunity gives a choice to inner-city youth who's only previous choice was crime.

[Charles.H.White]

This is an outrage!

For those of you who have been following this story (please correct me if I am wrong), but wasn't the concept here supposed to be FREE wireless for the masses (aka paid for by tax payer). This was a good concept. But no, Big Business had to cry foul to the governor because of pure greed.
I am not trying to say that business should not be involved here. They should get paid. But by the city agreeing to this, they are basically opening the door and allowing business to walk right in to the consumer's house and try to sell them more services.
I think this should all be done at a flat rate and the city should pay for it and recoup their money thorugh taxes.

That's my two cents worth.
Can't wait to see how htis plays out in Dallas, Texas if they ever get off their arse and do something like this.

[Charles.H.White]

This is an outrage!

For those of you who have been following this story (please correct me if I am wrong), but wasn't the concept here supposed to be FREE wireless for the masses (aka paid for by tax payer). This was a good concept. But no, Big Business had to cry foul to the governor because of pure greed.
I am not trying to say that business should not be involved here. They should get paid. But by the city agreeing to this, they are basically opening the door and allowing business to walk right in to the consumer's house and try to sell them more services.
I think this should all be done at a flat rate and the city should pay for it and recoup their money thorugh taxes.

That's my two cents worth.
Can't wait to see how htis plays out in Dallas, Texas if they ever get off their arse and do something like this.