From yesterday's Philadelphia Business Journal:
Internet service provider Earthlink was chosen by Wireless Philadelphia Monday to deploy a high-speed wireless network to serve the city's 135 square miles.More at Wireless Philadelphia's website.
Under the terms of the proposal no city or taxpayer dollars will be used. Earthlink, which is partnering with Motorola (NYSE: MOT - News), Canopy and Tropos Networks, will cover all of the costs of constructing, deploying and maintaining the network, which will be fully operational by the fourth quarter of next year.
Earthlink will rent space on the network to multiple Internet service providers and community organizations, such as colleges, who in turn will sell high-speed Internet access to city residents for about $20 per month and $10 per month for lower-income households, Dianah L. Neff, chief information officer for Philadelphia, said. Occasional access for business travelers and visitors to the city will also be available for a fee and free access will be available in some parks and public spaces.
Wireless Philadelphia, a city-created nonprofit organization, will receive a portion of the fees collected by Earthlink, which it will use to support programs addressing the digital divide and economic development, Neff said.
(Thanks to Phil Shapiro for the heads-up, via the CTCNet members email list).