The City of San Francisco and EarthLink said on Friday they have reached a tentative deal to offer free wireless Internet access. SF Gate has the details.
EarthLink is working with Google to develop a free wireless Internet program throughout the hilly city of 777,000 residents, reports Reuters.
Mayor Gavin Newsom said the agreement reached on Friday will provide wireless Internet access at no cost to taxpayers and extend to cover neighborhoods throughout San Francisco over time. “Ubiquitous Wi-Fi will change how residents access education, social services and economic opportunities,” Newsom said.
The deal, which gives EarthLink access to public rights of way to install the necessary Wi-Fi radio antennas, follows more than a year of negotiations and public hearings. The next step is for the city’s Board of Supervisors to review the agreement and decide whether to approve the deal.
Free, 300 kilobit-per-second Wi-Fi service will be offered alongside a premium commercial service at speeds of 1 megabit or faster for around $20 a month. This commercial service would target consumers and businesses looking for faster Internet access. A Digital Inclusion service will be available for up to 3,200 people at $12.95 per month.
In late 2005, the city received 26 proposals from private and nonprofit organizations on how to deliver universal Wi-Fi service throughout San Francisco. Rival proposals came from telephone companies, Internet service providers and grassroots groups.
.gif)
