Thank you Beth, very, very much.

I have never been so fired up about wi-fi municipal broadband networks in my life, and the absolute necessity to improve Philadelphia's.

cause this is awesome, but a couple questions:

Can you talk a little about the technology itself? From a couple articles I read, it seemed like there were issues with being able to cost-effectively blanket the areas that they intended to blanket with signal (that coverage wasn't as extensive in an urban setting as they thought, requiring more transmitters).

Is the process of covering all areas done, or would the next owner(s) need to continue establishing the physical network?

Are the service issues the result of Earthlink's lack of customer service and maintenance of the system, or are there problems with the actual technology (e.g., do we need to be able to provide everyone with a booster modem for them to actually access the signal, with the modem does it even work?)?

I'm just curious about this stuff, cause though I agree that there is a ton of promise (we really need some democratizing of our access to media here) and I agree that the city got a technically no-lose deal... But once private industry is no longer maintaining or expanding the system and absorbing costs, I just wonder about the balance of cost and benefit to whoever takes it over.

Hi Jennifer,

Yes, you raise some technical issues that need working out. I'm not a technical expert, but I understand the technology Earthlink used is not the best. But like all technology, it can and must be upgraded and enhanced constantly. Sure it will cost money, but the great thing about Wi-Fi is we don't have to dig up the streets every time we need to upgrade.

And we also have to keep in mind that Wi-Fi uses a junky portion of our airwaves that is cluttered, and isn't capable of penetrating through walls or longer ranges. That's why you need that modem when inside but it works better outside. We can't blame Earthlink for that -- federal policy dictates who uses what spectrum. But in a few years, high quality spectrum may become available pending some action at the FCC and Congress. Cities and towns should be pressuring Congress to make sure that some of that valuable real estate is made available for unlicensed use for our Wi-Fi system (this is a long complicated issue and will post on it some other time). In the meantime, we have to figure out how to make what we have work. Other cities have done it, so can we.

According to testimony offered by the City and Wireless Philadelphia this week, the network is currently 75% complete and will be fully deployed by the end of the year. And whoever takes over the network will allegedly be bound by the contract with Earthlink so will need to complete deployment.

On a related note, if anyone is interested in watching FCC Chairman Martin get a talking-to by the Senate Commerce Committee over his plan to weaken media ownership rules, the hearing starts NOW (at 10:00 a.m.) and can be streamed here: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/

Hi folks,

This is Todd Wolfson from the Media Mobilizing Project. I wanted to add some thoughts based on the discussion and Beth's comments. We believe, like Beth, that all is not lost with the municipal wireless system. In the same breath, the only way to save this system and to make it fulfill its promise--1) to the low-income communities across the city that need this resource the most and 2) to all Philadelphians-- is if we as residents of this city take our job as watch dog seriously and recognize that this is not a finished deal. In the report that Beth cites above there are a few vital lessons. The first is that civic engagement is key to influencing the future of the municipal wireless system. The second is that Wireless Philadelphia, while working hard to bridge the digital divide is not in the position to hold earthlink (or the provider that takes over for earthlink) accountable. If we want a system that works we have to demand it.

From MMP's perspective this is vital. We work with high school students, taxi drivers, mexican immigrants, head start families and many other folks. The life opportunities that a democratizing communications medium like the muni wi-fi system offer are innumerable and could have massive effect on the city's social, political and economic life. Moreover, Jane Shull, the ED of Philadelphia Fight and Critical Path (which has been offering free dial-up services in poor communities in the city) clarified an important point on the panel Tuesday. Based on their experience, if you give poor people both the tools and good reasons to go online, you'd have people signing up in massive numbers--much bigger then the 620 low income people signed up through the Wireless Philadelphia program today.

What MMP would like to see happen is that people begin to talk about this system and reclaim its future as their own. Part of making that happen is forcing Earthlink to answer some simple questions like the ones Jennifer poses above as well as questions as to whether the technology used for the build-out can be upgraded so our system can shift along with technological innovation and new possibilities in the broadband spectrum the system utilizes. I would argue we also have to begin to prepare ourselves for Earthlink pulling out. If this happens we have to argue against a purely free-market competitive model because while that may get some people excellent service, it will get low-income communities marginal service if they get any at all. Along these lines I follow Beth in recommending a read of the report above A Philadelphia Story: Learning from a Municipal Wireless Pioneer as it details differently structured systems in different cities and could offer us perspective. In any case, I look forward to discussion on this.

Here are two thoughts. They may be completely impractical. But why should that stop us now?

Instead of contracting somebody like Earthlink -- who doesn't own the lines the thing will run on anyway -- why don't we hire a firm from Europe or Korea or wherever who have experience with municipal wireless networks, who have built them before, and know how they work?

Also -- why not use this as an opportunity for regional partnership, by bringing in the Montco, Delco, Bucksco, Chestco, Glouco, Camco, Burlco, the Port Authority, PATCO, SEPTA, the Airport, etc. on board, both to leverage our dollars, and to provide seamless wi-fi coverage in the entire Delaware Valley?

If you're a city like Upper Darby or Camden or Bensalem, you've got the same problem getting muni wi-fi off of the ground, but you may not be able to attract big players because you aren't big enough. This could potentially solve that problem.

That could also increase buy-in into the Philadelphia system -- not only can you use wi-fi at work or when you're in the city, but everywhere on regional rail and at your house/coffee shop at home. And the suburban dollars help finance the system in neighborhoods where you can't get or can't afford broadband.