What’s So ‘Free’ About Philly’s New Wi-Fi Plan?

It’s worth mentioning that the original plan to provide the service for free was hotly contested in the courts by all the Internet Service Providers in the area.  If it hadn’t been for those corporations fighting this service so vehemently, we may very well have seen the free network that we were all originally promised. 
My personal belief, I think Earthlink took control of the network in an effort to intentionally bury it.  I live in Philadelphia, and attempted to buy into the network last fall.  Earthlink basically told me that I couldn’t do it.  Some of my friends who had gotten on the network complained of irregular service, complicated set-up, and abysmal customer service.  I was not surprised at all when Earthlink pulled out, blaming lack of interest on their failure to provide a service that might have connected thousands, but that would have probably forced the company to run at a loss.  It reminds me of the movie “Who Killed the Electric Car?” insofar as a good idea was killed by profit-motivated interest.
The mere fact that the network, despite its less-than-ideal manifestation, is still around should be seen as a victory in and of its self.  Keeping the network alive is an important step toward completing its ultimate vision; and at present, I think that’s about the best Nutter will be able to do.  Once the network is firmly established as a way of life here, then we might be able to speak realistically about universal provision.  In the mean time, I think most of us here are counting our blessings.

Posted by diciteco on Jul 21, 2008 at 5:33 AM