Another article re: this topic...... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990669/posts
Posted on 03/24/2008 12:04:34 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Municipal Wi-Fi Failing, Earthlink Pulls Out Shane McGlaun (Blog) - March 24, 2008 2:20 PM
Protected by FormShield Earthlink bails on municipal Wi-Fi leaving low income families in a lurch
When some large and medium sized cities decided to try and roll out city wide municipal Wi-Fi service that would be used by paying customers and by low-income families for free or reduced rates, EarthLink was one of the first ISPs to jump on the project.
EarthLink pretty much cornered the market on municipal Wi-Fi and the projects in cities like Philadelphia were hailed as Internet for the masses. The New York Times now reports these lofty goals for Philadelphia and other cities that jumped on the municipal Wi-Fi bandwagon have all but come to a standstill. The main reason for the halt on the roll out plans for city wide Wi-Fi is being blamed on the abrupt about face by EarthLink who suddenly announced it was pulling out of the project.
Customers that previously had municipal Wi-Fi service in Portland, Oregon and Tempe, Arizona are now finding their access is no longer available. EarthLink announced in early February 2008, "the operations of the municipal Wi-Fi assets were no longer consistent with the company’s strategic direction."
The cessation of Wi-Fi operations and the possible loss of access for some users in Philadelphia has some low income families worried. Cesar DeLaRosa, a 15 year old municipal Wi-Fi user from Philadelphia told The New York Times, “If we don’t have Internet, that means I’ve got to take the bus to the public library after dark, and around here, that’s not always real safe.” Officials in Philadelphia say that the municipal Wi-Fi service promised by EarthLink won’t be disconnected.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytech.com ...
bump
““If we don’t have Internet, that means I’ve got to take the bus to the public library after dark, and around here, that’s not always real safe.””
You’re right...the city should spend the money to clean up your neighborhoods over giving everyone free internet access. I would think living in a safe place would be more important.
Liberal politicians cook up the perfect scheme to siphon money from those who have some and give it to those who have less. They dressed it up as a wonderful way to give internet access to all.
It’s nothing more than a transfer of wealth scheme. It was destined to fail.
Politicos will blame it on the service provider, not their marxist intentions.
Internet Access is now a fundamental human right??
He could take the bus, or save the bus fare and pay for his own connection.
Oh no, never mind. That would never work!/s
Soon, if not already, minority rights advocates will tout broadband Internet access as a constitutional “right” (which in their vocabulary is a synonym for “entitlement”), alongside such things as health care and airplane travel.
But we're going to reduce costs by nationalizing health care, right? . . . Arghh.
This from a kid who surfs using MSIE.
Oh it’s already going on. When I lived in CA two years ago a lib coworker of mine was talking about how everyone should have (free) internet access.
Giving services away for free or at reduced cost isn't very profitable it seems.
>>“If we don’t have Internet, that means I’ve got to take the bus to the public library after dark, and around here, that’s not always real safe.” <<\
Got to? Is someone holding a gun to their head?
In other news, the free schools, free school lunches, free housing, free welfare checks each month, free food stamps, and free city pools will continue....
Verizon announced DSL for $14.95, half what they were selling it for before, I think that you can save $15 a month on bus fare to the library.
Failure of these proposals by this firm, is a positive development. Earthlink is a Scientology-backed company that was funded by the largest private investment scam in US history (do the research yourself, google “Reed Slatkin”).
Operation of municipal networks would have allowed a group with a criminal history, to data-mine the communications of all users (enabling, untraceable insider trading and private investigation, among other activities).
Interesting...I was just noticing how the town of Carrboro, NC has nice free Wifi everywhere and it seems to be working out nicely. And the taxes aren’t that bad...certainly no worse than across the county line in Durham, NC.
My guess is that in areas where the people largely behave themselves and the city can spend less money on cops, that must leave extra money around for cool treats like Wifi.
Who’d a thunk it?
Let’s see - they can afford a computer, but not internet access?
Another article re: this topic...... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990669/posts
I should give a crap about the “poor” getting free wifi access when I have to pay for my internet connection?
The right to download porn.
Everything free in America............
Yeah, but as a resident of Nifongville, I wouldn’t trust free wifi in Carrboro. They probably block access to Free Republic and redirect your browser to the DNC website or something. :)
(For non-North Carolinians: Carrboro is right next to Chapel Hell, home to the University of North Carolina, and probably the most liberal spot in the entire state. Only Asheville, aka Berzerkely East, comes close.)
}:-)4
Wow, I had no idea.
I had relatives there in the 50s and it was a favorite
vacation spot.
What turned those hardy mountain folk liberal??
It just does not make sense.
““If we don’t have Internet, that means I’ve got to take the bus to the public library after dark, and around here, that’s not always real safe.””
they need to move, even if it means migrating to states that still generate new jobs
Classic! The city isn't safe - but keep the public bus, library and an Internet free! Government must give Internet for Safety?
What's that quote again? "They that ask for Gov't Wi-FI to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Wi-FI nor safety."
UNC - Beijing. :>))
the more intelligent members of their communities have done what smart people, poor as well as rich, have always done - moved someplace better, where jobs were more plentiful and they could, through work, buy the things they thought they ‘deserved’
What turned those hardy mountain folk liberal??
They have a large lesbian population. Lipstick lesbians to boot. They are hot but they like each other.
DSL is available for $0.50 per day. It’s hard to imagine that someone could not afford it.
“They have a large lesbian population.”
I understand now.
I know that gays tend to settle in and take over the
aesthetically pleasing areas.
They are usually the most extreme leftist.
Yea and where is the free electricity, water, gas, telephone, and cable TV?
If he can't pay a lousy $15 for Internet, how can he afford a computer?
Typical White Dude.
Does this mean electric power will be beamed to my house? :-)
I am reminded of the fact that consumer lenders (not just the payday loan places) that list collateral are not allowed to use a television as collateral if it would leave the family without one. The courts have determined that people have a right to at least one television. I guess now there is a “right” to free high speed wireless Internet.
The city of Philadelphia is to blame, they spent less than $20,000 total on promoting the WiFi service.
No one in Philly outside of tech geeks even knew it the WiFi network was operational.
Preaching to the choir. I kept trying to explain that concept, and then we get into the whole ‘the rich should pay for it’. I pretty much gave up as I started getting fun and interesting thoughts of bashing the head in of the guy I was debating with with a baseball bat.
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