The city of San Francisco has finalized a deal with Internet giant Earthlink to provide the largest free municipal Wi-Fi service in the US.
After over seven months of negotiations, mayor Gavin Newsom agreed to the contract. However, the Board of Supervisors and the city’s Public Utilities Commission must still approve it.
The president of EarthLink's municipal networks unit, Donald Berryman, said: "We look forward to working with the board of supervisors to gain approval of the agreement so we can begin building out the network in 2007." Mr. Newsom had assured the city that the network would be up and running by the end of 2006; however many are now saying that it won't be operational until at least 2008.
Earthlink is expected to spend between $14 million and $17 million to install the network. The Wi-Fi zone will consist of two networks, with one supported by on-screen advertisements and the other a faster, commercial-free service costing $20 per month.
This new Wi-Fi network will open up a new world of digital products and services for the citizens of the bay area", states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. "They'll also reap the benefits of faster download speeds, and access anywhere, anytime, 24 hours a day".
For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
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