Philly Wi-Fi Nears Construction

EarthLink is close to receiving final approval from Philadelphia's City Council to mount its equipment from light poles, company representatives said on Wednesday. Some council members expressed concern over parts of the deal, delaying construction.

The joint committee for education and technology wanted EarthLink to ensure it would comply with city ordinances that require contractors to ensure diversity in their workforces. Additionally, council wanted more oversight of Wireless Philadelphia, the non-profit group that is overseeing the project.

While the contract had been approved by Mayor John Street in October, permission to mount equipment on city property still had to be given by City Council. The governing body used this leverage to ensure that its concerns were heard before giving approval to begin construction.

The full Council will now vote on the bill on May 11, and a city spokesperson said that most bills that make it out of committee do end up passing. While there is some concern on portions of the bill, it is unlikely to affect the final decision.

Construction of the citywide Wi-Fi network would begin a few weeks after approval, EarthLink has said. Service for the entire city is then expected to begin sometime in 2007, and cost about $20 USD per month to users.

Low-income users would be charged $9.95 USD per month, and special programs have been set up to equip these individuals with computer equipment.