Remember the
PhillyFi project that EarthLink was working
on? The one in progress for a while now, intended to
blanket the City of
Brotherly Love in 802.11? Well, Philly's officially disclosing some details of the deal, if you're so interested,
and it looks like the provisions are pleasantly pro-consumer. In addition to charging ISPs $12 to resell access to
customers (the goal is to keep "full price" under $20 per month) and giving low-income households access for
$10 a month, EarthLink is paying the city $74 per annum for each WiFi lamppost operated (of which there are 4,000,
totaling about $300,000 per year) and handing over 5% of its revenues, which the city will apparently be funneling into
10,000 computers and training for kids of said low-income households. Whether you're paying about $20 (full price), $10
(low-income household), or almost nothing (city government, etc.), you're still getting a 1Mb wireless line for way
less than you'd be paying for other forms of broadband; now to figure out how to duplex these connections and start
getting some serious speeds.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeff Taylor @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:22AM
I work in IT for Gloucester County NJ, which is right across the Deleware River from Philadelphia, 500 yards of water is all that seperates us. But we just got a request from philadelphia to be included in their project, along with Camden and Burlington Counties to the north of us. They are looking to blanket what they call the "Deleware Valley" since lots of philadelphias work force resides in these 3 counties, And our counties are using some of the most advanced Tech in the North East for our day to day busisness. And for those that dont know, this area is the one of fastest growing Nanotech and biotech research in the country. NJ is wildly progressive with its tax insentives and grant funding for anything tech related
Beantown Wireless @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:22AM
This Muni Wireless Philly deal is a joke. Do low income folks in Philly have laptops?? How do they expect to compete against VZ DSL offering of $14.95? Where is the Mobility Need??
I will gladly use EVDO and have BroadbandAccess Speeds not only in Philly, but in most major markets in the USA, while in motion too!!
chuck @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:38AM
Look, this sounds callous; but I do not think giving people free laptops/wifi will make them smarter. They already have libraries if they want to read up on stuff. I just can't see justifying helping people with free/low-cost internet, especially when dial-up is already at $10 a month or less. Also, the city is run like crap, this service will suck, I gaurantee it.
Stealth43 @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:40AM
of course beantown. They hand the laptops out with the monthly welfare checks...
Stealth43 @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:43AM
who needs food stamps when you have laptops?
John @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:53AM
Yeah when I first read this I thought "what a freaking joke". Why do the "poor" get so much for nothing??? I work my ass off and finally could afford an entry-level laptop, don't have cable, caller ID, don't use the A/C in the summers - not to mention health insurance for my family. I hate to complain, life is still good, just sick and tired of handouts to people who really don't deserve them.
LordJezo @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:54AM
Bah.
New Orleans has it city wide for free. Used it all during Mardi Gras and it was great.
More places need to follow their lead.
happy sam @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:54AM
cool, i think they should have nightly will smith concerts as well, what better than having big willie style in phillie, so all those cueing up at the soup kitchen can get jiggy with it,
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ksmith @ Mar 3rd 2006 9:07AM
I don't see why this is such a big deal. The county where I live in Michigan has already started to roll-out a free county-wide wireless network. Granted the speeds are only going to be four or five times as fast a dial-up, but it's FREE. Apparently you can also pay a nominal fee to upgrade to faster service.
SLiKone @ Mar 3rd 2006 9:10AM
Just because someone is low income, does not mean they can't have a laptop. Or even a desktop with a wifi card.
I am considered low income, and yet I sit here using my $2500 laptop to type this. How did I get a $2500 laptop? My company bought it for me. THere are many people out there who have company-provided equipment who are low income.
Not to mention you can buy/build a desktop for a couple hundred dollars these days, then plug in a usb or PCI WiFi card.
I applaud Philly for offering WiFi at a discounted price for low-income families. It allows those of us who are struggling to make ends-meat to have a broadband connection at home, opening up many possibilities for our children to do research and homework, as well as all of the entertainment options available.
Chasqui @ Mar 3rd 2006 9:14AM
I'm glad to see municipal wi-fi projects taking off despite lobbying efforts by existing internet and phone providers. (Can you imagine what ubiquitous VOIP would do to the land-line biz?) More and more municipalities are realizing that wi-fi and computer communications are utilities for a city's economic lifeblood. Besides - wi-fi everywhere - very useful!
Alcaron @ Mar 3rd 2006 9:42AM
Duplex these connections? I would think multiplexing would be what you meant. As I don't see any way to "duplex these connections" if the other end doesn't support it.
Though even multiplex is a bit...sketchy. I guess if you had multiple connections at the same frequency...you could get away with using "multiplexing".
skantilous @ Mar 3rd 2006 10:04AM
Alright enough of this. For everyone who is complainging about them being wronged by having to pay 5 dollars more a month, just chill. To me it is more important that kids, wherever they're from have access to the single greatest information source in human history. Even if 1% of the kids in the program benefit marginally, or are enlightened enough to go into math and science because of the spark that the internet can create, then that would be worth it. Philly (otherwise known as the 6th borough of NY) seems like a great city but like any urban center, the more exposure you give to children to technology, the better chance they have of getting off the basketball court and at home addicted to the net. Maybe then they start learning something other than how to be a waste.
For those mofos who think they are poor and aren't, stfu. poverty is a bitch that leaves you with little hope, regardless of the welfare check. A lot of reform needs to be done, and there is a lot of abuse, which will hopefully lead to further minimization of the welfare system. Maybe when people have no choice but to stand on their two feet, they finally do.
If you're looking for a cause against welfare recipients, this isn't it. This is a good thing for everyone involved. Stop bitching about how bad you have, while your wrapped xbox 360 is under the tree and start thinking in a grander scale.
Take your combined mental energy and lets start figuring out how to duplex.
Chuck @ Mar 3rd 2006 10:10AM
Cool! That's a little cheaper than where I'm from: http://www.gomoorhead.com/
icemonster @ Mar 3rd 2006 10:14AM
Its an endless project that will just keep getting more expensive with the more fingers and politics that get involved. If you live here and follow it, you know where it started and where it is going.
Mike_Big_L @ Mar 3rd 2006 10:14AM
Yeah it's called "sliding scale". It's been around for awhile. The value of a buck is very different for different people. It's those that try to cheat it that don't deserve it.
Mike @ Mar 3rd 2006 11:09AM
I live in Philly. Actually, I lived in le ghetto of Philly last year while on campus at Temple University. I can tell you first hand that Philadelphia DOES NOT give a shit about the low income community. Philadelphia is in the process of gentrifying this area especially, North Philadelphia, and this PhillyFi project is one of their tactics for attracting new business and investment into the area. The only problem is that the city government just won't come out and say it. Hell, they might as well. As if the people here don't hate them enough.
As for myself... I'm college student with my parents paying my tuition. Just means I can add $20 more to my disposable income a month. Right on!
Stealth43 @ Mar 3rd 2006 11:40AM
Im from da PHL 2, and we are NOT the 6th borough of NY. Im sick of people saying that, fo real. On a different note though. People really do need to chill with the free handouts and everything. There are some lazy mofos in this here city. What really sucks though is the fact that it would have been free had our greedy politicians not allowed themselves to be bribed by the telenet companies. As for you mister college attending kid whining about "gentrification". Pull your head out of your ass, and aknowledge that its people like you who are responisible for it. It NOT a bad thing though. Woah...woah... a safer hood, clean streets, repaired buildings, more investment in the community...ohh mah gawdddd, this must be bad. What a freaking moron. If you don't like it when communities are improved bcuz you think your so cool, trying to "identify with the hood" bit the fuck out my city. We dont need that shit. WE NEED, better education, a murder rate that doesnt keep pace with the days of the year, cleaner better repaired streets, gas, and water pipes, politicians who arent massively corrupt, less drugs, et al et al et al
dumbass
Mogera @ Mar 3rd 2006 11:55AM
Just wanted to quickly chime in as I'm from Camden, NJ, a ghetto just outside of Philadelphia. In regards to the massively uneccessary "street talk" thats being posted on these messages boards, intended to make people think "Damn, thats a hardcore Street n* talkin' there", I just wanted to mention that the idea has merit. BUUTTTT.... Its being brought down by these extraordinary prices, with DSL prices going down, $20 a month for a cripled 1 Mg connection is not looking so hot. A free City Wide WiFi project would have been costly(but its not like they don't make it up anyway with their Marxist City Wage Tax), but it would've been the way to go. Now you've got people who will be unwilling to drop the 20 spot to the city because its not a good value(maybe they'll take it out of your taxes automatically, but if its a monthly bill like anything else, people can choose not to participate.) That scenario will cost the city Millions more, and they would probably be even more reluctant to up the speeds(costing them even more, in order to stay competitive). Viscious Cycle I tell ya. Anyway, here's hopin' they work out the kinks, hit us with some University like speeds and maybe it won't be so bad. But for now this project looks like its gonna be a bust thats gonna cost that city a Shit-Ton. And there ya have it.
Fred Gimble @ Mar 3rd 2006 2:13PM
'lazy' poor people get handouts due to the rest of us too lazy to vote or do anything towards reforming our poor-debilitating welfare system.
fever @ Mar 3rd 2006 3:35PM
By "low-income" I believe they mean around the national poverty level, or just above, so you could say that one person making less than $15,000 is "low-income". SliKone (or whatever), I can't imagine a company that would pay you less than $10 an hour but still give you a laptop. Unless it's family, or some other crazy thing.
Eric @ Mar 3rd 2006 4:38PM
A lot of folks seem to be missing a key point. Those complaining that low-income folks can't afford laptops or PDAs or 'don't need' (WTF?) wireless; well, it's not about mobility. It's about an efficient and inexpensive way to deploy a broadband network city-wide without having to run cables in tens of thousands of homes and buildings. And yes, it's only about 1 Mbps. But it's cheap, and it only takes a computer (ANY type of computer) that can run a wireless card, and to pay to get access to the network. It's a great initiative to attempt. Even if it eventually flops, a lot of local governments in this country will learn a whole lot from projects like these, and hopefully create better infrastructures because of it.
John Schaefer @ Mar 3rd 2006 6:51PM
The Oakland County, MI wireless connectivity program will provide 128K up/down for free, using WiFi technology. Price/speed is not yet set for the faster pay service, but AT&T (ex-SBC) is running a DSL promotion here with 1.5M/384K for $12.99 a month for the first year, so presumably the wireless people won't be able to charge more than that for similar service.
More info: http://www.oakgov.com/wireless/
b0bk @ Mar 3rd 2006 10:09PM
geee if so many of you guys are jealous of poor people's petty helps why don't you join them for fook's sake?!
People who know the web must make their best to spread the virus to as many people as possible.
It'll save them from TV and that's a reason enough.
Next some of those heartless and disconnected geeky-individualist's gonna cry about free grain to africa or free medical care for single families or i don't know what else...
I see the future as a big fraternity, if that doesnt happen then it'll probably all end up in a big bang ; its fooking time everybody starts seeing through the -mediatic bullshit and wonder about how long will things hang in there with so many nocious and anti-human intentions amongst the 0.01% elites that govern the white world first, and coercively influences the whole globe.
A retro-future is the only way forward ; harmony, knowledge and conscience of life and nature cocooned by efficient, long lasting high technology for communications, education and sharing.
The internet is (maybe i'll soon be saying was with all those corporations and "entrepreneurs" raging to milk it all) a gem ; it's like soil for a seed.
Its instant telepathy for everyone who can get to it.
Stop talking bad, being selfish and SHARE.
Americans should travel more they dont seem to be very fluent in solidarity/brotherhood except when its some stupid religious-manipulated sham of charity which, in exchange for a few tenners, buys you a pathetic mock-up of what collective and social feeling is.
If we all lived as selfish consumers as euros or americans we'd need 6 planets more to sustain ourselves ; this a + b fact that, okay we were privileged it was nice and all, but it wont last ; the rest of the world's catching up and within 5years major conflicts arousing from the bitchness of competititviy, mindless globalisation and human-less commerce around primary supplies such as energy, ores and water.
ITS TIME TO SHARE ; BETTER MAKE THE FIRST STEP, LET US BE GENTLEMEN AS WE PRIDE OURSELVES TO THE WORLD, FOR REAL, FOR ONCE, INSTEAD OF KILLING AND STEALING FROM IT.
WE HAVE TO ; THE WORLD'S ABOUT BALANCING, EQUALIZING ITSELF ; IF WE DON'T, HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO FULLY LIVE THE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE AS ONE WITH ALL?WITHOUT PETTY FEELINGS, ENVY AND GREED? YOU DIDNT DESERVE TO BE A WESTERNER, YOU WERE BORN ONE. YOU HAVE NO PRIDE TO TAKE FROM THAT. EITHER YOU'RE A HELPER EITHER YOU'RE A FOOKER.
PEaCE
Mike @ Mar 4th 2006 3:55PM
To #18 (Stealth43):
You obviously didn't get my sarcasm, dick. Gentrification is the greatest thing Philadelphia's city council could've done to that area. As far as "identifying with the area", I'm white and have no intention of mingling with an of the people in that area -- the people in North Philly could drop off the face of this earth for all I care, they are nothing but a drain on society. But as I said, this project really isn't for those people. It's to perpetuate gentrification in the area, which is a great thing for anyone who values their life.
phillydwella @ Mar 4th 2006 6:27PM
With all due respect to those that think that Verizon offers $14 DSL in the area -- that bs! I have Verizon DSL in philly, and please ... don't forget to add the cost of the basic phoneline which is a pre-requirement for DSL.
I totally love the ubiquitous internet access this plan will provide, and if coverage/speeds are decent, would join at $20/month with no second thought.
SLiKone @ Mar 5th 2006 7:12AM
Not that it is any of your business, but I am a salaried IT employee for a commercial real estate company (one of 2 that support our 250 users). I make 24000 dollars a year to support me, my (pregnant) wife, and my 4 year old daughter. I also live in a metropolitian area, which may not be as expensive as NY or Philly, but it aint cheap.
master2004134 @ Mar 5th 2006 5:11PM
I may not live anywhere near Philly (I live in Maine :)), but this idea can really go somewhere, but at the same time can have really bad consequences!
--Pros
-Great for giving everyone internet access
-Opens up new pathways to the internet
-Shows of the technology of the US!
--Cons
-Very costly
-Some people may try to abuse it, like hacking the network!
-Can be unreliable at times, like in bad weather
-People may not have a laptop!
Pete @ Mar 7th 2006 11:20PM
Man, I'm kinda bummed. I thought the PhillyFi project was going to be free access. The way they made it sound on the news was as it was to entice business users to come to philly more often or something along those lines. I was just hoping to be able to surf freely at a cafe. Oh well, guess I'll have to go to New Orleans for that (because I really need to be there...?).
Karen @ Mar 8th 2006 12:22PM
I admit it. I am an unabashed Muni WiFi and Wireless Philadelphia fan. This is a technology that clearly has something for eveyone. For those of all already connected, mobile types this just gives us more options to connect and I am certain that we'll soon have new apps that leverage pervasive wireless. Dual mode handsets (cell phones with WiFi) are coming out and some apps are using Wifi for real mobile data transfer (read like EVDO only faster and cheaper). The technology will do it and it's only going to get better. Philly's project does focus on bridging the digital divide (in addition to tourism, business dev and gov services). The US is 16th in broadband acces - down from 3rd a couple of years ago. We need lots of options, lower prices, more speed, and support programs to get everyone connected and using the net effectively. Get more than light from those light poles. This is a cheap project (and EarthLink is picking up the tab) with lots of potential for all of Philly. What's to complain about?