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In Philadelphia, Wireless Philadelphia (a city government-chartered nonprofit) has signed an agreement with Earthlink to build, manage, and maintain a citywide wireless network. The city has granted Earthlink the rights to use the city's streetlights for the operation of the wireless network. The project was initiated by Philadelphia, and from the city’s perspective, has a strong focus on closing the digital divide. As one of the earliest big-city wireless projects, it has received a lot of press. Before going forward with the project, Philadelphia conducted an in-depth feasibility study (see the Wireless Philadelphia Business Plan), and the contract requires Earthlink to meet certain quality and coverage standards (see Proof of Concept Acceptance).
Learn More:
Wireless Philadelphia
http://www.wirelessphiladelphia.org/
Wireless Philadelphia Business Plan. Wireless Philadelphia Executive Committee. February 9, 2005. http://www.phila.gov/wireless/pdfs/Wireless-Phila-Business-Plan-040305-1...
Wireless Philadelphia RFP. 2005.
www.phila.gov/rfp/pdfs/WP%20RFP%204-5-05%20rev%20v4-CLEAN.pdf
Wireless Philadelphia, Proof of Concept Acceptance.
http://www.wirelessphiladelphia.org/blog_detail.cfm/blog/19
Can Governments Create Universal Internet Access? The Philadelphia Municipal Wireless Network Story. Jain, A., M. Mandviwalla, et al. E-Government Series, IBM Center for the Business of Government. 2007. www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/JainBankerReport.pdf
