New Law Blocks City Wi-Fi Projects But Exempts Philadelphia

-- Library Journal, 12/7/2004

When Philadelphia announced ambitious plans to extend wireless access throughout the city, some wondered when industry would protest. Indeed, local phone companies got a state bill passed that gives the local phone company right of first refusal before any city tries to provide such wireless access, reported the AP. Still, Verizon Communications agreed to let the city continue its wireless project as part of a deal to get the bill signed. Gov. Ed Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia, was seen under pressure to veto the bill to protect the Philadelphia project.

Is this bad news for libraries? Bill Drew, moderator/owner of the LibWireless discussion group, noted that services provided by local governments "might be the first thing cut in hard times... Why get another public service that might actually compete with the public library for funds." He speculated that fees for such for-profit service could be controlled through contracts or regulations. And, he noted, "The real problem of broadband is not in municipal areas but out in rural areas where it is not profitable for cable or telephone companies to provide broadband."