Archives: Internet

Across the country states are grappling with the question of who should provide internet access.  Telephone and cable companies are trying to dominate Internet connections to the home by keeping out the competition.

Cities, towns and counties want to bridge the digital divide and are exploring offering municipal broadband networks so everyone can connect to the educational, economic and cultural benefits of the Internet.

Philadelphia Moving Forward

"Last year, officials unveiled a pilot plan offering users of Wi-Fi-enabled computers access to the Internet within a radius of about a mile of downtown's Love Park. Thursday's announcement expands the network to the city's entire 135-square-mile area, marking a U.S. first.

The 'Wireless Philadelphia' network is expected to be up by late summer 2006 and available to computer users paying up to $20 a month. Commercial Wi-Fi services run about $40 monthly.

'People are watching all over the world to determine whether a city of 135 square miles can become one big hot spot,' Philadelphia Mayor John Street told reporters.

'People want to be connected and we think it is our obligation to provide that kind of access,' Street said.

The network, based on devices attached to city streetlight poles, is expected to cost the city $15 million to set up."

– Reuters, April 8, 2005

"The city hopes Wireless Philadelphia will get more Philadelphians online. Now, 42 percent of Philadelphia's households, or 235,000 households, aren't on the Internet.

Many of those families can't afford it. So Wireless Philadelphia will solicit grants from foundations and work with computer manufacturers to provide low-cost, refurbished computers to poor households in the city.

Working with community-based organizations and the school district, Wireless Philadelphia hopes to put computers into 10,000 households within five years - and provide training.

Wireless Philadelphia also will require ISPs to offer low-income subscribers discounted rates, probably about $10 a month, Neff said." (Referring to Dianah Neff, the city's chief information officer)

– Philadelphia Daily News, April 7, 2005

Indiana Sets a Good Example

“An Indiana state bill that would have made it hard for cities to build their own broadband networks was killed on Wednesday after the proposal failed to reach a vote in the state's House of Representatives.

The decision to block Indiana's House Bill 1148 highlights a growing clash between cities looking to build their own broadband Internet networks and local phone and cable companies opposing these measures.

Supporters of the bill, including SBC Communications, which serves Indiana, were critical of the outcome. Local groups opposing the bill applauded the decision, claiming that building broadband networks would help cities attract more businesses into the area.

‘Several municipalities in Indiana are already providing broadband service,’ said Andrea Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, lobbyist organization. ‘We consider it a necessary part of economic development.’”

- CNET Networks Inc., February 17, 2005

To learn more about what is happening in your state visit Free Press’s Community Internet interactive web site.

To find out more about community internet read HearUsNow.org Community Internet: What’s at Stake.  And then take action and write to your state legislature to tell them that you want to protect community internet access.