My friend Ed Antecol sent me a note about the WiFi project in Philadelphia.
A week ago, Philadelphia released information about the terms they negotiated with Earthlink in awarding the contract to build their pioneering WiFi umbrella over the city. It is significant because the Philadelphia approach is to gain the benefits at no cost or risk to the taxpayers.
The contracts call for EarthLink to rent space on 4,000 city light posts for its equipment, and pay the city $74 annually per light post – for a total of nearly $300,000 a year.
EarthLink will give Wireless Philadelphia 5% of its access revenue to be used to provide 10,000 computers and training to children and low-income households. EarthLink will also provide Internet access for up to 25,000 low-income households at $9.95 a month, and give the city government free or discounted access.
Earthlink is also providing free hotspots in 22 sites designated as tourist zones.
Contrast that deal with Toronto Hydro’s WiFi announcement yesterday, which targets the downtown business core, with no special attention on the disadvantaged segment of the community.
With budget shortfalls in so many Ontario cities, we can learn how to truly develop private-public partnerships from our neighbours to the south.