Good move for the City. Yesterday, City council agrees to a proposal for Earthlink to build and operate citywide wireless network. Earthlink would build, maintain the network at it's own expense! No taxpayers money or city money involves. To recoup its investments, Earthlink would sell their wireless access to homes and businesses. The goodies for Alexandria is -- access in public places would be FREE. Yes, free.
Although other cities have experimented with wireless hotspots and limited coverage areas, Alexandria will be one of relatively few jurisdictions with complete wireless coverage. Among the localities that do have citywide networks, many involve taxpayer funding, unpredictable advertising revenue, or limited community benefits. Alexandria’s innovative network model, in which the public receives significant benefits without any government funding, is believed to be the first of its kind in Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region, and among the first in the nation.
The good thing is the contract is not exclusive. That means other providers can come in and offer the same service to the City.
Source: City of Alexandria
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