5.July2008
EarthLink today announced that it has been approved to provide services wifi in New Orleans. According to blog:
"The network will have two levels - a free (and ad-free) service to 300kbps during the recovery effort the city, and paid services in 1mbps up / down. EarthLink will also allow other providers to offer their services over the network, allowing open access and competition. "
There was some seriously strange legal wranglings about whether the city will be able to conclude a contract with anyone to provide this service, and perhaps it was a local state of emergency that allowed it. Given that the incredible reliance on wireless network there during the recovery - why not the federal government subsidize only the upper layer of-service for everyone? This is a silly question, of course, such a policy would interfere with the market and its ability to monetize human suffering. I can not imagine that Earthlink mind. At least permit was not granted the market to partner with local government so that some services at all is available.
Update: There is e-mail statement just added to the Earthlink blog from New Orleans CIO on what people hug him on the street, that the free wifi is on the way. It's interesting account, almost roztrhat Jerker.
