New Orleans Dismantling City-Run Wi-Fi Network

Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:05PM EDT

See Comments (6)

Given the amazing hardships that the city of New Orleans has endured in recent months, it seemed a natural place for building out a municipal Wi-Fi network, which just about every city in America, large or small, seems to be "working on." With electricity, phone and cable lines, and basic city services all in question, New Orleans had been using a crude, city-built Wi-Fi network in lieu of legitimate broadband, with some businesses who had been flooded out of their offices using the network from temporary shelters until things returned to normal.

Well, New Orleans will soon be dismantling this network, which may be a portent of things to come for other cities trying to do the same thing. Why are they giving up? Because ISP Earthlink is setting up a bigger and broader network of its own. Naturally there's a catch: Only a smallish area covering 15 square miles will receive free Wi-Fi, and that will be limited to 300kbps, or about six times the speed of dial-up access. Or, for $20 a month, you can pay for higher-grade service: 1Mbps Wi-Fi will blanket the city. Earthlink intends the former for individuals and the latter for business customers.

When Earthlink's network goes live, the city's network will come down. There's good news and bad news in this, of course. The Earthlink network is actually slower than N.O.'s city-provided network, which was famously flouting a state law preventing municipalities from providing networks at faster than 144kbps. Earthlink's free service will also be supported by advertising (though I've read conflicting reports about this).

While New Orleans' signing with Earthlink is one way around the state law, there are lessons here for other localities. Are city governments really the best sources for technology services, even if they're free? So far, it seems all successful large-scale Wi-Fi projects have been provided by third parties. Are a few ads too much to pay for always-on wireless? And what are the long-term prospects for these services? As new technologies emerge, will they be willing to upgrade, or are we stuck with low-speed Wi-Fi forever?

Lots of questions, and I don't have the answers, alas.
Right now we'll have to wait and watch as Earthlink switches New Orleans on... and see what happens.

Comments on New Orleans Dismantling City-Run Wi-Fi Network

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  • 1 Posted by deisha.galberth on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    From the time EarthLink was selected to build-out New Orleans (in May of this year), we have been very clear that the free tier is a service that we are providing to the city's residents and visitors as the city rebuilds. While we plan to revisit this offering in the second half of next year, no decisions have been made about the free tier's timing and availability. One additional point of clarification... users of our free tier will be able to access the Internet without having to view advertising. Deisha Galberth EarthLink, Corporate Communications

  • 2 Posted by georgecronkiii on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is just a scam to create a new wi fi customer base and slowly start raising the cost to sign onto the network. deisha even says "we have been very clear that the free tier...as the city rebuilds'. that implies a limited time before the hooks are in your wallet. is earthlink is looking out for the city's best interest? i don't think so. plus if it 6 months later and earthlink still doesn't have anything up and running, then when? and why not jsut assume control of the city established wi fi? to simple?

  • 3 Posted by stopitalready2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Of course Earthlink will eventually want you to buy. Why not??!! Enjoy it while it's free. Free internet isn't a right, by the way, so don't complain. If you don't like it don't use it!!!!

  • 4 Posted by gplawrence on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    stopitalready2002 is missing the point of city-wide wi-fi networks. City taxpayers are subsidizing the creation of these networks. All of those local wireless access points are being placed on city telephone and traffic light poles. Who do you think paid to install those? Most cities which are deploying wi-fi services aren't doing it themselves. They are taking bids from large ISPs like Earthlink and Comcast. By granting the ISP a single-source utility monopoly, they are guaranteeing these companies revenues in perpetuity with no competition. In exchange for this monopoly, city managers usually require the ISPs to provide a free basic level of wireless service. That means that every school, working class family, tourist, and traveling business person has at least some degree of no-cost, hassle-free internet access. City managers have tremendous leverage when it comes to handling the bids for city-wide wi-fi. To not demand a free basic tier of service for underprivileged city residents and transients is borderline incompetence.

  • 5 Posted by wetkatlady on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    what is the big deal? if u didn't have it u would be in use of it to. from a real n.o. veteran. holla!

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