Who Should Pay For Citywide Wi-Fi?

Wireless networking is becoming an increasingly popular amenity for cities and town. But who will pay for it?

1 minute read

September 23, 2004, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The wrinkle in the public-service spin on Wi-Fi is who will bear the cost for the service. The answer splits proponents into two camps, and both are problematic. On one side are those who see wireless broadband as a public amenity—a basic service that cities and towns should provide free to residents as they do, say, trash pickup. Missing from this scenario is consensus on how municipalities, perennially short on funds, will pay the Wi-Fi tab."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, September 22, 2004 in Technology Review

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