How do cities bring broadband to residents and businesses? Should planners care?
"...The Windy City has taken to selling itself as Broadband City -- as much a national hub for Internet infrastructure as it's always been for railroads, highways and airports... Thats a difficult point to prove, a bit like saying that Chicago-style pizza is better than New Yorks.
There may be no national policy, but that doesn't mean cities, suburbs and rural communities are sitting on the sidelines. In fact, localities are at the forefront of the broadband debate, stirring up controversy. For example, Philadelphia, like dozens of other cities, is looking at offering cheap broadband service by turning the whole city into a wireless 'hot spot.'
Opponents of the idea, led by Verizon Communications, think that cities should stay out of broadband."
Thanks to Chris Steins
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