Not all service is created equal

I appreciate Charlie's post on Wifi. Can't we believe that cities are still capable of providing public services? There are a number of problematic examples of private companies taking over public utilities such as water and electricity. The experience from these experiments illustrates a number of useful lessons in who gets left out and how and where the money is spent. That said, I also believe that broadband is a fundamentally different kind of service than water and sewer. We no longer live in an age when cities provided all services as well as funding for revitalization activities.

2 minute read

February 17, 2005, 2:00 PM PST

By Scott Page


I appreciate Charlie's post on Wifi. Can't we believe that cities are still capable of providing public services? There are a number of problematic examples of private companies taking over public utilities such as water and electricity. The experience from these experiments illustrates a number of useful lessons in who gets left out and how and where the money is spent.



That said, I also believe that broadband is a fundamentally different kind of service than water and sewer. We no longer live in an age when cities provided all services as well as funding for revitalization activities. Community groups, banks and institutions (to name a few) all play a major role in the city planning process that augments what any one city can reasonably accomplish on their own. The success of specific neighborhoods in furthering revitalization efforts is often based on their ability to organize, plan and, with the city's help, implement. Its these grass-roots efforts that should be supported by city policy and this is where I have issues with the Philadelphia wireless plan.



Does the entire City really need Wifi? Should we not just target the underserved neighborhoods? Can we use the money currently allocated for the plan as an incentive for neighborhoods to create technology plans that identify what they need and how they will use it? CDBG funds and other monies are not thrust upon neighborhoods without a plan for what it is going to be used for. Wifi should be no different.



So what is the role of cities in facilitating stronger broadband access and use? A few things that could be discussed include: Removing the barriers that impede neighborhoods from bringing Wifi to their communities; Developing partnerships with private companies to assist neighborhoods in realizing their goals and; Encouraging neighborhoods to organize and create local initiatives unique to their context with the strategic use of public dollars for implementation. This may seem idealistic but Wifi has brought forward an interesting issue regarding the role of city government in this day and age. I haven't even broached the topic of whether the technology will outpace the government's ability to implement and maintain the network.....another time



Scott Page

Scott Page is an urban designer and planner with degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgia Tech. His experience in neighborhood design, city-wide housing strategies, waterfront planning, downtown revitalization and economic development has resulted in innovative and achievable strategies for a diversity of public, non-profit and private clients. Scott's design process merges creative grass-roots planning with a focus on sustainable development and design.

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

May 1, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Wide suburban road with landscaped median and light pole banners advertising local amphitheater.

End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl

The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.

April 29, 2025 - Todd Litman

Close-up of pug dog sitting on woman's lap on city bus.

Seattle Transit Asked to Clarify Pet Policy

A major dog park near a new light rail stop is prompting calls to update and clarify rules for bringing pets on Seattle-area transit systems.

May 9 - The Urbanist

Modular home being lifted with crane.

Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing

The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.

May 9 - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Two people on Nashville BCycle bike share wearing helmets loking out over railing at downtown skyline.

Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding

The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.

May 9 - WKRN

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Write for Planetizen