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Posted on Thu, Nov. 18, 2004

Pa. may block city 'Wi-Fi' plan, backers say

By Akweli Parker

Inquirer Staff Writer

Supporters of Philadelphia's plan to provide wireless Internet access blasted a bill in the state General Assembly last night that they said threatened the city's proposal.

House Bill 30, which needs only Senate approval before being sent to Gov. Rendell, contains a clause forbidding governments from providing fast Internet services - including wireless fidelity, or "Wi-Fi," access - that competes with private services such as Verizon Communications Inc.'s DSL and Comcast Corp.'s cable modem.

This fall, Mayor Street said his administration would look at providing Wi-Fi access citywide at little or no charge.

At a Wi-Fi Forum organized by Philadelphia nonprofit Media Tank last night, speakers told the audience to complain to legislators about the restriction.

"Your involvement as citizens is crucial; as citizens, you don't have to put up with that," said Harold Feld, associate director of the Media Access Project in Washington.

Verizon spokesman Harry Mitchell didn't see what all the fuss was about.

"This legislation and that facet of the legislation has been there for a year," he said in a telephone interview. "House Bill 30 represents a negotiation among several parties."

A Comcast spokeswoman said the company did not view Philadelphia's plan as a threat, as Comcast's cable-modem service includes add-ons such as video e-mail and exclusive content.

Feld and other speakers portrayed government-sponsored Wi-Fi as a cheap, simple way to provide citizens Internet access where the private sector either does not, or does so at unaffordable prices.

"The private sector is doing what the private sector always did, which is serve rich people," said Mark Cooper, research director for Washington-based Consumer Federation of America.

Philadelphia's Wi-Fi venture is reminiscent of cities that long ago established water and electric systems to serve their poorest citizens when private firms failed to step up, Cooper said.

"We see this as a fundamental public function," he said of broadband access.

The contested bill is the proposed replacement for the state's far-reaching telecommunications law that was created 10 years ago and expired in December. Both the old and the new versions define the rules for competition among telephone providers and established a time line for deploying fast Internet service, or broadband, throughout the state.

Verizon's Mitchell said: "There is a lot of good stuff in this bill, good stuff for Pennsylvania," including a $42 million technology fund for schools, and a 30 percent discount on high-speed Internet service for schools.

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