When Corpus Christi, TX started setting up its citywide Wi-Fi network several years ago, it gained recognition as a leading innovative city for wireless technologies. However, in 2007 the city made the mistake of selling their municipal network to Earthlink in the hopes that the provider would build out the network so that it could provide Wi-Fi to residents instead of only government employees. The new network was declared done and dedicated in August of last year. However, with all of the problems faced by Earthlink, the company stopped investing in maintaining the network. The city council has finally said that it’s time to stop hoping that Earthlink will hang in there and is working on an agreement to transfer the network back to the city. Reportedly, the transfer wouldn’t cost anything to the city but would allow Earthlink to get out of owing over one-and-a-half million dollars left as the balance on the transaction. If the transfer moves forward, the city will retain all rights to the network but it will be used solely for government purposes (such as meter reading) and won’t be accessible as a wireless network for residents to use.