By PAUL SWIDER
Published November 15, 2006

In what some might consider odd, competing businesses have been in attendance at the city's purchasing staff meetings as the group prepares to choose a vendor for Wi-Fi.

The competing bidders have shown up battling to build, run - and pay for - a citywide wireless Internet network.

Earthlink and Citi Wifi are the only companies left standing after the city culled bids to cover its 60 square miles with radio signals that allow people to connect to the Internet through the air. Last week, an evaluation committee heard final presentations from the Atlanta-based Internet service provider and its small St. Petersburg competitor.

Continues @ St. Petersburg Times