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story category MetroFi Pulls Out of Municipal Wireless Game
Portland and other cities can buy their networks or hope for a sale
12:00PM Saturday May 17 2008 by KathrynV
tags: business · wireless · trouble · municipal · MetroFi
Municipal wireless service provider MetroFi has announced that the company is seeking a sale of its networks as it considers getting out of the citywide Wi-Fi game for good. The company has been unable to keep its promises in the nine networks that it’s built; the most recent problem was a demand that Portland pony up additional funding to complete a network that was supposed to be done this summer. MetroFi has now told Portland and other cities where it operates that they can buy the networks themselves within the next 30-60 days or MetroFi will look to sell them to a third party. MetroFi is also seeking to sell itself to a larger company.

Related:
  1. 2 out of 5 Cities Take Wi-Fi Back from Earthlink
  2. MetroFi Wireless Network Disappoints Portland
  3. New Orleans Opts To End Wi-Fi Network
  4. Wildfire Broadband Disconnects from Scottsdale
  5. Earthlink Closing Philly Wi-Fi Network June 12
  6. Solar Wi-Fi Plan Ends In Lawsuit
  7. Portland Finds No Buyer for Wi-Fi Network
  8. MetroFi Antennas Could Cost $60,000 to Remove
Forums » MetroFi Pulls Out of Municipal Wireless Game
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a333
A hot cup of integrals please

join:2007-06-12
Corona, NY

Hmmm

I think we can see a pattern here..... GASP, WiFi is carp when it comes to citywide networks.
permalink · 2008-05-17 12:09:46 · Reply to this

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast

Someone who still doesn't get that muni-WiFi is dead

»www.muniwireless.com/2008/05/16/···e-model/
Sadly, the mainstream press continue to demonstrate a remarkable ignorance by tagging this failure as a failure of “municipal wireless” – the reality is, the Philadelphia model is a corporate franchise granted to EarthLink — much of the problem stems from the fact that the municipality has no control or ownership over the network and EarthLink has demonstrated no accountability to the local community.
Her solution - stick it to the taxpayers.
»www.govtech.com/dc/articles/271842

Hey, that way, whether muni-fi has any customers or not, at least the government drones get to suck down political patronage jobs at taxpayer expense - not to mention high paid consultants trying to peddle this white elephant.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
permalink · 2008-05-17 12:12:56 · Print · Reply to this

PhoenixDown
-- Ron Paul 2008 --
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
clubs:

Re: Someone who still doesn't get that muni-WiFi is dead

How in the world can it fail?

I live in the middle of NYC and the ONLY option I have for high speed internet is Cable and their service sucks. I'd switch to wifi in a minute if it were reliable and available. I know others feel the same way. Toss in IP-TV and we'd have a real winner.
permalink · 2008-05-17 12:36:46 · Reply to this
EPS

join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

Re: Someone who still doesn't get that muni-WiFi is dead

"Reliable and available" seems to be a big part of the problem.

It sounds good in theory, but when a large percentage of the projects seem to be failed or on the verge of failing I don't see why any more money should be poured into it.
permalink · 2008-05-17 12:56:49 · Reply to this
patcat88

join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
said by PhoenixDown See Profile :

How in the world can it fail?

I live in the middle of NYC and the ONLY option I have for high speed internet is Cable and their service sucks. I'd switch to wifi in a minute if it were reliable and available. I know others feel the same way. Toss in IP-TV and we'd have a real winner.
Fresh Meadows isn't "middle of NYC", its a suburb but still in the borders.

IPTV over muni wifi is a joke unless Youtube quality is what you want.
permalink · 2008-05-17 13:43:50 · Print · Reply to this

a333
A hot cup of integrals please

join:2007-06-12
Corona, NY
·Verizon Online DSL

 ehhh, when you try using a technology that was designed for IN-HOME use (300-ft service radius), and try covering an entire city with it, I'll let you do the math of how many hotspots it takes to provide blanket coverage that's equivalent to cellular networks. In short, no f-ing chance it can work. Now, onto WiMax......
permalink · 2008-05-17 17:13:14 · Reply to this

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

 Just more proof that states need to step in and ban local governments from abusing taxpayers like this. When they talk about Philadelphia I can only think of how all the money the city wasted on its wireless Internet racket could have helped pay for more police officers or improvements to schools.
--
This isn't fair! I was only supposed to hate just ONE presidential candidate!
permalink · 2008-05-17 13:24:38 · Reply to this

a333
A hot cup of integrals please

join:2007-06-12
Corona, NY

Re: Someone who still doesn't get that muni-WiFi is dead

exactly, instead of WiFi, maybe some of that money could go to public schools such as mine, where they're considering cutting down on AP courses and school day length... sad.....
permalink · 2008-05-17 15:05:15 · Reply to this
hottboiinnc
Kyle

join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH		 Yep. They should since we all know Philly spent thousands of dollars on building that network. /sarcasm
permalink · 2008-05-18 02:44:04 · Reply to this

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

Re: Someone who still doesn't get that muni-WiFi is dead

said by hottboiinnc See Profile :

Yep. They should since we all know Philly spent thousands of dollars on building that network. /sarcasm
About $220K of taxpayer money was thrown at this boondoggle so far, and that's over the table spending. Given the way we'd see things go down as described in the local news when we lived near there, I have a feeling a lot more than this was spent.

»www.kyw1060.com/pages/1790263.php?

Even if $220K could pay the salaries of 3 or 4 cops, it would have been a better use of that money, especially with crime in Philadelphia the way it is.
--
This isn't fair! I was only supposed to hate just ONE presidential candidate!
permalink · 2008-05-18 08:57:29 · Print · Reply to this

a333
A hot cup of integrals please

join:2007-06-12
Corona, NY
·Verizon Online DSL

edit:
May 18th, @04:43PM
 hottboinnc:
So, according to you, while many cities apparently face 'budget cuts' and pass it onto important branches of gov't like public schools, you're fine with throwing taxpayer dollars down the drain at things like WiFi? Heck, I go to a Specialized H.S. in NYC and they might be hit with a
$4 million budget cut next year! They're even thinking of cutting back on the school day, and cutting AP courses. I'm sure similar events are taking place across the country, mainly due to wastes of money like these, besides Bush's trillion $$$ mistake.
permalink · 2008-05-18 16:42:54 · Print · Reply to this
ftth_freak

join:2005-06-17
Ballwin, MO

Government Knows Best

....for anyone waiting on the government to understand what their real role (which doesn't include broadband roll-out) you will be waiting a long time. I'm afraid we've gone past the point of no return when it comes to decreasing the size and scope of government. Hang on to what you've got cause they are coming or the rest.
permalink · 2008-05-17 21:06:53 · Reply to this
Forums » MetroFi Pulls Out of Municipal Wireless Game

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