Independent California-based DSL ISP Sonic.net has launched the San Francisco WiFi Project, an effort to deliver free Wi-Fi to San Francisco residents. The company is offering inexpensive Meraki gear (previously discussed here) to customers at a subsidized rate. Customers can buy a $40 Wi-Fi starter kit that includes a Meraki Mini (see right), ethernet cables and a startup guide.

The truly plug and play device can then act as a repeater with other routers in the neighborhood, offering 500kbps free service locally. In the e-mail sent out to customers, the company hints at the possibility that Google ad revenue from free users could be applied as discounts to DSL customer bills:CEO Dane Jasper tells us it's different from similar concepts such as FON because "we're not trying to WiFi the world - just portions of California." Jasper notes that in Santa Rosa, CA, where FON has a handful of hotspots, Sonic has 6,000 DSL users. Also unlike Fon, they're putting some Meraki gear on city street lights.

"Where Fon charges for day use, and in most cases keeps all of the money, we're offering free access, with ad support, and will share those revenues," he says. Ultimately, Jasper says his company wants to allow Sonic.net customers faster access to the network than the free users. Customers who host access points will eventually see even faster speeds, with no ads.

"However, the key features required to deliver this are not in the Meraki product today," Jasper tells us. "We're hopeful that they'll choose to implement authenticated WPA with RADIUS for Sonic.net customers, and provide the ability to set speed and ad display toggle via the RADIUS options flags."

Once the Meraki gear is capable, Jasper says they'd like to offer Sonic customers 1Mbps free access. Customers who host a Meraki gateway would get 2Mbps. "If/when the network is adequately deployed and reliable for true commercial service, we'd also consider offering a paid tier - perhaps 1Mbps for $10 to $20," he adds.

We asked Dane his thoughts on the current troubles facing citywide Wi-Fi at the moment. "The costs are large, the product is not as reliable or fast as wired products, so it's difficult to justify massive scale investment," he says. "This is the reason that we've selected a more organic approach, working with our customers as gateways for the network. We don't see WiFi ever replacing DSL or cable."

"Creating a network with the availability, speed and reliability of today's wired products is an impossible goal. However, it's a wonderful add on, and users do make use of WiFi where it's deployed."