Verizon Learned Lesson From Philly Wi-Fi Fight → Re: Who pays for Muni

Not all muni-broadband projects are tax based but that doesn't stop them from being treated equally with all other municipal projects.

The end goal for all non-government broadband providers is to make sure there isn't ANY competition, not to eliminate supposed unfair competition. The existence of a true free market would be the beginning of their demise and that means no money to stuff in the pockets of people just waiting to get money and doing nothing else (aka investors).

As an agent I submitted a proposal to my city for Wi-Fi. The city made it clear they did NOT want to be in the wi-fi business but they did want wi-fi to enhance their down town. Their proposal was to provide up front cash to us as incentive to install the network. We would bill customer for use. The city did not want anything in return other than the availability of the wi-fi and some free accounts for city officials and police to use. City owned the power company and poles so they were even providing free electricity.

This is the way it should be because the tax payer basically pays very little ( seed money and a few watts of electricity. ) Wi_Fi is there for those who want to pay for it and the city gets braging rights for a one-time modest chunk of change. In this case all of $25,000.

So the tax payer takes the risk (seed money) and cedes the profits? Nice way to fund your business, if you can get it.

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So the tax payer takes the risk (seed money) and cedes the profits? Nice way to fund your business, if you can get it.

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I think what happens in the situation he describes it that the town (tax payers) provide seed money to give the WISP the incentive to install the infrastructure. After that the town benefits every time a sales man, or insurance agent, or realtor, or business man, or ... well you get the idea ... every time one of those people decide to have lunch in that town instead of the next town, because access is available in that town. The town (since it taxes retail sales of the restaurants and hotels) then increases it's tax revenues without having to increase it's real estate taxes.

... or something like that ...