Philly Faces Fight

[UL_Approved]

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A bill was introduced at the state level in Pennsylvania that would prohibit the kind of networks that Philly plans to build. Comcast and Verizon denied any interest in suppressing the plan, noting that the bill has been in the works for a year, and includes a revamp of educational telecommunications funding.

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Once complete, the network would deliver broadband Internet almost anywhere radio waves can travel -- including poor neighborhoods where high-speed Internet access is now rare. Comcast has their corporate HQ in Philadelphia. Past experience indicates Comcast will do most anything to preserve their monopoly.

"The private sector is doing what the private sector always did, which is serve rich people," said Mark Cooper, research director for Washington-based Consumer Federation of America, defending the plan for a Philadelphia Cloud.

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It looks as if Pennsylvania is having a battle with corporate interests. Municipal authorities in Philadelphia want to put up hundreds to thousands of WiFi hotspots all over the city, but a state law is in the works to prevent it. This is apparently sponsored by Comcast, also headquartered in Philadelphia, who is trying to maintain a wireless monopoly in that area.

Source:

http://www.dailywireless.org/index.php

Other articles:

City Plan:
http://www.phila.gov/wireless/
http://www.mcall.com/business/local/all-wirelesssep01,0,1606449.story?coll=all-businesslocal-hed
Social implications:
http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/ohcd.htm
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/28553
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/10210849.htm?1c