IP Democracy: Wi-Fi Free For All in Seattle

The City of Seattle launched its free Wi-Fi service, lighting up a wireless network in two neighborhoods. Seattle’s city council is slated to release a report on Tuesday that addresses whether high-speed Internet access service should be considered an essential service, such as water and electricity.

Despite the deployment of Wi-Fi, Seattle council member Jim Compton, who heads up the city’s Utilities and Technology Committee, believes that fiber is the long-terms solution for delivering broadband to everyone. The city’s Wi-Fi network is capable of handling only 50 homes per antenna.

In a move that seems understandable, but gives us the chills nonetheless, Compton said he plans to introduce legislation to create a city “Office of Broadband” to adminster and coordinate the various broadband plans under consideration.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on May 19, 2005 7:58 AM to IP Democracy