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Tuesday, May 13, 2008
BREAKING NEWS: EarthLink To Dump Wireless Philadelphia Next Month

EarthLink, the Internet service provider that hooked up the city through Wireless Philadelphia, announced this morning that it wants to start dismantling the system on June 12.  The Atlanta-based company has been looking to get out of the municipal wireless business here and in other cities since November. But Philadelphia has a 10-year contract with EarthLink, signed in February 2006, that calls for the company to pay the city $1 million in 10 days as part of a long-term payment plan.

So EarthLink today went to federal court, asking a judge for permission to pull down its equipment after June 12.  You've probably seen the stuff, which EarthLink says has a value of $17 million.  It's those little silver boxes with two antennae strapped to streetlights across the city.  They broadcast Internet signals to computers with wireless access. EarthLink also asked the federal judge today to limit its financial liability for Philadelphia Wireless to $1 million.

Mayor Nutter today vowed to protect the city's interest under the contact and said he does not intend to spend city money to keep the system up and running.  Nutter added that EarthLink had been negotiating with Cleveland-based OneCommunity to take over Wireless Philadelphia but that several potential deals had fallen apart in the last week.  OneCommunity, a non-profit, has $25 million in funding for the next five years from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to help provide Internet access to 26 cities, including Philadelphia.

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 12:27 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
Comments   
Posted 01:46 PM, 05/13/2008
Leron
Yes, no cancellation fee. I've had the service for quite a while now, and hardly ever use it. It is definitely unreliable, to say the least. Ordered Verizon to do the job Earthlink couldn't.
Posted 03:19 PM, 05/13/2008
Christine Summers
Horrible service. I ordered the service and they never could make it work. Nutter needs to contract with an established company. Back in the day Earthlink had a very good reputation, however, with technology moving rapidly, they got left behind. And since they have a contract, make them pay the City. We cannot afford to let hard earned dollars go down the drain with a company who did not live up to their promises.
Posted 03:56 PM, 05/13/2008
SJ
Another Mayor Street failure.
Posted 04:30 PM, 05/13/2008
SJ
Careful as MILTON STREET may get the contract now.
Posted 04:54 PM, 05/13/2008
MiddleNameHussein
I predicted this when it was announced. As soon as I heard that some people had to pay more than others based on income, it was doomed. The liberals wanted it to be a social program, not a utility.
5 comments
About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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Catherine Lucey
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