The Metro today sparked a lot of questions with a report that EarthLink, the Internet service provider that hooked up much of the city for Wireless Philadelphia, is threatening to take down the system starting tomorrow if the city doesn't take control of it.  EarthLink announced in November that it was getting out of the municipal wireless business and has been negotiating an exit with Philadelphia since then.

Doug Oliver, a spokesman for Mayor Nutter, today said those discussions are still under way.  But Oliver said the company has not given the city a deadline.  "We have not been given a date after which EarthLink will take down the existing assets," Oliver said.  Greg Goldman, Wireless Philadelphia's CEO, today put out a statement noting that EarthLink's 10-year contract with the city does not allow it to "unilaterally impose deadlines for the network's transfer."

Chris Marshall, a spokesman for EarthLink, didn't respond to questions about the rumored threat of a system shut-down but e-mailed to say he thinks the negotiations "will soon reach resolution."

EarthLink has reached agreements with Corpus Christi, Texas and Milpitas, Calif. to hand over control of wireless networks in those towns.  The company also plans to shut down a wireless network in New Orleans next week.