Chicago Backs Out Of Muni-Fi Plan - New anchor tenant trend doesn't sit well in windy city
Links: home · search · speed test · login · more ·
Chicago Backs Out Of Muni-Fi Plan
New anchor tenant trend doesn't sit well in windy city
(old news - 06:31PM Tuesday Aug 28 2007)
tags: business · wireless · municipal · EarthLink · AT&T Midwest
Tipped by retzer
User retzer writes in: "Looks like Chicago has dumped plans for citywide wi-fi service. Apparently, Earthlink and AT&T -- both in the running for the contract -- wanted a commitment from the city to be an anchor tenant, paying to use the network to support city services. City officials said no way, feeling that technology is advancing and the cost of online access for consumers is declining so dramatically that the city can find other (probably cheaper) ways to promote more use of the Internet."

Related:
  1. Earthlink Backs Out of San Fran Wi-Fi
  2. Making Municipal Wi-Fi Work
  3. Is EarthLink Exiting the Wi-Fi Industry?
  4. Corpus Christi Finally Gives Up on Earthlink
  5. 2 out of 5 Cities Take Wi-Fi Back from Earthlink
  6. New Orleans Opts To End Wi-Fi Network
  7. Earthlink Threatens To Shut Down Philly Wi-Fi
  8. Earthlink Closing Philly Wi-Fi Network June 12
Links: New Topic
Forums »

fatmanskinny @ 28th Aug 06:35PM:
Based on the ELNK news today....

I would say to the City of Chicago, "smart move".
reply
Jon @ 28th Aug 07:04PM:
Hey! >:(

"bickering among elected officials"

There is no bickering in Chicago!
King Richie does what he wants, and if they know whats good for them everyone goes along with it. ;)
reply
Randy @ 28th Aug 07:04PM:
Re: Based on the ELNK news today....

Right now Springfield, Il needs to tell ATT to not do it either since they know its worthless.
reply
anon @ 28th Aug 07:30PM:
WiMAX is the way to go

With Sprint WiMAX coming first to Chicago later this year, they'd be foolish to blow money on a technology never intended to be a MAN.

If city govt's want to invest in wireless Net, they should subsidize the Sprint WiMAX rollout and offer discounted service to Chicago citizens.
reply
mobbo @ 28th Aug 07:35PM:
Re: WiMAX is the way to go

You're absolutely right, anonymous Sprint user.
reply
ztmike @ 28th Aug 08:12PM:
fiber

Chicago needs a fiber rollout, maybe it will push atat and comcast to actually give us higher speeds.

Other wise their not going to budge on their speeds until doomsday.
reply
Greg_Z @ 28th Aug 08:35PM:
Re: Based on the ELNK news today....

»www.sj-r.com/extras/breaking/index.asp#3382

AT&T drops citywide wireless internet plan
Last Updated 8/28/2007 6:06:58 PM

By CHRIS WETTERICH
STAFF WRITER

AT&T has scuttled plans to deploy wireless Internet throughout Springfield, according to Mayor Tim Davlin's top aide.

"They made a business decision not to pursue this", said Jim Donelan, Davlin's executive assistant, this afternoon.

The city is still open to companies that want to make proposals for citywide wireless access, Donelan said.

A spokesman for AT&T did not provide a statement from the company this afternoon.

The city has contacted Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, whose office had planned to provide a grant to the city to deploy a wireless network at the Statehouse and downtown, but no deal has been worked out, Donelan said.

The city announced the AT&T deal to much fanfare a year ago. Springfield was to be the first city AT&T offered the service.

In recent months, Donelan had said negotiations were continuing with the telecommunications giant. However, AT&T backed out of the deal "within the past few weeks", Donelan said.
reply
Randy @ 28th Aug 08:37PM:
Re: Based on the ELNK news today....

I just saw that, thats funny glad to see that happen.
reply
batterup @ 28th Aug 10:07PM:
I'm form the government

and I'm here to help you.
reply
S_engineer @ 28th Aug 10:47PM:
Re: Based on the ELNK news today....

Maybe now the legislature should see if they could back out of the recent bill regarding franchise agreements that benefits ATT!
--
Burn a tire, but make sure you buy that carbon offset!
reply
Lil Jon @ 29th Aug 01:56AM:
Re: I'm form the government

damn.
reply
N3OGH @ 29th Aug 08:13AM:
Re: Based on the ELNK news today....

The day I back out of a Muni Wi-Fi plan, my own brother picks me up, in a police car...
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power…
reply
AmeritecTech @ 29th Aug 08:22AM:
Re: WiMAX is the way to go

"@spcsdns.net". I LOVE IT. Dude, are you in Marketing?
reply
LilYoda @ 29th Aug 04:40PM:
Re: Based on the ELNK news today....

- we have a hood full of BPL gear, half a pack of cigarettes, and we're wearing sunglasses
- hit it
reply
armyrebel4 @ 4th Sep 01:03PM:
Re: fiber

It isn't going to happen, at least not in our lifetime. You better have a super majority downstate in power who supports it.
reply

Thank you for using lo-fi dslreports.com - report bugs
© 99-2009 silver matrix LLC