Mayor seeks council OK on Houston WiFi plan

Mayor seeks council OK on Houston WiFi plan

Ok, more ways our Mayor is looking to make us a "world class city"

After announcing Tuesday that Internet service provider EarthLink has been selected to build the city's wireless network, Mayor Bill White wasted no time moving toward the next step — City Council approval.
The contract, which calls for EarthLink to invest nearly $60 million to build a network that would span Houston's 600 square miles, already is on the Thursday agenda of a council committee

So here we go looking to spend $60 Million dollars that could have been allocated to Police or Fire protection. Or maybe if it is actually Earthlink that is spending the money and not coming out of the pockets of Houstonians.

"Houstonians can look forward to a future in which we have better technology to create better jobs for our citizens, attract jobs for the future to our city, bridge the digital divide that will lift people up educationally in our community, to put us at the forefront of leadership in this nation," White said.

Another of the "World Class City arguments" It looks like they are going to use that bit of fluff until it is old and limp.

Richard Lewis, the city's information technology director who helped broker the agreement with EarthLink, is scheduled to give more details to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation Committee Thursday.
Committee chairman Michael Berry said he expects the council to approve the contract, partly because White was personally involved in vendor selection.

Now I wonder what is Mr. Lewis going to gain out of this proposed contract, maybe a nice comfy position with Earthlink when he leaves the City IT department? And when did Councilman Berry become the yes man for Mayor White?

The service likely would not be available in enclave cities, White said.
"We haven't made contracts for, or committed assets in, and we wouldn't specify a service level for an incorporated area within the city," he said. "I assume that other incorporated areas in and around Houston will be looking at WiFi technology in the future."

So this means that there will be dead spots in the coverage area. Glad to know this up front.

Aside from gaining council approval, the project faces other challenges, Berryman said. The company hopes to lease the rooftops on various buildings to mount equipment. White is helping get property owners on board, offering a lease
price of up to $1,200 per month.
EarthLink has completed or is building municipal networks in several cities, but none nearly as large as Houston. In
Philadelphia, where the company expects to cover 135 square miles, it got solid reviews from Greg Goldman, CEO of Wireless Philadelphia, the nonprofit that has partnered with EarthLink for the build-out.

I wonder if this is really going to work, or not. I guess time will tell. My question is will enough people use it to make it a viable asset for Earthlink.