ATLANTA—San Franciscans may have Wi-Fi both ways—free and paid for—now that EarthLink Inc. announced that it’s teaming with Google Inc. to submit a proposal for San Francisco’s Wi-Fi network contract.
In August and September, the companies submitted separate proposals during the city’s RFP period. Google offered to install an advertising-funded Wi-Fi network at no charge to the city and to provide free Internet access to all city residents. EarthLink proposed a paid service similar to its plans for Philadelphia and Anaheim, Calif., where the company won contracts to provide citywide Wi-Fi.
“Yesterday, EarthLink and Google jointly submitted a ‘Request For Proposal’ to the City of San Francisco to build a citywide wireless municipal network,” stated Donald Berryman, executive vice president of EarthLink and president of the ISP’s municipal networks unit. “This proposal presents a unique opportunity for both companies. By coming together to leverage the strengths of both companies, we will be able to offer services to different customers on the network that fit with their own individual needs and wants.
“Fundamentally, this RFP is in line with EarthLink’s belief in ‘open access’—that these municipal networks should offer the tools, services and applications that businesses, governments and consumers want to use to enable, enrich and empower their Internet experiences.
“Customers shouldn’t be tied to their desks, or to a single provider, to get the Internet experience they want. Both EarthLink and Google recognize this and are attempting to provide great service and choice in San Francisco.”
The joint proposal suggests a Google-managed free network alongside an EarthLink-managed fee-based service.
Silicon Valley-based Google Inc. was selected in November to build an advertising-funded Wi-Fi network for its home town of Mountain View, Calif.
San Francisco has not said when it plans to make a decision regarding its Wi-Fi service.
