[Chapter-delegates] Google plan would offer free Internet throughout SF

[Gene Gaines]

A huge, beautiful piece of news...
(via Dave Farber's IP list)


Begin forwarded message:

From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne at warpspeed.com>
Date: September 30, 2005 9:44:43 PM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net at warpspeed.com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Wireless access for all? Google plan
would  
offer free Internet throughout SF
Reply-To: dewayne at warpspeed.com


Wireless access for all?

Google plan would offer free Internet throughout SF

- Verne Kopytoff and Ryan Kim, Chronicle Staff Writers

Friday, September 30, 2005

Google Inc. has proposed to blanket San Francisco with free
wireless   Internet access, placing a marquee name behind Mayor
Gavin Newsom's   effort to get all residents online whether they
are at home, in a   park or in a cafe.

The offer by the Mountain View search engine was one of many  
competing bids received by the city before its deadline Friday.  
Officials will now review the submissions and make a decision
about   which, if any, of the candidates get the green light for
so-called Wi-  Fi service.

In joining the competition, Google is showing yet another sign of
its   boundless ambition. In the past few months, the company has
released   a succession of new products including instant
messaging and   telephone service that take it further from its
search engine roots.

The proposal furthers existing speculation that Google intends
to   create a free national Wi-Fi network. If so, it could pose a
serious   challenge to existing Internet service providers, such
as SBC-Yahoo,   Earthlink, Comcast and America Online, which
charge subscriptions for   wire connections.

"This is a great opportunity to provide a community service to
the   Bay Area," said Chris Sacca, who oversaw Google's wireless
Internet   bid in San Francisco. "This furthers the goal of
providing access to   all residents and visitors on as wide a
scale as possible."

Mayor Newsom unveiled a goal of a free, city-wide Wi-Fi network
last   year as part of his state of the city address. Since then,
officials   have been weighing how to carry out despite a tight
budget, finally   asking for proposals from over the summer.

As part of its proposal, Google said it could do the job
without   charge to either the city or residents.

Google is a neophyte in wireless Internet access. It's experience
is   limited to tests at a gym and cafe near its headquarters and
at   Bryant Park, in New York City.

Separately, Google sponsors free Wi-Fi service in San
Francisco's   Union Square in conjunction with a local start-up,
Feeva.

Competitors who submitted responses to the city's request for  
comments said Google's proposal is not entirely surprising. But
they   questioned the company's ability to follow through on its
plans.

Donald Berryman, EVP and president of municipal networks for  
Earthlink, questioned if Google had the know-how to be an
Internet   service provider. He said providing the deal for free
is also not   sustainable in the long run.

"We've looked into free service and we haven't found a model
where   free works," said Berryman. "At some point free becomes
less   sustainable because there's no way to upgrade service and
the   networks when no one's paying for it."

Chuck Haas, CEO of MetroFi, which runs two wi-fi networks in  
Cupertino and Santa Clara, wondered if Google would be meet the  
city's goals for coverage.

But he said the idea of free service is not entirely far-fetched.
He   said his company submitted a proposal in which wireless
broadband   would be free across San Francisco but would be paid
for with ads and   would have no technical support or services
for users. For $19.99 a   month, subscribers would get enhanced
service with no ads and   customer support.

"I believe we'll have enough people that want full security and  
customer support with no ads that we could make money," Haas
said.   "But no matter who the city chooses, I don't think the
city will have   to pay for this network."

SBC spokesman John Britton said his company encourages
competition,   but feels that governments should seek greater
investment from   private companies to increase broadband
service. He said in San   Francisco's case, the city is already
served by SBC and enjoys more   than 400 free wi-fi hotspots,
more than any other in the country.

"We feel there is already widespread broadband available
today,"   Britton said.

Vince Vasquez, a policy fellow with the Pacific Research
Institute,   which receives funding from SBC, said there has
never been a company   willing to volunteer this kind of a
network. But even if it's free,   it might represent too much
involvement by the city in a sector that   should left to private
industries, he said.

"Our concern is with public money and publicly controlled
internet   access," said Vasquez. "We take a lot of caution about
how government   should intervene in the market."


URL:
<http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/10/01/GOOGLE.TMP>

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