New Orleans To Get New Wireless Network

The city of New Orleans has announced a deal under which EarthLink will build a wireless network for the city, addressing complaints about wireless service previously offered by the city in violation of a state law. The law, intended to create a level playing field for commercial vendors, forbids municipalities from offering wireless Internet service at speeds faster than 128 Kbps. New Orleans had been offering service at 512 Kbps. In the new deal, EarthLink will build a 15-square-mile network that will provide free Internet access at speeds of 300 Kbps.

The free service will be supported by advertising; residents will also have the option of paying for faster service without ads. EarthLink will bear the cost of building and maintaining the network.

Wi-Fi Planet, 26 May 2006