by KYW's Mike Dunn
Work on "Wireless Philadelphia" -- the grand vision of former mayor John Street to blanket the city in a Wi-Fi wireless Internet signal -- is now at a near standstill as the company constructing it tries to find a buyer to assume the deal.
Earthlink confirmed recently to investors that it is trying to sell its entire municipal Wi-Fi business, which includes "Wireless Philadelphia." The local project is now 80 percent complete.
But officials here admit that construction of the final portion is moving at a snail's pace, as Earthlink seeks a buyer.
Terry Phillis (right), Mayor Nutter's chief information officer, says a sale at this point would be the best thing for everyone:
"The first alternative is by far the best alternative -- that they find an appropriate buyer, the city signs off. If that was to happen, it would probably be a better thing than where we're sitting today."
But finding a buyer, he acknowledges, won't be easy:
"Someone coming in to buy it would have to have a financial model that would make sense for them."
The uncompleted portions of the network are in the city's northeast and northwest sections. Phillis says Earthlink has also stopped trying to find new customers:
"I have not seen any significant marketing for some time now."
Philadelphia's Wi-Fi effort attracted worldwide attention, and Phillis says people are still watching:
"Everyone is looking to see how Philadelphia is going to finish."
Regrets about all this? Phillis has none:
"I would not say that we shouldn't have done this, because this cost the taxpayers no money."
The original plan was to provide a citywide Wi-Fi signal, with discounted monthly fees for lower-income residents. That part of the effort, dubbed "Digital Inclusion," continues to be pursued by the nonprofit "Wireless Philadelphia" agency.
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