by KYW's John Ostapkovich

With EarthLink backing out of Wireless Philadelphia and municipal Wi-Fi projects in other cities, an expert says the project was doomed from the beginning, but not necessarily doomed in the end.

Wireless consultant Craig Settles says the deal EarthLink cut with Philadelphia to construct a citywide wireless Internet system for free raced out of control because other cities wanted the same deal.

Trouble is in the corporate world only the guinea pigs, the firms putting up with the hassles of being first or second, get the best deal:

"Other corporations wouldn't have expected to be the third or fourth customer down the line and get that network for free. They would expect to have to pay for it."

Settles says Philadelphia might complete the system as a capital expense and then with a private firm managing it, recoup the money with a more efficient mobile workforce, and focus on digital inclusion in underserved neighborhoods.