Read Todd Wolfson and Hanna Sassaman piece summarizing Philadelphia's important pursuit of stimulus money to expand Philadelphia online access.

via my personal blog:

Following Refresh Philly May have been some great discussions in its related Google Group.

Technically Philly posted two followups: City CIO's $100 million Digital Philadelphia vision and Editorial: City government calls for tech support

Jonny Goldstein, on his blog, envizualize, had literally, visualized the discussion with some art live at the discussion that is just terrific, you got to take a look: Visual Notes From Philly CIO Allan Frank at Refresh Philly

Two efforts to collect what people want from Philly governments online efforts and the data it makes available have been launched by participants in the discussion:

Wikispaces: phillydata

Google Moderator: Philadelphai - What can we do for you?

Hey all:

MMP and Temple have rescheduled our Public Forum on the Future of the Philly WiFi initiative for next Wednesday night. We understand that there are some serious negotiations in the works and we hope there will be a deal announced shortly. Please come next Wednesday. In the meantime, here is the basics regarding the forum:
The Future of Philadelphia's Wireless Internet Initiative:A Public Forum
When: Wednesday, June 18, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Tuttleman Learning Center, Room 105,
Corner of 13th St. and Montgomery Ave. Temple University
Panelists Include:
Mark Rupp, Principle, Boathouse Communications
Beth McConnell, Executive Director, Media and Democracy Coalition
Karl Garcia, Technical Staff, Google's Wireless network, Mountainview, Calif.
Greg Goldman, CEO of Wireless Philadelphia
Phuong Ninh, Philadelphia Student Union's Youth Leadership Team
Bill Green City Councilman-At Large
Invited, representative from the Nutter administration
The Media Mobilizing Project and Temple University's School of Communications and Theater are co-hosting a public forum to discuss the future of affordable broadband Internet access in Philadelphia. Please join us in helping to shape the future of the network and ensuring that all Philadelphians-regardless of their income or education levels-have access to affordable, high-speed Internet.

On June 12, 2008, Earthlink Wireless plans to disconnect their municipal WiFi service in the City of Philadelphia. For the sake of being timely, I am releasing my unfinished documentary about the joint program between Earthlink Municipal WiFi and the local non-profit, Philadelphia Wireless, forgoing further editing and technical corrections.

My aspiration for this film was to represent the personal insights of a few Philadelphians and their hopes for how municipal wireless service could affect positive change in their city.

Philadelphia Wireless (the local non-profit) is still searching for a new provider to manage the network, continuing their mission of bridging the digital divide by providing internet service to those who can't afford it.

Please forward the link to anyone you think might be interested in this topic.

Change is in the Airwaves: A Documentary about the Philadelphia Wireless Initiative from George Rausch on Vimeo.

Uneven ground, originally uploaded by Solacetech.

At first sight, the green field above looks pretty flat, but upon a further look, you'll see the dip. Now if you have been here before, you'll know that there's a HUGE valley in front of the trees... So too today in Philadelphia it appears the "Digital Divide" has closed between The Suburbs and the urban areas. I don't believe it. Our High Speed internet prices will continue to rise because of the current wifi situation. Yes it still functions, but the service has NOT reached it's full potential and Earthlink customer service is abysmal...The latest news is that Earthlink will eventually leave with "Wireless Philadelphia" left to fend for itself. WIMAX in Philly is being flirted with but until these other services establish themselves, and cause competitive pricing, the technology gap will continue. What do you think? Please subscribe...

Hey all

Media Mobilizing Project, Temple School of Communications and Theatre and a bunch of co-sponsors are hosting a public forum on the future of Philly WiFi on June 3rd at Temple. The forum will host a diverse panel of speakers, while including an open space for participants to speak about the future of the wireless Internet initiative

Under Earthlink's management, Philadelphia's wireless network has faced both technical and customer service challenges, weakening public engagement. Now is a vital time to reignite the discussion about the wireless network as Earthlink officials have announced their intention to sell or transfer the 135-square mile network. With new ownership on the horizon, a renewed opportunity exists for Philadelphia's WiFi initiative to serve as a national model for community media. The promise of a city where everyone has the potential to be connected, opens new doors for economic, social and political participation.

I hope folks as part of this online community can begin to see the possibility of a well functioning wireless network and consider engaging the process. Who knows it may even broaden the number of users on Philly Future.

Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr. (R, At-Large) was angry at Tuesday's municipal wifi meeting at City Hall and rightfully so. His concerns about the state of the ongoing Wireless Philadelphia project, in conjunction with EarthLink, were not being addressed and his concerns are the concerns of the people. Let me just add that the City Council room (City Hall 400), pictured above, is gorgeous. This was the first time I had attended a City Council hearing and I hope it won't be my last. I got to the meeting at 2.15p, after waiting in line downstairs for a pass, and the meeting was already underway.

While Councilman Brian O'Neill (R, 10th District [NE]) is the chair of the Technology and Information Services committee, it was Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (D, At-Large) and Councilman Rizzo (both pictured above) who did most of the talking while I was there for 90 minutes.

O'Neill was on his cell phone for a good portion of the meeting while I was there. I thought it was odd that he sat there, two chairs away from Tasco and Rizzo talking, softly, on his cell phone. He did get up to talk more away from his seat, but still in the room.

I listened to most of the testimony of the CEO of Wireless Philadelphia, Greg Goldman, the first permanent CEO of the project. He blogged about his, then, upcoming testimony [.pdf]. I wonder if he was prepared to get grilled like he did.

Network World (where I work), asked its Philadelphia readers to try out the municipal wireless service today - but anybody who'd like to help build our report is certainly welcome to, via a short survey and forum. www.networkworld.com/community/philadelphia.

Temple University is launching a study that will analyze the potential for mobile devices to enhance the experience of tourists in Philadelphia, and are currently seeking 20 to 35 year old tourists who are planning to visit Philly this month (July 2007) to partake in the study.

The experiment is going to study how tourists gain valuable experiences as they are traveling while analyzing the potential for mobile applications. Using mobile technology, specifically the cell phone and the various features therein, like sharing pictures, GPS mapping, and text messaging, the study will look at how these functions support the tourist experience.

All participants will be given Amazon.com gift card worth $200 which can be used virtually anywhere.

Email Iis P. Tussyadiah at iist@temple.edu for details!

Temple University
National Laboratory for Tourism and eCommerce
1700 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
iist@temple.edu

Daily News: Wi-fi Philly's laptop leap - 5 get free computers, giving breath to city's wireless dream:

Five welfare-to-work women in West Kensington just became the first city residents to earn free laptops and Internet service from Wireless Philadelphia, the mission of which is to connect low-income workers to the Web so they can get better jobs and provide better lives for their families.

The five women represent the tiny start of Wireless Philadelphia's citywide dream.

The nonprofit's high-tech partner, EarthLink, currently has made 25 of the city's 135 square miles wireless - from Spring Garden north to Temple University, West Kensington and Feltonville, along with growing patches in West Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and in Southwest Philly along Baltimore Avenue.

Gathered at Impact Services Corp., the welfare-to-work agency on Allegheny Avenue near 19th Street where they earned their wireless bundles by holding a steady job for a year, the five women are the first to receive a high-tech makeover that Wireless Philadelphia hopes to give to 500 low-income workers by year's end, thousands in years to come.

"Access to information is access to opportunity," said CEO Greg H. Goldman while Chief Operations Officer Agnes Ogletree's eyes welled up at finally seeing three years of plans realized.

It’s well known that Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love. But it might just as well be known as the city of firsts.

The site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was the country’s first capital, home to the first hospital founded by Benjamin Franklin, Bartram’s Gardens the first botanical garden, and America’s first zoo, just to name a few.

So it’s only fitting that Philly was the first U.S. city to join forces with Earthlink to offer free WiFi to the locals.

And after three years of planning, we can stop x-ing out the dates on our calendar in tearful anticipation. The initiative’s completion is close at hand. Local nonprofit Wireless Philadelphia is leading the charge to bridge the digital divide, and wire all Philadelphians ASAP.

If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe the experts -- namely, Wireless Philadelphia’s CEO Greg Goldman and Operations Manager Tom Kim. We at IncPlace sat down with them last month for a podcast that explains the past, present, and soon-to-be-realized future of this groundbreaking project.

Microsoft's Municipal Wi-Fi Push:

Many users like the idea of free Wi-Fi access, but how to make free access pay for itself remains unclear. Different ideas abound: Wi-Fi community access provider FON, whose users share Wi-Fi access with each other for free, is trying to make ends meet by selling wireless access points and charging monthly access fees for nonsharers. FON's investor partners include Google and Web-calling pioneer Skype, a property of eBay (EBAY).

Free, ad-based Wi-Fi networks are another option, also unproven. Research firm JupiterKagan has found that only 27% of free Wi-Fi users would be willing to see ads. "Advertising alone does not pay the bills," says Cole Reinwand, vice-president of product strategy and marketing at EarthLink, which will provide, together with Google, fee-based and ad-free services.

That's not how MetroFi sees it. It's sign-up rates for the free service are "an order of magnitude higher" than for fee-based Wi-Fi, reports Chuck Haas, MetroFi's CEO. "Obviously, free sells."

Computers.net: Microsoft Releasing Free Wireless Internet in Portland:

Microsoft announced that it is partnering with MetroFi to implement a free wireless Internet service for Portland Oregon. The new service will launch by the end of the year at the popular downtown Pioneer Courthouse Square. The service will expand into the rest of the city within two years.

PennLive.com: Pennsyltucky Politics Blog: Casey mum on debate prep:

"He’s been doing prep for the last year and a half since he got into the race," said spokesman Larry Smar.

What about practice sessions? "I'm not going to get into it," Smar said.

Who’s playing Rick? "Who cares what we're doing?" Smar whined.

So, let's get this straight. You're taking on the No. 3 Senate Republican, whose debate style is like a pit bull that's latched onto a small animal, in the nation's top race. You're not known as the most dynamic of public speakers. You're to appear on the top-rated Sunday morning talk show, which has been inundated with media requests for coverage, and will be watched by every top pundit. And you claim you're not doing prep work.

Can you say credibility problem?

This election was once thought to be Casey's to lose. Is it still that way?

Wireless Networking News Analysis: Philly CIO Under Scrutiny - :

The ethics board for the city of Philadelphia is looking into the circumstances of the departure of CIO Dianah Neff, who earlier this week announced she would be leaving city government to work for Atlanta-based consulting firm Civitium LLC . (See Wireless Philly Loses Head.)

The company received two contracts from Wireless Philadelphia, which Neff heads, totaling $300,000, according to Mayor John F. Street's acting director of communications, Joe Grace.

via Philebrity