Verizon Playing For Keeps

I grew up in Philadelphia and thought the idea of City Wide WiFi was brilliant. The city used to have the water works and at one point the Gas Works that led to the city's growth and generated many jobs for people. The idea of city wide WiFi would have helped close the digital divide and brought broadband closer to many.

Verizon had much to lose. It's a very interesting story that has not played out fully. Esme has great analysis on this one. I'm too emotionally tied to it as a former Philly boy who went west to seek fame, fortune and a different life than I had there for the first 30 years of my life. My mom's still there and when I visit I spend time online with my Sprint card or going to Starbucks. I would have loved to have been able to access the net without Mom needing a cable modem or DSL, neither of which would she ever need or want...