Google Bids to Provide (free) WiFi in San Fran

AP via MyWay ^ | Oct 1, 8:24 PM (ET) | MICHAEL LIEDTKE

[counterpunch]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google Inc. (GOOG) wants to connect all of San Francisco to the Internet with a free wireless service, creating a springboard for the online search engine leader to leap into the telecommunications industry.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company filed an application late Friday to provide wireless, or "WiFi," service that would enable anyone in San Francisco to connect to the Internet.

Google submitted its 100-page bid in response to a request from Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is looking for a company to finance a free wireless network to lower the financial barriers to Internet access in his city.

[counterpunch]

So a company from America's richest city will be providing free internet access to America's second richest city.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2001/11/19/daily16.html

The median household income in San Jose was just over $72,000, far outstripping the second-place city, San Francisco, where the median was just over $57,000, and well outpacing New York City's $42,000-plus, the Census Bureau says.

[Paloma_55]

When they say "free" what they mean is..."We will charge someone else more, and let them pay for you".

My sister in law was just talking about how PG&E gives her a 20% discount for being over 55. I asked her "Who pays for that discount? After all, the money has to be paid by someone?"

Well, think about it. There are special government authorized rates and taxes to provide that "discount" to her.

Google will do the same.

[America First Libertarian]

I agree with it. I just got a laptop a free months ago, but WI-FI is so shaky, It should work anywhere on earth (i know, soon). Nothing like being cruising down the mighty rivers, in a canoe, with wi-fi

[jdm]

"WILL WORK FOR BANDWIDTH"

[aspiring.hillbilly]

All FReepers need to boycott the liberal/leftist/trash google, they and san fransissy go together like ben goes with jerry. I use dogpile.com myself.

[Revel]

You see the thing is that after they put all the other internet companys out of buisness they will start charging $50.00 a month or more.

[OldFriend]

Downtown Cincinnati has free wifi too.

[hombre_sincero]

If they have the bucks WITHOUT using any of mine (federal taxes) More power to them!

[HAL9000]

I think SBC is the local incumbent telco there. They will hate this.

[SaveTheChief]

I have a hard time with the "Internet for the poor" concept. Free Internet would be great, but using the poor as a reason to finance this is silly. If one is so poor to not be able to afford a 12 dollar a month Juno/Netzero account, then how are the same people able to purchase computers?

[wartman]

So who exactly is going to pay for this? Taxpayers?

[counterpunch]

I have a hard time with the "Internet for the poor" concept.

Note my comment (#2) that San Francisco is America's second richest city.

[Mike Darancette]

AOL stock, Going down.

[truthpls]

Have you noticed more and more information that used to be free now requires a fee? Not much fun, if everything you want to do on the internet costs $25 or more. How will this help the underprivileged?

[CheyennePress]

Well, this of course denies the fact that small cities exist. I can assure you that the average income of the residents of Newport Beach or Rancho Santa Fe or Aspen exceeds that of San Francisco.

Point taken, and I'm just quibbling over minor details.

[Terpfen]

How will this help the underprivileged?

Porn, of course.