I'm all for citywide WiFi, but all the benefits for the public depend on the contract. The city originally wanted 1Mbit/s throughput with coverage and 90 per cent coverage in high density apartments. These specifications were drastically cut, and the release yesterday of the RFP confirms critics worst fears.
The Register writes: “San Francisco shows world how not to do Muni Wi-Fi”. The article points out it grants a vendor a long-term citywide monopoly, one that could be the worst of all worlds for citizens.
A poorly implemented municipal network that provides only slow, patchy coverage, and exposes the citizens to data harvesting, will nevertheless act as a powerful deterrent to more comprehensive 3G and 4G/WiMAX alternatives: a loss for everyone except the city-blessed monopolist.
The blogosphere is abuzz on this, citing a lack of public comment: “Techconnect: No Public input on Draft RFP, DTIS can release RFI/C submittals but won't & doesn't know the details for their own hearing”.
Last I looked, Google is still involved, seeking to replicate their Mountain View deployment. Final proposals are due February 21st.