Only in the bay area: Free high-speed internet for everyone!

**WebHead** · October 24th, 2004, 01:53 PM

San Francisco aims for free citywide WiFi

Friday, October 22, 2004 Posted: 11:37 AM EDT (1537 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom set a goal Thursday of providing free wireless Internet activity in his city that sees itself as a vanguard of the Internet revolution.

"We will not stop until every San Franciscan has access to free wireless Internet service," he said in his annual state of the city address. "These technologies will connect our residents to the skills and the jobs of the new economy."

From cnn.com

Wrbby's comments: Mayor Newsome rocks!!

**3fingersalute** · October 24th, 2004, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by WebHead

San Francisco aims for free citywide WiFi

Friday, October 22, 2004 Posted: 11:37 AM EDT (1537 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom set a goal Thursday of providing free wireless Internet activity in his city that sees itself as a vanguard of the Internet revolution.

"We will not stop until every San Franciscan has access to free wireless Internet service," he said in his annual state of the city address. "These technologies will connect our residents to the skills and the jobs of the new economy."

From cnn.com

Wrbby's comments: Mayor Newsome rocks!!

That will kind of kill war driving in that city - but still very cool!!!

**Zil** · October 24th, 2004, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by WebHead

San Francisco aims for free citywide WiFi

Friday, October 22, 2004 Posted: 11:37 AM EDT (1537 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom set a goal Thursday of providing free wireless Internet activity in his city that sees itself as a vanguard of the Internet revolution.

"We will not stop until every San Franciscan has access to free wireless Internet service," he said in his annual state of the city address. "These technologies will connect our residents to the skills and the jobs of the new economy."

From cnn.com

Wrbby's comments: Mayor Newsome rocks!!

Wow, basically free pron for everyone! Even Cleetus might consider moving there. Hehe, skills and jobs of the new economy, more like "free entertainment for everyone that has a computer". Next thing, they give all the homeless free computers.

**Major Kong** · October 24th, 2004, 07:20 PM

That is mega kewl!!!

My only observation concerns this mayoral comment:

"No San Franciscan should be without a computer and a broadband connection."

OK providing the WiFi is laudable, but I didn't see anything in the story on how this portion will be done.
Regardless though I think it's an awesome endevour.

**silencio** · October 24th, 2004, 07:43 PM

There's no free lunch.

**Cleetus** · October 24th, 2004, 08:42 PM

Local talk show dude I listen to in the afternoon, who is very close to libertarian, has a crusade to round up our bums and ship them off to San Fran

**TechZ** · October 25th, 2004, 12:26 AM

I want to live in SF!

**WebHead** · October 25th, 2004, 12:37 AM

Nice,.. I just found out Mayor Newsome is also pushing to get the 49ers a new stadium finally. Now THIS is a mayor that has his priorities straight. Free internet for everyone and a brand new football stadium. I love it.

**Orangeman** · October 25th, 2004, 04:33 AM

I suppose it'll be awhile before this guy runs for Mayor of Tacoma...

**NooNoo** · October 25th, 2004, 04:35 AM

Originally Posted by TechZ

I want to live in SF!

Interesting that the initials of this city is SF

**3fingersalute** · October 25th, 2004, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

Interesting that the initials of this city is SF

???

**ilovetheusers** · October 25th, 2004, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by silencio

There's no free lunch.

I can't imagine that this would be a huge budget buster if it's just a free wifi hookup. Cost a godd amount of dough to get all the acess points set up and monthly for the...

Now that I think about it, this could cost tons. How much is the bill for this and how many jobs is it going to cost when no one wants to pay their own ISP?

**Zil** · October 25th, 2004, 10:01 AM

I wonder what the tax burden for this will be.

**+Daemon+** · October 25th, 2004, 10:09 AM

they did this already in riverside, ca were I work. No big shock

**3fingersalute** · October 25th, 2004, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by ilovetheusers

I can't imagine that this would be a huge budget buster if it's just a free wifi hookup. Cost a godd amount of dough to get all the acess points set up and monthly for the...

Now that I think about it, this could cost tons. How much is the bill for this and how many jobs is it going to cost when no one wants to pay their own ISP?

Yow - come to think of it, if this is really high-speed WIFI service at no cost, it would basically kill the ISP market in the bay area!!