Philadelphia wi-fi plan

There are plans afoot in Philadelphia to "transform its streets and neighborhoods into a gigantic wireless Internet hotspot....

The project highlights the growing trend among cities big and small to build out their own broadband access networks. Claiming their cable and local phone companies were dragging their heels over deploying broadband or charging rates too high for lower-income residents, many municipalities have turned to building high-speed Internet networks themselves."

Good for them. It's a real pity a few municipalities couldn't wake up to the idea on this side of the pond. It was one of the things I called for in my Unfinished wish list for government in the area of education. (Item number 18 on the list). I won't be holding my breath but it might be fun to quiz the election campaigners about it.