EarthLink reaches a tentative deal with the City of San Francisco

EarthLink reaches a tentative deal with the City of San Francisco

Free wireless Internet access is coming to the city of San Francisco as they have reached a tentative agreement with the internet service provider EarthLink.

EarthLink is working with several partners including the search engine company Google to develop a free wireless Internet program throughout San Francisco.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said that they have reached an agreement with the company to provide wireless Internet access at no cost to taxpayers.

He said: “Ubiquitous Wi-Fi will change how residents access education, social services and economic opportunities.”

The deal gives EarthLink access to install the necessary Wi-Fi radio antennas on the public properties in the city. The announcement came after more than a year of negotiations and public hearings.

Donald Berryman, president of EarthLink’s municipal networks unit added in a statement: “We look forward to working with the Board of Supervisors to gain approval of the agreement so we can begin building out the network in 2007.”