Philadelphia going wireless.

• Position: News & Numbers

Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street announced in April the details of a plan to provide wireless Internet access throughout the city. Developed by the 17-member Wireless Philadelphia Executive Committee, the plan aims to promote economic development, help overcome the digital divide, and improve the quality of life for every resident, business owner, and visitor.

"To successfully compete in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century, world-class cities must position themselves on the cutting edge of technology," Street said. "... we are taking an historic step to make Philadelphia a more attractive and appealing city in which to live, work, and visit."

Street also announced the formation of Wireless Philadelphia, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, and issued the release of the agency's request for proposals.

The committee's report made the following key recommendations:

Create a non-profit corporation to manage the deployment of the wireless network. The Committee recommended a non-profit corporation be established to oversee the implementation of the proposal. The non-profit will receive its start-up funding from foundation grants, bank loans, and other non-city sources. Within four years, the non-profit is projected to be debt free and generating positive cash flow.

Have private companies design, deploy, and manage the network. Through a request for proposals process, the non-profit will outsource...