Google Proposes Free Muni-Wireless Network for San Francisco

Google has offered to build and run for free the entire San Francisco Municipal Wi-Fi network.

This validates what I have always been saying about city-wide, non-discriminatory internet service. More internet users = more online commerce and communication. If Google can bring online even a small percentage of the 776,000 people that live in San Francisco, they will have increased their customer base by a non-trivial amount. To say nothing of all of the additional online commerce these people will make use of, indirectly increasing Google Ad sales.

This is just common sense. Why wouldn’t every company online want more people to be potential customers? Every single internet based company should be banging down the doors of every politician they know to get them to support such citywide build-outs and put pressure on commercial internet providers.

This is also the reason why more online retailers should support all of the muni-wireless initiatives and community wireless groups: we’re helping to get you more customers!

Also:
New York Times
San Francisco Chronicle
Wi-Fi Net News

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