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Commission approves non-exclusive pole-use agreement with EarthLink, adds aesthetic recommendation
Summary
The commission moved to approve a non-exclusive agreement with EarthLink for use of SFPUC streetlight poles for wireless broadband after public comment urging service-level agreements; a friendly amendment asked staff to examine aesthetic improvements.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission approved a non-exclusive agreement to permit EarthLink Inc. to install communications equipment on SFPUC streetlight poles as part of a proposed wireless broadband network, adding a friendly amendment urging staff and the contractor to examine aesthetic improvements.
The item had been continued from a prior meeting. Public commenters cautioned that EarthLink had scaled back its national mini–Wi-Fi initiative and raised concerns about the absence of service-level agreements and whether a pilot or city-owned solution should be pursued first. Hugo Crossfin urged commissioners not to adopt a contract lacking explicit service-level guarantees.
Commissioners limited debate at the dais and treated the vote as a mechanical contract authorization; Commissioner Squire offered a friendly amendment recommending aesthetic review of the proposed equipment. The motion to approve was moved and seconded and the amendment was accepted on the floor before the vote.
