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Supervisors Continue Review of EarthLink–Google Citywide Wi‑Fi After Technical, legal and privacy concerns
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee heard multi‑hour testimony on an EarthLink/Google citywide Wi‑Fi franchise: DTIS and controller analyses outlined costs and consumer savings while the ACLU and residents pressed for stronger privacy, coverage and backup‑service protections; the committee continued the item for further review.
Chair Chris Daly convened the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee on a proposed agreement that would let EarthLink (with partner Google) install and operate a citywide wireless broadband network in city right‑of‑way, provide a free basic service tier and a paid premium tier, and direct a share of revenues to a digital inclusion fund.
The proposal, presented by the Department of Telecommunications and Information Services, would require no direct city capital outlay, include a $600,000 non‑refundable prepayment to the city and a 5 percent gross‑revenue share. DTIS staff described a two‑square‑mile proof‑of‑concept pilot before any broader rollout, a four‑year initial term with options to renew, and a free basic tier that the city and controller characterized as roughly 300 kilobits per second with an optional premium tier near 1 megabit per second for paid subscribers.
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