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Budget analysts urge broader study as supervisors weigh Google/EarthLink Wi‑Fi deal
Summary
Budget analysts told the Budget & Finance Committee a municipally owned wireless network could be feasible but recommended a broader RFP and more community outreach. The committee heard hours of public comment on the proposed Google/EarthLink agreement, with advocates urging rapid rollout and critics seeking stronger privacy, competition and digital‑inclusion guarantees.
The Budget & Finance Committee heard competing recommendations and a large public record on a proposed citywide wireless Internet arrangement and on whether the city should pursue a municipally owned broadband network.
The Board—s budget analyst office presented a fiscal feasibility study that found a municipally owned wireless network "could be fiscally feasible" under some assumptions but carries notable financial and technical risks. The memo estimated capital deployment costs in the $6–$10 million range and recurring operations and maintenance of $1.5–$2.0 million annually. The analysts modeled conservative revenue assumptions (3–5 percent household uptake at a $10/month user rate) and produced a wide range of net outcomes from an annual shortfall of about $1.4 million to a net gain of roughly $900,000 depending on uptake and unquantified advertising and grant income.
The study also…
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