The rebuilding of New Orleans continues as EarthLink has won approval from the City Council to build a wireless network within a 15-square-mile area. As with similar networks they are building in cities such as Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Anaheim, the network will have a free service and a paid service tier. The free service will be available for a limited time at speeds up to 300kbs, and the paid service will offer speeds up to 1 mpbs.
As we have said here in both the blog and in our podcasts, this is an important step in the rebuilding of New Orleans. The city needs to attract business as well as provide essential services for its residents, and this wireless network is a step in the right direction. Let's hope that that companies such as BellSouth and Cox Communications refrain from their obstructionist practices of keeping any wireless network proposals under wraps and either help the city in the rebuilding or simply get out of the way.
More details will surely follow, but EarthLink has done it again. Here's hoping this network will help the Crescent City take one step further toward recovery.
