Google exec frustrated at San Francisco contract negotiation tactics, delays: The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Chris Sacca, Google's lead in its partnership with Google to put Wi-Fi in that city, is frustrated with the delays that the city has introduced into producing a final contract. The article couldn't get comments from EarthLink or the city, and speculates that Sacca's statements are a negotiation tactic. The article also notes that contact progress is posted.
Sacca contrasts the Mountain View process (2 1/2 months) with the several months so far without the end in sight. He should have studied Philadelphia, where EarthLink was awarded the bid in Oct. 2005, had a contract finished in early 2006, and didn't receive city council approval and then signed contracts until about May. The summer involved permitting and other work, and the pilot network is only now under construction.
Also, Mountain View was getting a big, fat, free gift. EarthLink will charge for access at a higher rate in SF, while Google will offer lower speeds for free.
It's a whole different ballgame when dealing with the MAN. We just finished the New Rochelle, New York network, and a huge amount of the prime contractor's effort and time went to the process of producing drawings, certifications, attending meetings, doing presentations, and generally convincing the city fathers that the Tropos units installed on streetlamps and traffic signal arms would not cause a liability issue. And that's a free network too.
MY god... the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (aka city council) hasn't even gotten STARTED on this one yet. It's going to be a long long struggle before Earthlink ever puts a single piece of equipment up.