Philly, Verizon deal lets WiFi plan go forward
The city of Philadelphia and Verizon Communications Inc. struck an agreement Tuesday that would allow the city to provide wireless Internet access as a municipal service even if Gov. Ed Rendell signs legislation to give Verizon the power to scuttle the project.
Philadelphia's plans are the most ambitious of any major U.S. city to provide free or cheap high-speed wireless to all residents.
Lawyers for the city and Verizon, the city's local telephone company, found common ground Tuesday in discussions with the governor's office, said Luz Cardenas, a spokeswoman for Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street.
The parties "reached an understanding that protects our interests and allows us to move forward with the Wireless Philadelphia initiative," Cardenas said.
The agreement relieves pressure on Rendell, a former Philadelphia mayor whose political base is in the city, to veto the bill, which lobbyists for the telecommunications industry helped draft. Tuesday is the last day he has to veto it, or the bill becomes law without his signature.
Rendell's spokeswoman, Kate Philips, said the governor had not made a decision by mid-evening.
