BetaNews | Philly Wi-Fi Moves Closer to Reality

"EarthLink has finalized a contact to blanket the city of Philadelphia with wireless Internet access, the city said on Monday. Pending approval by City Council in February, construction of the 135-square-mile wireless hot spot would start shortly after signing of the contract.

A test area would be built out over a 15-square-mile area of Northeast Philadelphia to prove the system's effectiveness. If the test is successful, the entire city could be wireless by the spring of next year."