District to Seek Wireless Internet That Aids Poor

Roy said the District would allow companies to propose whatever technology they wished for the network, saying it could include WiFi, a new standard called WiMax or wireless Internet cards produced by cell phone companies.

He said he hoped wireless companies such as Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc. that already offer such services in the District would consider bidding.

The District also plans to let the winning bidder have the option of serving low-income residents with landline Internet access rather than a wireless system.

Using 2000 Census data, the District has identified the poorest parts of the city -- with about 100,000 residents -- as the highest priority for free service. The top tier -- more than 40,000 people -- is concentrated chiefly in Southeast Washington but includes people in other parts of the city.

The District plans to require that low-income residents receive a minimum speed of 500 kilobits per second downstream -- when data flows to a user's computer from the Internet -- and 150 kilobits per second upstream, from computer to Internet. The downstream speed is about 10 times the speed of standard dial-up access but falls far short of the speeds available with cable modem service or phone companies' DSL lines.

D.C. officials said it is impossible to say exactly where the network will be available and what service may cost paying customers until companies respond to their request for proposals, which has yet to be issued. Roy said the document was nearly completed.

After the request has been issued, D.C. officials must evaluate the proposals, select a winner, negotiate a contract and secure the approval of the D.C. Council.

Verizon, Comcast Corp. and RCN Corp., which are the major companies that provide Internet access over phone and cable lines in the District, all said they will look carefully at the District's proposal when it is published.

"We would be concerned if the government were to use tax dollars and public facilities to subsidize a commercial enterprise that competes with private business, but certainly at this point have no reason to think that is contemplated by the city's proposal," said RCN senior vice president Richard Ramlall.

"In general, municipally sponsored or subsidized Internet proposals are not competitive with Comcast's service because we offer faster speeds, greater reliability and more features," said Comcast spokesman Jim Gordon.

Comcast offers high-speed Internet access -- with a downstream speed of 4 megabits per second -- for $57.95 per month. RCN offers 5 megabits per second downstream for $55.95 and Verizon offers its lowest speed of DSL, at 768 kilobits per second downstream, for $14.95 a month.

EarthLink Inc., which has been chosen to build Philadelphia's wireless project, plans to charge about $20 a month for regular customers and about $10 a month for low-income residents. It will offer speeds of 1 megabit per second.

Proponents argue that bringing high-speed Internet to low-income groups can bring economic, educational and social benefits to people who would otherwise be deprived.

"Information is king," said Rey Ramsey, the chief executive of nonprofit group One Economy Corp., who has been consulted by the District on how to ensure low-income people get the equipment, training and content to make use of the Web access. "What's important today is having access to broadband at an affordable price."