Todd Wolfson

Organizer with the Media Mobilizing Project and a guy who's trying to save Philly WiFi.

by Tom Namako

Earlier this month, when EarthLink announced it would shut down its failed, $17 million WiFi system and remove equipment from utility poles, Mayor Nutter said he wouldn't spend city funds to rescue the project. The Media Mobilizing Project, a group that works to close the gap between digital haves and have-nots, didn't like this, and has organized a call-in campaign to Nutter's office asking the administration to change course. It's also co-hosting a June 3 forum at Temple to discuss what's needed to make broadband access in Philadelphia a reality. City Paper caught up with MMP organizer Todd Wolfson.

City Paper: Why take this position?

Todd Wolfson: The process with EarthLink hasn't been perfect, and they have been a really bad partner. But our concern is that Mayor Nutter is turning the other cheek to the issue of digital inclusion, an issue every other city in the country is looking at. If Philly WiFi dies, this city really has to seriously account for the 30 percent of people living in poverty, those without computers, and the future.

CP: What exactly about Mayor Nutter's handling of this don't you like?

TW: What I've heard him essentially saying is that the city won't spend a dime on this, and that telecommunications in the city is best left to the free market. That's an astounding leap of logic, because it was the market that failed us in this case. ... Mayor Nutter isn't just turning away from this project because it's a Mayor Street legacy project, it also seems that he's taking his cues from Verizon and Comcast at a time when he's cutting the business privilege tax. We can see a pattern for the city Nutter envisions. It's not a city that's taking in the concerns of the poor.

CP: But if the city agrees to pay for some part of the network, what would you cut in the budget to free up those funds in these cash-strapped times?

TW: That's a good question. I can't give you a direct answer. I don't know the budget enough. Not cutting the business privilege tax might be a good place. ... I'm not turning around and saying that Philadelphia has to step up and own the network, but we need to do some creative thinking about how to get one up and running. In Minneapolis, the network has anchor tenants, like the government, and the profits go to digital inclusion projects.

CP: Let's say you were in charge. What would your first step be?

TW: I'd take an audit of the network. What do we have? What works, and what doesn't work? I don't think EarthLink has been forthcoming about that. We should do this before the city lets EarthLink come in and dismantle the network. If the city allows EarthLink to step in and throw this away, it's a horrible crime.

CP: Is that a bit alarmist? We're not sure EarthLink will even take anything down yet.

TW: I don't think they'll go to every light pole and take down every node. But they will take down key elements of the network. Attaining WiFi is crucial for the city. Just look at SEPTA, and you can see how a city develops. Along the subway and rail lines, you have certain kinds of economic development that's dynamic. If you think of the future, you have to think of digital access in the same manner. Like the rail lines, it can't be inaccessible to some people and not others.