Municipal wi-fi; Ky. special session

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Wi not

Recently, an Enquirer editorial urged caution on Cincinnati's plan to offer citywide wireless Internet (Wi-fi) access within three years, citing problems other cities have encountered in setting up such systems.

A story Thursday in the Wall Street Journal raises similar points, noting that cities such as Philadelphia are struggling with cost overruns of 30 percent or more, while use of the service is below expectations.

There are privacy and environmental concerns as well. A potential deal with Google and EarthLink has become a hot political issue in San Francisco, which has put the proposal onto the ballot for November.

Besides, the 90-plus existing citywide systems could become co-opted by a group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs that is proposing to offer free wireless broadband Internet service to 95 percent of the nation within a decade, despite current opposition from the Federal Communications Commission. And rapidly changing technology could make current Wi-fi obsolete in a few years. Cincinnati could get ahead of the curve here by not joining the herd.

I'm an avid Wi-fi user, but I'm becoming more convinced that this is not one of the things that government does well - or should do.

Ray Cooklis

Energy bill

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher is calling the General Assembly into special session today to deal with an energy bill.

Let's hope the lawmakers exhibit a little energy of their own and at least engage in some debate before voting to go home.

The bill includes tax breaks for a proposed $3 billion coal gasification plant.

It was part of the agenda for a special session Fletcher called last month. But the House decided to go home as soon as members got there, saying most of what the governor wanted them to do could wait until the next regular session in January.

This time the energy bill is the only thing on the agenda, which means it shouldn't be too much trouble for lawmakers to focus their attention on its merits.

David Wells

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