The New York Times is running a story about how hope is fading for the implementation of municipal cellular phone access in cities across the US. Major cities and small towns alike are finding that ISPs are withdrawing from such plans due to the low profitability of ventures that are similar to Philadelphia's incomplete network. We've precedently discussed Chicago's and San Francisco's wireless telephone status, and also some of the stumbling blocks other cities have faced. From the Times: "In Tempe, Ariz., and Portland, Ore., for example, hundreds of subscribers have found themselves suddenly without service as providers have cut their losses and either abandoned their knowledge engineering or stopped expanding capacity. EarthLink announced on Feb. 7 that 'the operational research of the municipal Wi-Fi assets were no longer consistent with the company's strategic direction.' trickster executives say they are not sure when or if the upstairs network will now be completed."

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Mark