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Dublin City Council is to investigate the feasibility of providing free wireless Internet access to everybody in the capital. Reports say the council is examining how to set up a city-wide WiFi broadband service that would allow anyone with a computer to access the Internet free of charge without the need for a phone line. In 2005, Google offered to blanket San Francisco with free wireless Internet access at no cost to the city, to get all residents online whether they are at home, in a park or in a cafe. In April 2006, San Francisco chose the high-tech team of Google and Internet Service Provider, EarthLink to bring free, wireless Internet access to virtually everyone in the city. The project, championed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, was intended to boost the city's technology credentials and help bridge the digital divide between the Internet haves and have-nots. It has also generated intense interest from other cities looking to build similar networks. For its part, Google intends to provide the free, so-called Wi-Fi access. The service it proposes will be faster than dial-up but slower than a typical broadband connection. In its joint bid, Earthlink plans to offer speedier access, but for a fee. No price has been set, but EarthLink plans to charge around $20 a month in other cities where it is negotiating Wi-Fi contracts, including in Philadelphia and Anaheim. Both companies are sharing the cost of installing the necessary equipment, estimated at up to $12 million. San Francisco will pay nothing and actually reap some fees by leasing city property as locations for Wi-Fi antennas.
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