While plenty of U.S. cities have touted plans for citywide wi-fi, Minneapolis may be one of the only ones to deliver, according to
CivSource.
Minneapolis's 59-square-mile network, which is offered to residents for as low as $15 monthly, it states, is making money. In contrast, in many other cities, similar efforts have flopped.
US Internet has a $12.5 million, 10-year contract with Minneapolis "which helps ensure network profitability," the article states.
Only six percent of its network capacity will be reached this year, but that figure is likely to rise in 2011, while US Internet is poised to reach its goal for 2012 of 30,000 citizen subscribers.
Minneapolis builds a good case for the model, says CitySource, adding that "despite the cost, it doesn't appear that the contract will be on the chopping block any time soon."