Google-Earthlink JV Gets Boost From Mayor

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is taking steps to ensure that the city's agreement with the Earthlink-Google partnership will make it the first major city in the country to offer free universal wireless Internet access.

The mayor submitted legislation to the city's board of supervisors that codifies the original agreement, which said that wireless Internet infrastructure would be deployed and maintained by Earthlink throughout San Francisco at no cost to taypayers. Google will provide a free service tier as well as other innovative applications and services. 

For more on the mayor's proposal:
- see this release
- for a historical perspective on the debate read this article from FierceWireless