Newsome goal, first articulated a year ago, is to make San Francisco "the first city with a comprehensive wireless broadband initiative." Until now, Philadelphia was the only large metropolitan area to have a municipal wireless project.

Newsom asked for proposals from industry and non-profits on the broadband network by September 28. City officials are targeting low income, but want to provide it to small business, in neighborhoods, and to government safety employees. As part of the proposal, the city requires the network have a throughput of at least one Mbps and uses at least 802.11b/g technology, and that the technology be scalable for easy upgrade.

Google's offer to provide free wireless Internet access at no cost to San Francisco comes on the heels of several new product announcements including instant messaging and VoIP services. Speculation is that Google intends to create a free national WiFi network--seriously challenging major ISPs such as AOL, Comcast, Yahoo and SBC that currently charge.

The city is open to possible funding and maintenance models. "We need to keep an open mind as to whether or not this should be a municipally owned system, or whether or not it should be a public-private partnership that would advance the needs of maintaining the system," said Newsom. San Francisco is a challenge given its steel hills and high-rise buildings. More than a dozen bids were received before Newsom's Friday deadline. The decision is just weeks away although no firm date has yet been announced.

Whereas Philadelphia placed its costs between $15 million to $18 million, San Francisco is estimating $10 million to $18 million according to Newsom. Both cities aim to provide free WiFi to low-income residents. A secondary benefit of a municipal wireless network is real-time police and fire department access.

San Francisco's approach is unique in that a city-owned network is part of a larger Tech Connect program whereby the city partners with not-for-profit organizations to provide low-income residents with computer equipment and training. Newsom not only wants the technology available, but the residents actually able to use it.