EarthLink’s Government Intervention

According to a Dow Jones Newswire report, EarthLink has the potential to expand its markets through municipal governments, which are now eager to advance Wi-Fi access across their cities. EarthLink has struggled with losing consumers since moving away from dial-up access to faster broadband services, creating a decline in the company's dial-up business. In a search for growth, EarthLink is now focused on new technologies, including high-end services for wireless devices and Internet telephony. It has also studied alternative Internet-access technologies like service over wireless networks and power lines that could help free it from phone and cable companies. Through city governments EarthLink now has a chance to offer Internet services over large-scale alternative networks. EarthLink recently allotted 12 bids to the city of Philadelphia for a $10 million contract to build, run and maintain a city wide Wi-Fi network for residents, visitors, businesses and mobile government workers.

Source: Dow Jones Newswire