It appears to me that Google is simply sponsoring the deployment, and did not build and will not actively manage the installation. According to the coverage map [1], technical support is provided by Sky Packets, a company that plans, builds, and maintains wifi networks in municipalities. Also, the Chelsea Improvement Company's webpage [2] says: "Google's sponsorship paid for the capital cost of the network."<p>[1] <a href="http://www.chelseaimprovement.com/static/pdfs/wifi/CIC_Free_WiFi.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.chelseaimprovement.com/static/pdfs/wifi/CIC_Free_...</a><p>[2] <a href="http://www.chelseaimprovement.com/neighborhood/free_wifi.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.chelseaimprovement.com/neighborhood/free_wifi.htm...</a>
Not only is it just 13 blocks around that Google HQ, they somehow got a local group to pay 1/3rd of what looks like a very jacked up pricetag.<p>$45k a year to operate 13 blocks of wifi? Really?