By Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown

When Mayor Street first announced his vision to turn Philadelphia into the country's largest wireless "hotspot," it was easy to see why this proposal received so much attention. It was different. It was hip. It would help cement Philadelphia's image as a city on the move.

But as a City Council member and someone with responsibility to my constituents as taxpayers, the questions I had to ask were much more direct. How will it actually work? How much will it cost? And will it truly benefit every person, no matter what their income or neighborhood? Will minority and women-owned businesses be included? And perhaps most important, is the project even really necessary?

The more I've learned about the program, the more I like it. Let me go further: Despite all of the accolades Wireless Philadelphia has received, we still must do more to remove the mystique around this unprecedented initiative.

Making all of Philadelphia wireless accessible will revolutionize the way our children learn, how our businesses operate, and how government provides services. It also will create jobs. That's why I am proud to be a cosponsor of the legislation with Councilman Frank DiCicco.

Let me address the most important question first: Is it necessary for the city to be wireless and, if so, is it necessary to have the government involved?

The answer to both is an unequivocal yes.

The Internet is a necessary technology today, like the telephone was in the 1930s and television was in the 1950s. Many consider it the ultimate democratic technology because information can be easily obtained and shared.

But it won't be truly democratic until everyone has access to it. And the hard truth is that right now, too many people, particularly low-income people and senior citizens, don't have access to the Internet either because they can't afford it or because they don't know how to use it.

The mayor's plan addresses each of those issues. Under the agreement reached between the city and EarthLink, the operator selected to build and manage the network, there will be special rates and accommodations for economically disadvantaged users. Prices will start at just $9.95 a month with market-rate prices pegged around $20. That makes it affordable for every user.

But having access to broadband wireless technology is not useful if you don't have a computer. That's where the Wireless Philadelphia program goes from being smart and forward thinking to being brilliant.

As part of the agreement to build and operate the citywide wireless network, EarthLink will actually pay the city to use the arms of our light polls - $2 million over two years. After the first two years, an additional 5 percent of EarthLink's access revenue from the network will go to Wireless Philadelphia.

Wireless Philadelphia, a nonprofit begun by the city, will use its share of the money to provide training programs, ensure access to affordable computers, support community groups, promote municipal uses, and promote tourism uses. Philadelphia residents in every neighborhood will be able to not only obtain the service, but actually use it.

No other city is doing anything as bold or far reaching - and the best thing is that the cost to city taxpayers is nothing.

The agreement reached between EarthLink and the city also contains important protection to ensure participation by minority and women-owned firms. EarthLink and its subcontractors will be obligated to meet and to "strive to exceed" significant minority participation rates. Minority-owned business enterprises will have to represent at least 20-25 percent of contracts, woman-owned business enterprises 5-10 percent, and disabled-owned business enterprises up to 1.5 percent.

We have requested a written plan that speaks to the implementation, mentoring and accountability regarding this issue, and I am optimistic because of EarthLink's record so far. To date, for the Wireless Philadelphia project, 88 percent of EarthLinks' subcontractor invoices have been from minority and women-owned businesses, and two of the three completed purchase agreements are with minority firms. That's an excellent record to build on.

So now, what's next?

City Council must pass the legislation necessary to approve the agreement to allow the use of the light poles needed to construct the network, and a management and services agreement between the city and Wireless Philadelphia. After those are complete, a large test area will be constructed within 3-4 months and the entire network will be built within 12 to 15 months.

Just think, in just over a year, every neighborhood, every child, every business could have access to the Internet and all the promise it holds. It's an enormous opportunity. We need to seize it for us, for our children and our city's future.