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City Asks Feds for $21.8M in Broadband Money

Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 | Updated 8:15 PM EST

Philadelphia is making its second run at a big municipal broadband project.

The city is asking for $21.8 million in stimulus money to connect police precincts, fire stations, libraries, housing projects, recreation centers and community organizations across three inner-city neighborhoods.

Allan Frank, Philadelphia's chief technology officer, envisions doing this with a combination of fiber lines and a wireless network. That would bring high-speed links to city buildings to handle municipal affairs _ while also enabling garbage collectors, emergency responders, fire inspectors and other city workers to stay connected using handheld devices in the field.

Philadelphia also has two other stimulus proposals. The city's public housing authority would like $2.4 million to place computer labs in housing projects. And the city's library system, working closely with community groups, is asking for $15 million to set up Internet training programs, supply laptops and install Internet connections to get low-income residents online.