INTRODUCING WIRELESS PHILADELPHIA
 Wireless Philadelphia is the non-profit organization that - along with its partner Earthlink - is helping Philadelphia to become the nation's first completely wireless major city.
Wireless Philadelphia was created to make high-speed Internet access more available and affordable through Digital Inclusion. WP will help all citizens, businesses, schools, and community organizations embrace this broadband technology to achieve their goals. WP will also work to strengthen the City's economy, enhance the visitor experience and streamline City services.
What is Digital Inclusion?
Digital Inclusion is the name given to programs that seek to help people who are not online gain access with affordable hardware, software, tech support, and wireless high-speed internet service, so they can begin to use this technology to improve their lives.
Installation Has Begun
With the installation of devices called routers, Philadelphia has officially begun the process for making affordable wireless high-speed internet service available to every neighborhood in the City. Over the next two months, these routers—which use about the same amount of electricity as a 60 watt light bulb—will be installed on light poles and other high structures about 1,000 feet apart throughout a test area known as the Proof of Concept area.
The Proof of Concept area includes more than a dozen neighborhoods stretching 15 square miles (see map above). In this area from October through December, Earthlink and Wireless Philadelphia will test the technology and the processes by which citizens subscribe for this service. By fall of next year, wireless high-speed Internet access is scheduled to be available throughout all 135 square miles of Philadelphia.
This service will be priced beginning at $21.95/month for retail customers, and a Digital Inclusion rate of $9.95/month will be available to those who qualify. In order to be eligible for the Digital Inclusion rate, customers can have income up to 130% of the federal poverty level, or already be participants in certain supportive programs, such as Medicaid, Section 8, SSI, Food Stamps, LIHEAP, TANF, and/or the Free Lunch program.
Free access will be available in certain public spaces such as parks and public areas. These include Love Park, the Historic Square Mile, Penn's Landing, Cobbs Creek Environmental Center, Hunting Park, Wissahickon Environmental Center, Pennypack Environmental Center, FDR Park and Penn Treaty Park. In addition, each district councilperson will name a public space within his/her district where citizens can go for free access.
Questions? Visit our website at www.wirelessphiladelphia.org for updates or send us an e-mail at info@wirelessphiladelphia.org.
MEET WIRELESS PHILADELPHIA'S NEW TEAM
 Greg Goldman - Chief Executive Officer
Greg Goldman, the first permanent CEO for Wireless Philadelphia, has a background in both the not-for profit and for profit sectors. He was most recently Vice President of Korman Communities, a Philadelphia-based residential real estate company. Prior to that, Greg was the Executive Director of MANNA, a local organization that delivers nourishment to people living with HIV/AIDS. During his six-year tenure, the organization’s service capacity and budget more than doubled, and its reach extended to include all 11 counties of the tri-state region.
From 1992 to 1998, Greg was the Senior Program Officer at The Philadelphia Foundation, where he directed financial resources to dozens of community based organizations throughout the City and region.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Northwestern University, Greg holds a Master’s Degree in public policy from the University of Chicago. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, an international development program for emerging community leaders.
Agnes Ogletree - Chief Operating Officer
For the last several years, Agnes Ogletree has been the COO for the Transitional Work Corporation (TWC), a non-profit organization located in Center City Philadelphia that provides job training and placement services to entry-level workers. Agnes was responsible for the day-to-day management of all internal activities, most notably, the organization’s annual fiscal budget of $15,000,000. Agnes has also been an active member in Philadelphia’s fundraising community. Her committee work includes organizations such as Gift of Life, Marion Anderson Awards Gala, Breast Cancer Health Gala, and the Children Crisis Treatment Center "Round Up." She also established The Rittenhouse Bed & Breakfast in 1997.
Amber Kealey - Director of Communications
Amber Kealey is a communications, public relations and special events professional. Her projects have included Comcast Presents "An Evening with Bill Cosby," the Comcast Cable initiative on drug prevention and education which brought Bill Cosby to a benefit performance at the Academy of Music; Comedy Central’s Indecision 2000, The Daily Show’s coverage of the Republican National Convention culminating with Comedy Central’s Capitol of Comedy Party in Philadelphia; and a branding campaign for the non-profit MANNA that culminated with a new logo, tagline, DVD and website for the organization.
Dionne Ellison - Director of Community Relations
Dionne Ellison will work and partner with community based organizations across Philadelphia to develop and deliver programs that bridge the digital divide and create a neighborhood presence for the overall Wireless Philadelphia program. These organizations will serve as the point of contact for all Digital Inclusion customers and their needs e.g. training, opening an internet service account, PC purchase info, etc. Dionne brings to her role 12+ years of IT background, including work with Cigna, wherein she was a member of the team that piloted LAN Token Ring technology for their field litigation offices across the country.
Thomas Kim - Operations Manager
Thomas Kim will play a key role in the development and implementation of Wireless Philadelphia’s internal systems, focusing on fundraising and community programs. Recently with United Way of Greater Mercer County, his responsibilities included web-based fundraising campaigns and the management of charitable donations from various Fortune 500, higher education, and governmental entities throughout the region. Thomas also served as a production coordinator for a boutique advertising firm in New York where he was able to hone his digital and technical savvy.
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O3 World, a young Northern Liberties company focused almost exclusively on internet marketing and design, is developing a new website for Wireless Philadelphia and updating the WP brand. Look for our new site in the coming months!
Ninth Wave Media is the company that managed the Olney and Norris Square Pilot Portals and has been awarded the contract for the community websites. Their six links will provide targeted content for Teens/Tweens, Young Adults, Parents and Children, Seniors, Visitors, and Small Businesses.