An excellent Wi-Fi Planet article today looks at the struggle to deploy citywide Wi-Fi in New York City. With Michael Bloomberg in charge -- a pro-free-market mayor who's unlikely to support any city-driven efforts for Wi-Fi deployment -- the Big Apple may end up being very late to the game in deploying citywide wireless access.

Still, author Gerry Blackwell quotes an EarthLink representative as acknowledging that it may be worthwhile for the company to deploy in NYC with or without the city's support. Donald Berryman, President of EarthLink's Municipal Networks Division, says the fact that as many as 60 percent of residents don't have low-cost broadband available makes New York City an unusually attractive market.

If that 60 percent figure is true, Berryman says, "we can afford to spend much more money going after the market than we could elsewhere."