According to InformationWeek's Elena Malykhina, some of the first WiMAX deployments in the U.S. may actually be in school classrooms in cash-strapped areas like Milwaukee.

"Facing a use-it-or-lose-it choice on its allocated radio spectrum, Milwaukee Public Schools is among several schools and universities ready to take a chance on WiMAX wireless broadband, which would make them among the first major U.S. implementers of the emerging tech," Malykhina writes.

"Decades ago, the government allocated a portion of the 2.5-GHz spectrum to schools nationwide for educational television programming, but much of it hasn't been used," she explains. "In 2004, the FCC issued a proposal: Any portions of the spectrum not in use or leased by 2008 could be auctioned."

"We don't want to lose precious bandwidth that can be used to benefit our low-income students," says James Davis, the Milwaukee school district's Director of Technology.

The school district has allocated $240,000 for the first phase of the deployment, and is hoping to get a grant of about $200,000 from the Department of Commerce to complete it.