No news is good news. I think that’s especially the case with Minneapolis’ WiFi network. When things are running well, we hear nothing. Well, I just read in the Pioneer Press about a hiccup in the system (Wi-Fi dead zone to cost Minneapolis extra $1 million).

The problem is that to keep the network cooking, US Internet hung wireless Internet transmitters on the light poles. The decorative light poles in some areas weren’t strong enough to support the transmitters. So now the city has to replace those poles with stronger poles. Apparently they have to replace the poles with other decorative poles because the houses (in Kenwood, Lake of the Isles and Loring Park neighborhoods – super nice neighborhoods) have already been assessed for the fancy poles.

Replacing the poles is going to cost the City $1 million. The initial project cost US Internet $20 million to build. The City is on the hook for $1.25 million ayear over the next 10 years to use the network.

So, that’s the bad news. The good news, according to the article, “Minneapolis still expects to save $3.5 million on broadband services over the life of the city’s 10-year contract.”