BART scraps Wi-Fi contract, prompting threats of legal action

[CHamilton]

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BART-cuts-Wi-Fi-service-prompting-threats-of-5984611.php

BART has terminated an agreement with its Wi-Fi provider, but while the transit agency says it is simply ending a trial period, the company’s CEO accuses officials of illegally backing out of a long-term contract.

BART signed what was billed as a 20-year contract with Sacramento’s WiFi Rail in 2009. In exchange for BART providing the “horizontal real estate,” the company would install the infrastructure and create the service. WiFi Rail would eventually get to charge for the service.
But problems began popping up as early as 2012, when WiFi Rail’s CEO, Cooper Lee, said he had difficulty raising money for the project and was struggling to deal with BART officials about when and where WiFi Rail could begin work.

In a statement issued Monday, BART spokesman Jim Allison said WiFi Rail service “had been offered on BART, on a free trial basis, only in downtown areas of San Francisco and Oakland and was available in less than 5 percent of the BART fleet.”

 

[Bob Dylan]

If they couldn't get it to work in the Bay Area they didn't deserve to have a contract! Sounds like a start up that had plans bigger than their capital!

The BART Exec that made this decision should be hired by Amtrak to make sure their WIFI Contracts are done properly, Amtrak is having the same problems with the test programs and routes they've tried it on!!

 

[CHamilton]

Meanwhile,

First LA Metro Tunnels Will Get WiFi and Cell Service in 2015

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/12/las_subways_will_start_getting_wifi_and_cell_service_in_2015.php