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The free Wi-Fi Internet service would cover the city and allow Google to test its technology and targeted advertising.

When Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a request for information from companies that could provide a community broadband network, it's hard to imagine him not secretly hoping Google would step up with a proposal. Google made him wait until the very last minute, the Mercury News reports, and delivered its proposal just before the 5 pm deadline on Friday.

The mayor had made universal broadband access in the city one of his goals. "We will not stop until every San Franciscan has access to free wireless Internet service," he had said last year. That need happens to coincide with Google's needs.

The report quotes Chris Sacca, who handles new business development for Google: "This goes hand in hand with what we do. Now we have to learn what works and what doesn't work.'' If awarded the contract, Google could start on the project in eight weeks.

Once in place, the network would deliver connectivity speeds of up to 300 kbps. While that is faster than dialup, it is slower than other current wireless technologies like Verizon's EV-DO network. However, while the Google proposal calls for deploying a wireless network based on the 802.11b and g standards, it would then upgrade to the coming higher-speed 802.11n standard, the New York Times observed.

Competitors were dismayed to find Google entering the competition at the last minute, especially since Google would provide the network at no cost to the city. An EarthLink executive questioned whether Google had the expertise to be an ISP.

"We've looked into free service, and we haven't found a model where free works," said Donald Berryman, executive vice president of municipal networks for Earthlink, to the San Francisco Chronicle. "At some point free becomes less sustainable because there's no way to upgrade service and the networks when no one's paying for it."

Telecom giant SBC was also less than enthused about Google's proposal. "We feel there is already widespread broadband available today," SBC spokesman John Britton said to the Chronicle. SBC has over 400 free Wi-Fi hotspots in the city now, and provides telecom services in San Francisco.

To deliver wireless service throughout the city, Google will employ a mesh network, consisting of over a thousand "access radio points" throughout the city. These points would be placed optimally on rooftops and utility poles; the Merc report states Google's only requirement would be access to those areas, for which it will reimburse the city at fair market value.

Google did not build up the hopes of other places, notably Philadelphia, in making its proposal. The company said it had no plans to make similar offers of free Wi-Fi to other cities.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.