Wireless Harlem Initiative, a community-based effort to close the digital divide in Harlem, signed on consultants to develop their Harlem-wide Wi-Fi initiative. The goal is to have inexpensive Wi-Fi access available to residents by spring of 2007.

Hiring plan writers is a big step towards getting this project off the ground. Glenn Fleishman at Wi-Fi Net News writes:

While regular readers of this site know that I am dubious about digital divide projects that focus entirely on "give them computers and the rest will come," I am entirely supportive of efforts that combine community input into what services are delivered, that include training for general users as well as specialized training in administration, and that has a comprehensive plan with measurable results for the money invested in these efforts. If the goal is a reduction in high-school dropouts, an increase in test scores, a burgeoning of eBay sellers, an improvement in basic literacy, scores of new businesses being started, or efficiencies that reduce expenses through better use of existing technology-any or all of these can be achieved with good planning and good follow-through.

But most importantly, all of Harlem will be able to read Harlem Fur.