Free Wi-Fi at LAX could be back on track

A City Council committee voted 2-1 to stick with a two-year, $633,333 contract, despite the objections of a single councilman who wants the deal killed in favor of a full bidding process. The full council is expected to consider the deal Wednesday. From the Daily Breeze:

If the deal is not ultimately approved, LAX may go without Wi-Fi service by July 19 when T-Mobile's paid Internet access will go dark, airport officials said. "No matter what happens, we better have Wi-Fi at LAX," said City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district includes the airport. "I don't care if it's free or not, we need to do this," Rosendahl said. "I'm not going to wait another day."

Just to be clear, a two-year, $633,333 deal is practically tip money for an airport that handles contracts routinely running in the tens of millions of dollars. In addition, LAX officials stressed that this was a short-term solution to the loss of wireless service at the airport. They've begun the search for a permanent Internet provider. In other words, they're doing everything right. But along comes freshman Councilman Joe Buscaino, who wants to show the world what a big man he is by blocking this small contract - all because another wireless company claims to have been left out of consideration. A colossal waste of time and effort. Remember the name: Joe Buscaino. Phone: (213)-473-7015. Email: councilmember.buscaino@lacity.org.