Led by Council Member Gale Brewer, the New York City Council is moving ahead with plans to create a nine-member broadband task force to study how affordable broadband access can be made available to all New York City residents, nonprofit organizations and businesses. Over a twelve-month period, the temporary task force will advise the mayor and the city council speaker as to the technical, legal, environmental and economic feasibility of providing affordable, city-wide broadband access.

What's cool is that "affordable broadband" could mean "affordable wireless broadband." The press release from Council Member Brewer specifically mentions the "Wireless Philadelphia" initiative to build and manage a citywide wireless broadband network:

"New York City has much to learn from the ‘Wireless Philadelphia’ initiative. Our challenges are different and our process will likely yield a different solution. But, Philadelphia had the courage and foresight to tackle the most difficult issues surrounding telecommunications, and we must do the same. We must balance New Yorkers’ right to the benefits that broadband access brings with responsible telecommunications growth and policy."

For ongoing coverage of New York's and Philly's plans, stay tuned to Glenn Fleishman at Wi-Fi Net News and Esme Vos at MuniWireless.com.