Wi-Fi on Metra May Be Expensive

Metra staff looking into what it would cost to add Internet air cards into monthly fare packages

The price tag for Wi-Fi access aboard Metra commuter trains may be a little too steep.

Metra staff has agreed to start asking the question about what it could cost to add Internet air cards into monthly fare packages but Metra is already learning that it might not like the answer.

A consultant estimated that Wi-Fi that taps into AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile to provide maximum reception on all of Metra's 11 lines might cost nearly $72 million over five years.

One possible option might be to charge passengers about $40 a month to fare packages for an aircard plugin.

What remains unclear is just how much money Metra could make in advertising and marketing.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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