Not every attempt to create a new communications or video service succeeds. C-band satellite dishes once blanketed the nation, until replaced by Ku-band video beamed by DirecTV (News - Alert) and Dish Network.

There once was hope that Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Systems would provide video competition to cable TV operators. The effort failed, and some of the spectrum now will underpin the Xohm (News - Alert) network.

Local Multipoint Distribution Systems once were seen as the underpinning for a new wave of business broadband access, spearheaded by Teligent and WinStar. The effort failed, though other firms, such as XO Communications (News - Alert), continue to make use of the platform, with more success.

Not so long ago, many independent VoIP providers also thought they’d succeed in ripping large shares of market share away from incumbent local exchange carriers. Cable companies have succeeded, though independents continue to face an uphill battle.

So too, municipal WiFi networks once were seen as the wave of the future. But most of the efforts have foundered as project sponsors failed to create a viable business model.

Now, New Orleans is about to lose its municipal WiFi (News - Alert) network as EarthLink plans to halt its participation in the citywide project on May 18, 2008. EarthLink tried to sell the network, but got no takers. Then, it tried to transfer the network to the city or a third party, again without success.

Earlier this month, EarthLink finalized moves to transfer its WiFi networks in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Milpitas, California, to those cities’ governments.