There has been a disturbing trend lately in which internet service providers have lobbied and in some cases succeeded in getting laws passed which ban free (or very cheap) “wifi” internet access in whole cities (such as Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and others). In some cases, it would also be illegal for businesses (like coffee shops) to offer free access as well.
It is disgusting that such laws would ever even be considered, much less passed. The governments are bending over backwards for these companies while at the same time cracking down on small businesses who are only trying to give things away for free, which isn’t harming anyone.
given the recent Supreme Court decision to screw the little guy there isn’t much recourse, unless they go underground.
good thing Starbucks charges for access.
This is where small, independent coffee houses really have a chance to compete; Starbucks knows that people will come to them anyway, so they may as well charge and make even more money on net access, while the smaller shops could use free access (which is a pretty insignificant expense for them as business owners) as an incentive for people coming in.
Does anyone know of any that do this around here?
The underground on telegraph across from the mall.