That would be a nice outcome if it happens. Hard the imagine the current administration deciding, however, that it’s in the “public good” to ensure that there’s comprehensive free wireless. They’re much more likely to approve of L’Enfant’s make-’em-pay model.

Interestingly, the AmericInn I ended up spending Thursday night in after finally arriving in MPLS/St Paul after 1pm (long story) was in the middle of rennovations (another story), but had free wireless. It was nice to be connected again :-).

Now I’m home, which is even better!

The economics of ‘free’ wireless may someday lead to treating it as a public common good, like the highways of yore. Everything old is new again.

Thanks! Hope she had a great time. My conference went very well, but getting home continues to be (I’m currently in Pittsburgh) has been pretty hellacious (mostly due to weather, although US Air ain’t exactly my friend at the moment).

Oh, and wireless access is free in the Pittsburgh airport (which I’m quite enjoying).

We mentioned how frustrated we were with the wireless situation at the hotel when we checked out this morning, and she said they’d done that because non-guests were coming in and “stealing” the wireless in the lobby. Which of course misses the point that one can implement access control without introducing ludicrous charges. Sigh.

Wave to Mrs. Donkey is you see her. She is at the Hotel Washington for one more day attending a conference on gerentology and nutrution or something like that.