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WiFi in public spaces

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by genuinemommy, Aug 20, 2018.

  1. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    So today I am sitting at a park, enjoying watching my children play as I work. And it struck me how unique and special this is. So many parks and public spaces where I spend my time don't have this. It makes working with children much easier.

    Would you want free wifi in parks, libraries, and other public spaces?
    Do you see any disadvantages?
    What are the costs of this kind of a setup?
     
    genuinemommy, Aug 20, 2018
    #1
  2. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    As someone who doesn't have home internet service, I use public wifi all the time. Libraries are the best places, airports are also good.
     
    ASU2003, Aug 20, 2018
    #2
    • Like Like x 2
  3. cynthetiq

    cynthetiq Administrator Staff Member Donor

    Location:
    New York City
    Aside from the NYC services that are provided at NY Public Library, Parks, and the NYC LINK monoliths with high speed and USB charging stations, we have public things like NYC Mesh as well.

    Volunteerism has its benefits.
     
    cynthetiq, Aug 21, 2018
    #3
    • Like Like x 1
  4. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    Now that mesh is a huge system, and something I hadn't heard of - made possible by a high population density. Wow.
    --- Double Post Merged, Sep 9, 2018, Original Post Date: Aug 21, 2018 ---
    Something that I have hears as an argument against having wifi in public spaces:

    "But that means people would be able to watch porn in the park. And the thought of that disgusts me."

    So let's cut off the potential progress of allowing caretakers to work while watching their children play at park - just because you don't want someone to watch porn? Huh?
     
    genuinemommy, Sep 9, 2018
    #4
  5. cynthetiq

    cynthetiq Administrator Staff Member Donor

    Location:
    New York City
    People were watching porn on the sidewalks and the libraries with little they could do. Until someone realized they could just filter out those spaces. Solved. Next city problem.
     
    cynthetiq, Sep 10, 2018
    #5
    • Like Like x 2
  6. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    One of the biggest hurdles to public wifi are state laws prohibiting or restricting municipally-owned broadband. The influence of the largest ISPs (ATT, Comcast, Verizon, Time Warner) in state legislatures is killing any widspread competition that might become available with municipal broadband.

    Municipal Broadband Is Roadblocked or Outlawed in 20 States
    The issuer was addressed with the net neutrality proposed by the last FCC. That has since been overturned by the current FCC; the new FCC chairman was formerly the legal counsel for Verizon.

    As a result, the US is far behind most industrialized countries in widespread publicly owned broadband.
     
    redux, Sep 10, 2018
    #6
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  7. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    I keep my public Wi-Fi use to very general things like sports and news. Of course that doesn't mean a hacker couldn't access my computer directly or thru my phone.
     
    Chris Noyb, Sep 12, 2018
    #7
  8. megabytesteve

    megabytesteve New Member

    Location:
    NA
    We got Wi-Fi just about everywhere. It was just a fantasy10years ago.
     
    megabytesteve, Sep 12, 2018
    #8
    • Like Like x 1