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SoSider here, and I pay $45 for Cable Internet at 10Mbps/300Kbps, and an additional $12 for basic cable. Basic Cable has just had 4 channels dropped from the analog lineup, but we still pay the same price. Cable Internet goes to $65/month if I drop the Basic Cable. If that cap is real, I'm cutting it pretty close at about 72Kbps sustained for the month. DSL is a freaking joke here in this city if it is under 1Mbps. That's not broadband, that's a poor excuse for the crappiest of Internet. Alternatives to Comcast Internet? None. FIOS isn't available, and I can't subscribe to the competing cable company which serves the nice folks across the freaking street! Did I mention that DSL is a bad joke? Maybe I should contact the Pittsburgh Wireless Community about this. Oh wait...

I am one of those long-time WiFi zealots, and it is clear to me that people just don't want free ubiquitous wireless internet -- or they just don't care.

Here in Pittsburgh, there is occasional talk of some group trying to do this. There have been some people who have received funding, but they waste it, and their project evaporates. Between ten and twenty (or more) companies start off here, and either fade away, or move to some other city. telerama, hobnob are the two that stick out (for which I remember URLs to).

Largest public network here is run by ONE GUY who just went and built it himself, Shadyside WiFi.

Otherwise, there is chatter on some of the local lists, but by and large, nobody wants free city-wide wireless Internet. Just me.

Pittsburgh had a couple of attempts to build-out networks here in Pittsburgh. They failed, but that was pretty early on, and the equipment was kindof expensive. Being a WiFi guy here, I haven't been able to do very much on my own, but doing something like that is a big (financial) undertaking, and requires a bit of equipment. This guy has been installing Meraki devices in a couple of the neighborhoods, all by himself.

Now it seems to me, that a City like Pittsburgh could take the money normally spent on Verizon telecommunications services, and put that towards their own telecommunications infrastructure -- using WiFi, or anything else that is convenient, and actually have higher bandwidth, and less monthly outlay, and a superior service. I don't understand why people get freaked out over a City taking on something like this. Why would you rather pay Verizon hundreds of thousands of dollars per month, rather than spend that in a one-time equipment purchase? These networks can be used for anything, and there doesn't have to be only one.

How does one figure out if the AP is for public use or just someone who forgot to set it up properly?

YOu can use the word 'Free' or 'Open' in your SSID -- or use a URL like I do. My SSIDs are all 'pghwireless.net'. Although it is tough to get to a URL when aren't sure you have permission.

If you're an AP owner -- make it obvious for the random stumbler. Use the built in encryption to keep people out, or use the words 'Open', 'Free', or something to try to make it obvious.

Perhaps it is time to take back *our* Internet, and more importantly, *MY* Internet. While I am only a generic sysadmin, and not Vinton Cerf, I did help build the Internet in what it is today. I worked at ISPs, webshops, and software huts. I took care of Internet customers. I told everyone how useful the Internet was. I posted to Usenet, sent emails, published videos, toyed with mashups, and other things. I helped make the Internet work, even if only in a teensy tiny small way.

I want to continue to experiment with everything Internet. I want to post, and send email, and publish. A tiered Internet would not make that financially possible for me, if I have to have two or three colocations to publish my stuff. Or, by not being an approved corporation that is allowed to reach certain network endpoints, how do I reach my intended audience?

So I suggest that the Internet's users take back what is rightfully theirs, and ours, and more importantly to me, mine. We can build our own infrastructure, which some groups have already started doing. Go get some wireless gear. Learn about it. Go wardriving. Have fun at a Wi-Fi shootout. Know the geeks in the area. I think the best way to take back our Internet, is to own a larger piece of it. I think the only way this can happen, is if there are more of us interested in wireless networking -- enough of an interest to start taking this more seriously.

Boy do I wish I were a better salesman sometimes.

You can always check WiFiMaps.com, or Pittsburgh's Wireless Community.

Verizon is affraid, and anything they can do to force their ancient unshielded untwisted pair everywhere. People here in Pittsburgh would totally use Wi-Fi for Internet access, especially if it were priced competitively. Most of the people here are happy with dialup, and that's just how it is -- they just don't understand. If anything, that bill should push Comcast further into the broadband market.

People are affraid of new things, and especially Verizon.

DSL is NOT broadband