Texas Bill to Filter Highway Rest Stop Internet

girlchik writes "HB 3314, up for hearing in the Texas House State Affairs committee on Monday, would require the state to filter wireless internet access at highway rest stops. This bill mandates filtering at any state-provided wireless network on public property. Since last May, the Texas Department of Transportation has offered wifi access at state rest stops. There is also wifi access at some Texas state parks provided in partnership with Tengo Internet. This bill protects truckers at highway rest stops and campers in their RVs at campsites from adult content. Sounds both wasteful and unconstitutional."

Comments

Re:well...

[NitsujTPU]

I guess that there are three sure things in life:

1) Death.
2) Taxes.
3) The will of right wingers to take things away from others, in all situations that would apparently not affect them (you know there are people in the Christian Coallition who like their porn).

Re:I dunno about both.

[NekoXP]

I'm really sure you would fail to justify this to anyone who actually
understands the constitution and the freedoms afforded in America, and
not just a ranting hippy.

Here's a great couple of justifications for you;

"I want the State of Texas to provide free, high-bandwidth access to
both legal and illegal porn at truck stops and highway service stations,
because I pay for it and therefore I should be able to."

"I want the State of Texas to leave the internet open for any kid with
a laptop to override their usual ISP proxies and filters (AOL etc.)
at every highway service, and browse horse porn and look up bomb-making
instructions sitting next to the forecourt of a gas station."

I'm sure your local candidate for government will agree to either.

As a soon-to-be taxpayer in Texas, I will say I don't give a shit if
they block certain sites. So what if you want to browse porn on state
time and money? I CERTAINLY don't pay taxes JUST so you can do that
and I will gladly stump up the dough and elect individuals who make
your life difficult in that regard. Buy a fucking GSM card if you
want to look up dog-cum-guzzling self-harm-whores while you eat your
waystation breakfast.

Neko

Re:Gee, how will they get around this?

[scum-e-bag]

It sounds more like a way to "wire-tap" the wireless signal to me. Big brother is now allowed to watch your traffic.

Re:I dunno about both.

[jim_v2000]

"The ONLY thing they can't do is build a system with taxpayer dollars and then limit access to speech (for adults) based on the content of the speech."

Only they aren't building a system. They're providing access to a system--the internet. And it's not limiting anyone's free speech. hotnudechicks.com will still have it's website up on the internet. You just can't see it from a rest stop. They are filtering content that a good portion of the public finds objectionable. Look at it at home if you really want to see it.

If they filtered it from your home internet connection, then it would be censorship and blocking freedom of speech.

Re:Breaker, breaker

[Mythrix]

When I read that title, I thought that Mr Gates had gotten himself a new nickname.

Re:Same for Municipal WiFi?

[mshiltonj]

My post saying the same thing on a similar thread was modded down too.

Let's hear it for /. groupthink.

Re:I dunno about both.

[Honkytonkwomen]

The government deciding not to provide you with some particular service is not restriction on freedom of speech as that is usually understood.

So if Texas decided to also filter all political websites except for those of the Republican party, this would not be restricting free speech?

Repeat after me: Anytime the government restricts content, it restricts free speech.

New Slogan

[Master of Transhuman]

Nuke Texas. If Saddam's Iraq couldn't be allowed to exist, neither should Texas.