I'm not sure what to make of this yet: According to the Houston Chronicle article, "Wireless networks don't click with some", "Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, has filed a massive telecommunications bill in Austin this session that, in part, bans Texas cities from participating in wireless information networks." Apparently there's a concern coming from the large ISP's that if city governments use Tax money to provide citizens with free Internet access, they will create an unfair business environment for companies hoping to sell wireless Internet services.
There are a number of ways to look at this, but the angle that bothers me most is in business interests creating laws that limit what citizens can have done with their Tax money. If citizens vote to decide how their money should be used, and a particular region decides that public Internet access is the best thing for them, why not let them better their community in such a way? This is like saying that FedEx should be allowed to pass a law making the USPS illegal! People still use FedEx though...
(via slashdot)