In These Times asks a provocative question -- Is Low-Cost Wi-Fi Un-American? -- in order to point out that representatives from Verizon, Qwest, Comcast and a bevy of other telecom heavies are doing their best to stamp out free or low-cost Wi-Fi:

"Just as the notion of affordable broadband for all was beginning to take hold in towns and cities across the country, the patriots at Verizon, Qwest, Comcast, Bell South and SBC Communications have created legislation that will stop the creeping socialism of broadband community Internet before it invades our homes...

Telecommunications giants have mobilized a well-funded army of coin-operated think tanks, pliant legislators and lazy journalists who stand ready to paint community Internet as an affront to American innovation and free enterprise. Their weapon of choice is industry-crafted legislation that restricts local governments from offering public service Internet access at reasonable rates..."