Requiring WiFi at restaurants.

Don't think anyone said that markets always fail, but that the market don't always work. That's a pretty big difference.

A totally free market does not work for public services such as gas, electric, and telecommunications.The cost of infrastructure is phenomenal. It would not be in the interest of customers to ultimately bear the burden of duplicate infrastructure. That's why our government regulates access to this industry. Once awarded a franchise they have a monopoly of service. That's why we have Public Service Commissions to theoretically place checks and balances on the companies fortunate enough to procure a monopoly such as LG&E. It's a tightrope balancing the reality that companies must make a profit to remain in business and invest in new technologies against the public good of the lowest possible cost for services.

The telecommunications market dating back to landline and rotary phone days that I well remember, up to the present is one that the Federal Government has deemed (appropriately in my opinion) a crucial public service and national security issue. They therefore encouraged expansion of service throughout the US. through mandates and subsidies.

A telecom in return for licensing was required to install cable into remote areas that would and will never pay for the cost of infrastructure. This cost is subsidized by user fees from more densely populated areas within the franchise territory and by government subsidies paid to telecoms with tax monies.There are federal subsidies today designed to speed the expansion of access and bandwidth. They are funded by fees and taxes on your telephone and cable bilsl.

The one distinction here is a restaurant is a third party unlike a communication provider like AT&T that is in the business For a restaurant, requiring Wi-Fi to me is akin to requiring linen napkins instead of paper. A distinction of service.

I personally believe wi-fi should be universally available but the question remains who will pay for it.

I feel as connected as anyone, but I can't imagine the need for every restaurant (sans white table cloth) feeling it has to have wifi. I understand there are times when it might help with kiddos, but for goodness sakes: how rude is it to interrupt a conversation with your dinner partner to answer an email or to check the basketball scores?

I'm going to get flamed for that. Have at it.

how rude is it to interrupt a conversation with your dinner partner to answer an email or to check the basketball scores?

Verrry. Very rude.

Shriiiiiiiiiingggg my wife's cell phone blares out. She chirps “oh goodie!” and proclaims she has potatoes ready to harvest. No my wife is not twelve but I do think she is now under the control of her smart phone. A Stepford wife without the aaaah.......benefits if you get me (darn house still gets messy).

“Do you have to do that now?” I ask. At first she doesn't respond and just when I'm about to go back to my meal she cocks her head and stares vacantly at the untouched butter knife by her plate. She looks over and spears me with a stare. Her left brow arches up for a second. My heart has actually skipped several beats at this point because my wife has just threatened me with the dinner cutlery. Or......she has received sub space communications from base station X-ray. (Let him live a while longer. He has his uses).

Why no dear, I could have waited several hours to harvest those. Now, blue berries that's another story. She smiles sweetly.

S King knows where this is all headed.

We must all be connected at all times, don't you people understand? You must always be able to send me a text message and I must always be able to get it and immediately respond! Your email doesn't take a lunch break and certainly doesn't do dinner. How else will the Capitalist Juggernaut keep grinding us beneath its wheels if we are not all in constant contact with everyone else? Free Wifi is a RIGHT not a privilege! Occupy all restaurants until they provide free wifi!!

sarcasm, irony, and insane rambling courtesy of a long day and my being rather ill...

resume your day.

I would suggest that those wishing for WiFi everywhere should invest in a high speed data connection from your cellular provider. That will give you your high speed internet wherever you need it, and you bear the burden of the cost, not the business.

We must all be connected at all times, don't you people understand? You must always be able to send me a text message and I must always be able to get it and immediately respond!

That's only required at the Silver Dollar! A friend of mine told me he was there the other night and they were texting across the table because they couldn't hear each other.

We must all be connected at all times, don't you people understand? You must always be able to send me a text message and I must always be able to get it and immediately respond! Your email doesn't take a lunch break and certainly doesn't do dinner. How else will the Capitalist Juggernaut keep grinding us beneath its wheels if we are not all in constant contact with everyone else? Free Wifi is a RIGHT not a privilege! Occupy all restaurants until they provide free wifi!!

sarcasm, irony, and insane rambling courtesy of a long day and my being rather ill...

resume your day.

Post of the year....so far.

how rude is it to interrupt a conversation with your dinner partner to answer an email or to check the basketball scores?

I'm going to get flamed for that. Have at it.

This times one million.