Why Does Hallmark Send Phishy E-Cards? >>
<< France Considers Sending Downloaders To Jail
 tdicon 
Oh, Look. WiMax Is Delayed Again >>
<< Kevin Martin Shows He's Confused About...
 | 

Predictions

by Mike Masnick

Wed, Dec 21st 2005 4:32pm





Forget Automating The Subways, Just Help People Work From Home

from the broadband-everywhere dept

While it still seems likely that the transit strike in NYC will speed up interest in more automated subways, a much more immediate technology impact may come in other areas. There are plenty of stories about more people telecommuting while stranded at home -- and that is getting people interested again in the question of more widespread broadband to residents of the city. Broadband Reports points out that the city chose an interesting time to move forward with a committee to explore how to expand broadband offerings in the city, potentially through city-supported efforts. The article notes that 38% of the people in New York City subscribe to broadband -- but you have to wonder if the percentage of people who actually have access to broadband is much higher, by taking into account those who already have access via neighborly WiFi (often referred to as "Linksys, the free ISP").

5 Comments | Leave a Comment

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 21st, 2005 @ 4:53pm

    No Subject Given

    MIT first posters rock!!!!! but seriously, ppl should generally ask b4 jacking into their neighbor's WiFi. i would prolly be cool w/ it if the dude just asked to use my WiFi first and if he got off of it when i really needed the speed... sharing is good.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Landon, Dec 21st, 2005 @ 5:33pm

    No Subject Given

    I share my wifi connection, if I didnt want people to get on it, I would make it private. I assume that the same is true of other people too, when I am on my laptop at my friends house, I will get on other peoples wifi, assuming, if they didnt want me on it, they would privatize it. That being said, I dont remember what the article was about now.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Andrew Strasser, Dec 21st, 2005 @ 5:52pm

    Re: No Subject Given

    And here I thought.... Nevermind.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 21st, 2005 @ 8:04pm

    Re: No Subject Given

    I'd just moved in to a new house, and happened to have a new router (old one didnt survive the move). I was too lazy to set up MAC filtering until I noticed before the end of the first night, some punk nearby was downloading something big-time. My connection lagged like crazy, and my router noted a connection from a comp I didnt recognize. They'd even modified its stock firewall settings and made a bittorrent entry!!

    Blocked that fool straight away. For the sake of being civil, I try not to wonder who it was..

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 21st, 2005 @ 11:48pm

    Wireless encryption

    Most wireless network adapters (namely, all I can think of) support some kind of encryption. In fact, Linksys makes enabling it ridiculously easy. This alone prevents anyone from connecting - except those that had the "passphrase" / key when they installed their hardware or when they connected. For me, I hit a cool little box to enable it and never had to worry about it again.

    Remember that your connection is still your responsibility, regardless of whether you let everyone and their mother's donkey use it or not. If they, say, pirate music or download child porn - YOU're liable.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Save me a cookie
  • Note: A CRLF will be replaced by a break tag (<br>), all other allowable HTML will remain intact
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
Why Does Hallmark Send Phishy E-Cards? >>
<< France Considers Sending Downloaders To Jail
 tdicon 
Oh, Look. WiMax Is Delayed Again >>
<< Kevin Martin Shows He's Confused About...
 | 
Follow Techdirt
Flattr rss rss
A word from our Sponsors...
Sponsored Resource
Essential Reading
Techdirt Reading List
Techdirt Insider Chat

A word from our Sponsors...
Recent Stories

Tuesday

3:33am: Why Even Good Hospitals And Doctors Are An Obstacle To Better, Cheaper Healthcare (1)
12:10am: 'Intellectual Property' Mess Holding Up The TPP (8)

Monday

8:04pm: Criminal Nabbed By His Own Food Porn (5)
5:00pm: DailyDirt: Taking Another Look At Nuclear Energy... (7)
3:30pm: Chicago Blackhawks Fire Reporter Over Silly Old YouTube Videos (9)
2:15pm: Prenda's Paul Hansmeier Asks Appeals Court To Delay Sanctions; Appeals Court Says 'No, Try Again' (27)
1:13pm: Major Hollywood Studios All Sent Bogus DMCA Takedowns Concerning The Pirate Bay Documentary (52)
12:07pm: The War On Journalists: DOJ Claimed Fox News Reporter Was An 'Aider, Abettor, Co-Conspirator' With Leaker (77)
10:59am: Court Finds Fantasy Stories Obscene (67)
9:59am: Swedish Prosecutor Claims Registrar Of .se Domains An 'Accomplice' In Infringement Because Of Pirate Bay Domain (62)
More arrow
A word from our Sponsors...

Close

Email This