April 28, 2007
Today I was questioned by a heavyset uninformed uniformed deputy at the Napa County jail who recoiled in horror when she saw me carrying a small laptop computer.
"Is that thing wireless?" she demanded.
Me: "Oh no, of course not..."
Dopey Deputy: "Those wireless ones interfere with our radios!"
What a moron. The odds of that happening are about -3%, that is, less than zero! Donuts, or whatever other things she eats that contribute to her weight problem, are more likely to interfere with her radio than wifi. "Sorry dispatch, I couldn't respond right away, my mouth was full..."
Many police departments have welcomed wifi as part of their operations, they are not pretending there is any interference risk....
But apparently there are some public officials who are frightened of wifi
- Utility officials outside Mass. protest ban of alternative wifi at airport. Massport officials want wifi service only by their prefered provider: http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2006/02/06/utility_officials_outside_mass_protest_wifi_ban_at_airport/
- Logan officials have repeatedly denied they are trying to squelch private WiFi
competition, saying their sole concern is avoiding the risk of proliferating WiFi transmitters that could interfere with airline and State Police radio networks. Two companies that operate international networks of WiFi ''hot spots," zones of up to 300 feet in radius in which computer users can get megabit-speed Internet access wirelessly, have signed roaming deals with Massport that let their monthly subscribers get access to the Logan system at no additional price: Boingo Wireless Inc. and iPass Inc.
- Fortunately they are getting opposition: utility commissioners from nine states and the District of Columbia told the Federal Communications Commission last week that it could set a dangerous nationwide precedent.
- The state commissioners called Massport's argument about radio interference spurious, ''Although Massport alleges that Continental's WiFi system could interfere with tower communications or assist terrorists, it has failed to substantiate any such allegations," they said, adding: ''Massport should not be allowed to flex its regulatory muscle to exclude others seeking to use unlicensed spectrum from providing wireless services or to otherwise pursue an unfair competitive advantage."
Fortunately, some municipalities are sensible:
Other municipalities and police chiefs don't have enough to do:
