Puts its money where its mouth is: Discount Electronics plans 50 free Wi-Fi hotspots in Austin, with five live now, because it hasn't happened yet on its own. The firm's head, Rick Culleton, said in a statement, "If the city would let us, we'd put free WiFi in the airport and pick up the tab in full."
The hotspots, under the FreeAustinWiFi.com banner, will be in locally owned operations, such as restaurants and bars, and be branded with the company's information.
It's not like there's no free Wi-Fi in Austin, of course, and folks with long memories will recall the community wireless effort Austin Wireless City Project, which checks in with about 50 locations active in its hotspot list.
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