Sneaky Subsidy to Cell Phone Companies

Two senators have introduced legislation aimed at bringing Wi-Fi coverage to all federal buildings as a way of lifting the burden from cell phone networks, reports Information Week.


U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) have introduced the Federal Wi-Net Act, which would require the General Services Administration (GSA) to install wireless base stations in all publicly accessible federal buildings.

Since most smartphones in use now have Wi-Fi access, the idea behind the bill is to send as much mobile internet traffic as possible over the web versus cellphone networks, according to a press release on Sen. Snowe's website.