[According to Business 2.0](http://blogs.siliconvalley.com/gmsv/2005/08/last_october_du.html), Gavin Newsom is about to announce tomorrow details about a free WiFi initiative. To quote [Matt Marshall](http://www.siliconbeat.com/entries/2005/08/16/san_francisco_to_announce_free_wifi_initiative.html):
> Will we really be able to just show up in SF, put our laptop on any table, and start working? That would be rad, and would be sure to lure a bunch of eager, empty-pocketed start-up folks to open shop south of Market — and maybe help SF outdo the southbay part of Silicon Valley.
I’m not quite sure free WiFi is the make it or break deal for empty-pocket startups. I’m a bit more concerned about such luxuries as rent, parking and good places to eat at 2am in the morning.
What’s promising about a city-wide initiative is not free WiFi, but accessible WiFi. Replacing spotty and unreliable hot spots with always on connectivity, that’s available to all residents at all times. That’s just a step into something much bigger, trust people to find a lot of creative and interesting uses.
tags: wifi sf