An article in the Press Democrat reports high emotions at the Sebastopol City Council meeting last week when the offer of free Wi-Fi was debated. At issue was the potential negative health effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Wi-Fi network that would be created in the downtown area. The city council voted unanimously to rescind an agreement with Sonic.net. Given the abundance of Wi-Fi networks it's hard to avoid being within range, particularly in a business district so I'm trying to imagine how the electric-sensitive are coping as it is. Do they avoid Starbucks altogether or do they just go in long enough to pick up their coffee and not stick around to drink it?

My only experience with free Wi-Fi is the network available in San Francisco's Marina District. Hopefully Sonic.net is offering better service, but if the network they had planned for Sebastopol was similar, the town isn't missing anything.