Checkin' out free Wifi in GR

Common Ground Coffee Shop, 1319 Fulton St. East, is now serving free WiFi.

So about a week ago on a Friday night I stopped in at Starbucks to get a mocha before heading home. Had my laptop with me so I thought I'd take it in and catch up on some stuff in my newsreader.

I hadn't tried to access WiFi anywhere else before (my laptop -- a gift from heaven! -- is fairly new to me) but I continually find myself thinking it is available just by turning on the computer. After all, that's how it is at home and at work.

You can imagine I was dumbfounded when the screen that came up at Starbucks offered me a chance to sign on for a $30/month wireless service. I already have wireless service, thank you, so I declined. (I understand there are ways to, um, obtain wireless service other ways, but I know nothing about that stuff. Believe me.)

Naive person that I am, I think wireless internet should not only be available, it should also be free. Everywhere. As a thanks to me for doing business at that establishment.

Now it happens that the city of Grand Rapids is thinking so, too. Right now companies are bidding on the chance to build a wireless network that encompasses the city's 45 sq. miles.

In the meantime, area businesses are catching the free WiFi bug.  Today's post is brought to you directly from Common Ground Coffee Shop. Good coffee, good music, free and easy wireless. Check it out.