Michigan man fined for using free Wi-Fi
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(InfoWorld) - A Michigan man has been fined $400 and must work 40 hours of community service for using a local cafÃ©'s Wi-Fi connection from his parked car to check his e-mail and surf the Web. He got off easy, according to the local TV station that reported the case: Under Michigan computer access law, using a Wi-Fi connection without authorization is a felony, punishable by as much a $10,000 fine and five years in prison. But the story raises more questions than it answers, including whether the cafÃ©'s Wi-Fi connection was a fee-based service, which would imply authorization was required, or a free service that, without any security restrictions, could be accessed by anyone within range, including someone outside the restaurant. The story also doesn't say whether the defendant, Sam Peterson II, of Sparta, Ill., was convicted of the crime or pled to the charge. Peterson routinely drove to Sparta's Re-Union Street Caf, to check his e-mail but never went into the coffee shop. His regular routine drew the attention of Sparta Police Chief Andrew Milanowski, who asked Peterson what he was doing. Peterson told him. After checking the Michigan statutes, the chief swore out a complaint of fraudulent computer access.ADVERTISEMENTIBM Information On Demand 2006Industrial Industry Leaders, please join us at IBM's premier information management global event, IBM Information On Demand 2006, October 15-20, Anaheim, CA. More IBM business and technical solutions content in one place than ever before! Select from  over 800 sessions. Register today!
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AT&amp;T Inc. announced Monday that subscribers to its higher speed broadband services will have free access to its Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the country.
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New Yorkers who blithely cross the street listening to an iPod or talking on a cell phone could soon face a $100 (51 pound) fine.
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A Massachusetts businessman accused of bilking the company out of millions of dollars worth of networking gear faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. By the Associated Press.
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AT&T announced free Wi-Fi for its broadband customers and added a new 10 Mbps tier of service.
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What would Benjamin Franklin say? Philadelphia plans citywide free Wi-Fi Internet access for computer users.
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Chinadotcom Corp. said Friday that China&#39;s state-controlled wireless carrier fined the company $160,000 and suspended its text-message services on charges that the cell-phone service provider&#39;s Go2joy unit charged inactive users and switched customers&#39; ...