Utah's Largest Free Wireless Network May Be Shut Down

Jan 28, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

XMission Founder Says He'll Have To If Bill Passes

(KCPW News) The founder of the largest free wireless network in Utah says he'll be forced to shut it down if proposal on Capitol Hill passes. The bill would require all public wireless networks to restrict access to minors, or be held liable for damages if minors access pornographic material.

XMission founder Pete Ashdown says he can't afford to expose himself to civil damages. He says there's no way to guarantee that minors can't access his wireless network without shutting it down. Ashdown says he has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of XMission's own money setting up the network at places like Library Square and Pioneer Park.

Bill sponsor Representative Brad Daw says XMission doesn't have to implement a foolproof system that would restrict access to all minors. He says as long as the company requires users to enter a credit card number, it won't be liable if minors do access harmful material. But Ashdown says that since minors often have access to credit cards, such a system wouldn't serve any purpose.

Representative Daw says lawyers on Capitol Hill have told him the bill does not violate the Constitution, because it is an age-based restriction, not a broad restriction. However, federal courts have found the Child Online Protection Act, which has a similar goal, to be unconstitutional. A discussion of the bill is scheduled on Capitol Hill this Thursday at 3:00. XMission is a KCPW underwriter.

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