Sebastopol cancels Sonic.net's free Wi-Fi contract, citing health concerns

Get our top stories

follow gawker

Sebastopol cancels Sonic.net’s free Wi-Fi contract, citing health concerns

sebastopol_wifi_free_zone.jpgThe city council of Sebastopol, home to tech publisher Tim O'Reilly, voted unanimously last week to cancel the city's agreement with Sonic.net allowing the company to set up a free Wi-Fi network. Why? Because a few residents complained of electromagnetic sensitivity. And by "residents" I mean "crazy nutjobs." O'Reilly's Dale Dougherty rounded up some typical comments:

I have had health challenges, and my body cannot handle wifi...it gives me headaches and makes me very sick. I would be unable to go to the store, shop. I have enough problems being limited in my travels, it is outrageous that a place so environmentally conscious would create this in our/my hometown. In Europe they are much more advanced than us, and there wifi is not allowed in cities in the European commonwealth.
If I touch a coathanger to my fillings and hold it at just the right angle, I can tune in to hear AT&T and Comcast executives cackling. (Original photo by Leslie Hunziker)
Contact Jackson West:
Discussions
Discussion now closed.
Follow Sebastopol on Gawker
Tomorrow's News
More Stories…