Strangling puppies in front of orphans...

The title of this post comes from the first comment to this article at Slashdot:

Free Wi-fi Prompts BellSouth to Withdraw Donation
Shortly after learning of the New Orleans plan for free city-wide wireless internet, BellSouth Corp. withdrew an offer to donate a damaged building to be used for police headquarters. According to the Washington Post, 'Bill Oliver, angrily rescinded the offer of the building in a conversation with New Orleans homeland security director Terry Ebbert.'

A little bit more from the Washington Post article:

City officials said BellSouth was upset about the plan to bring high-speed Internet access for free to homes and businesses to help stimulate resettlement and relocation to the devastated city. Around the country, large telephone companies have aggressively lobbied against localities launching their own Internet networks, arguing that they amount to taxpayer-funded competition.

And a bit more:

Greg Meffert, the city's chief technology officer and a deputy mayor, said he is saddened that BellSouth finds the city's network so objectionable.

"It's a once-in-a-century opportunity to truly show the entire world what can be, instead of just what is, and help write future history in the process," Meffert said. "It's a damn shame they don't see that."

The wireless network covers the central business district and the French Quarter, and the city plans to expand it as the people return.

BellSouth was once part of Bell Telephone which was broken up into eight "Baby Bells" because the parent company was proven to be a monopoly. And they have the gall to complain about someone stealing business from them. If they provided better service, there would be no demand for alternative services...