Is it time for Toronto to try out free public WiFi again?

Free public WiFi is once again being discussed in Toronto thanks to Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22), who wants city staff to examine the feasibility of installing WiFi in key public areas, including parks and civic areas like Nathan Phillips Square. This request takes place around a decade after an ill-fated plan by Toronto Hydro to make WiFi available throughout the downtown core, and has met with both enthusiasm and skepticism. It sounds like a promising idea to many residents, of course, but there are concerns about what it will all cost given that the first attempt quickly became a pay per use service. Some also question whether or not citizens need another reason to be plugged-in, but Matlow's argument that such public hotspots would help to make Toronto a more tech-friendly city are also worthy of consideration.

We put the question to our Twitter followers for feedback. Here's a selection of responses. Weigh in with your comments below.

Photo by BruceK in the blogTO Flickr pool.

by Derek Flack via blogTO