Public Wireless Netiquette

I'm currently sitting in the Green Mesquite sipping on an ice tea. I've got three hours until my next appointment. Rather than go back home to work, I'm going to stay downtown. I can do that thanks to ubiquitous free public wireless.

I've been thinking there should be some code of etiquette for using free wireless. A lot of businesses are taking a risk by making it available. If wireless access is abused or starts becoming a burden, they will quickly pull the plug.

Here are the guidelines I tend to follow, to try to be a good wireless citizen.

• Avoid peak hours. The venue is making money on the drink I'm sipping, but they'd make even more money if they could serve somebody lunch at the table I'm occupying. Last Friday morning I was at Quack's 43rd Street Bakery, eating a coffee roll and doing some work. As lunchtime neared it started filling up. That was my cue to hit the road.
• Tip a little more. If I stay somewhere for a while I'll tip a couple of extra bucks. I feel like I ought to compensate them a bit more, particularly if there is table service. I'm concerned that free wireless users might be perceived as freeloaders. Extra tipping may dispel that.
• Limit my time. I won't stay at one place all afternoon. I'm not sure an extra cup of coffee and couple bucks tip is sufficient compenstation for monopolizing a table. Plus, since wireless is so readily available, it's easy enough to pick up stakes and move elsewhere. After about two hours, I'll move along.

I suspect many wireless users take care to use the resource courteously. Like all Internet facilities, a form of netiquette will evolve. We probably ought to make some effort to document and publicize it.