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Topic: Texas rest stops offer net access

Jeremy Fuentes
Mmmm, Dr. Pepper!

Posts: 1168
From: Corpus Christi, TX United States
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-09-2004 08:19 AM

Click here

AUSTIN - Weary highway travelers may soon be able to surf the Internet while they stretch their legs or grab a soda at Texas rest areas.

The Texas Department of Transportation is taking offers from firms willing to provide free wireless Internet access at the state's 84 rest areas and 12 travel information centers.

The department began experimenting with Wi-Fi hotspots in the Panhandle last fall, installing them at rest areas along U.S. Highway 287 in Donley County and two rest stops on U.S. 287 in Hardemann County.

Texas is the first state to provide such free access at rest areas, the department said.

"The feedback we've received so far has been very positive," said Andy Keith, manager of the maintenance division. "Texas' highways are seeing an increasing number of business travelers, truckers and RVers and access to e-mail is important to them."

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 06-09-2004 08:56 AM

The Greater Rochester International Airport has free wireless web access provided by Frontier Communications, as well as dataports and phone line access (e.g. 800-number):

http://www.rocairport.com/org79.asp?storyID=189

quote:
Arrive at the airport early? Need a place to finish that important business report before departing? The Frontier Business Terminal is open from 5:00 AM until 11:00 PM to provide business professionals with a quiet and convenient site to complete those important business tasks.

Private work stations, data ports and telephones are conveniences available in the business center. These essential tools, creates for a productive work setting conducive to accomplishing your business goals.

Work station utilization is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not required. Telephones and data ports may be utilized with a charge card.

The Frontier Business Terminal has wired and wireless Internet. Instructions on how users can sign on the Internet are provided at each work station.

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Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 06-09-2004 02:33 PM

MacDonalds plans to provide wireless access, starting with 1,000
of its franchises.

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Jeremy Fuentes
Mmmm, Dr. Pepper!

Posts: 1168
From: Corpus Christi, TX United States
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-09-2004 05:19 PM

McDonalds Story here

By Associated Press
June 9, 2004

SAN ANTONIO - SBC Communications Inc. will soon offer wireless Internet service to go with those fries at McDonald's.

SBC wireless customers will be able to read their e-mail and tap into computer networks with high-speed Internet access at up to 6,000 McDonald's Corp. restaurants by the middle of next year, the phone company said Monday.

Financial terms weren't disclosed.

San Antonio-based SBC said it reached an agreement with Wayport Inc. to let its customers use the Wi-Fi, or wireless fidelity "hot spots" at McDonald's in SBC's 13-state area. Wayport, based in Austin, is building Wi-Fi connections in McDonald's restaurants nationwide.

The first hot spots will appear in McDonald's restaurants this month, SBC said.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 06-09-2004 06:05 PM

quote: Jeremy Fuentes
The department began experimenting with Wi-Fi hotspots in the Panhandle last fall, installing them at rest areas along U.S. Highway 287 in Donley County and two rest stops on U.S. 287 in Hardemann County.

US-287 rest area in Donley County, TX! I took a piss there last week!

I was driving back from vacation in Colorado when visiting the place. Pretty nice, large (and brand new) facility. I never saw a rest area this nice along a road that was not an Interstate highway. In fact, this rest stop is quite a bit better than most Interstate rest stops. The only thing it's missing is gas stations and fast food restaurants in the plaza. Oh, It doesn't have hookers either. You'll have to turn around and drive back to some of the truck stops in Amarillo if you want that!

An area along I-44 in the far northeastern corner of Oklahoma has a pretty cool rest stop featuring a McDonalds built like a bridge over the top of the highway --for a long time it was the world's largest McDonalds. Maybe they should have videotaped part of "Supersize Me" there.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 06-09-2004 06:25 PM

I can make it all the way from Dallas to Denver without taking a piss or using the internet! Total drive time: 11.5 hours. 815 miles.

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Dick Vaughan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1032
From: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 06-10-2004 10:18 AM

Bladder the size of Lake Michigan eh! [Big Grin]

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Jeremy Fuentes
Mmmm, Dr. Pepper!

Posts: 1168
From: Corpus Christi, TX United States
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-10-2004 10:23 AM

I can go more than 11 hours without pissing. I just sleep more than 11 hours, but then when I wake up, I have...nevermind. [Eek!]

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 06-10-2004 03:15 PM

The southbound McDonald's service area on I-95 near Bridgeport, CT has a free kiosk. Limited surfing, but you can access Yahoo mail and such.

Also, free Internet at the westbound I-40 welcome center, in NM. Hot little babe works there, too.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 06-10-2004 06:24 PM

quote:
I can make it all the way from Dallas to Denver without taking a piss or using the internet! Total drive time: 11.5 hours. 815 miles.

I could only manage that if I avoid those oil-barrel sized fountain sodas when making a fuel stop.

My typical trip from Lawton, OK to Peyton, CO (just outside Colorado Springs): 9 Hours, 602 miles. Fuel up in Lawton, get a soda & snacks. Top off the tank at the Loves Country Store in Clayton, NM (and empty the bladder), get another soda & more snacks. Arrive in Peyton, pee, then collapse from lack of sleep (and hopefully do so in that order).

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