Show of hands — who wants wi-fi in the backcountry? Aha! Only those with a profit motive are waving their mitts in the air. This year, 10 national parks will expand their broadcasting of wi-fi, and one of the main reasons is that park concessionaires, the private companies that profit serving food and renting rooms in parks, are complaining that visitors expect/want/need easier internet access. The National Park Hospitality Association said lack of wi-fi is an “irritant that adversely shapes memories of a park visit.” (The hell with the views, the clean air, the critters.) The National Park Service likes the idea, arguing that it would enable communication and reduce paper handouts. “We’d be able to print a lot fewer park newspapers, park brochures, flyers, that would save us money. That would be a green thing to do,” said NPS spokesman Jeff Olson. The NPHA suggests free wi-fi for the park’s website around visitor’s centers and the like, but fees for access to any other sites. Here’s a better idea: If you have to have wi-fi in a national park, it should be free, period. Via National Parks Traveler.

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Tags: National Parks

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