A few years ago, one of the latest fads in municipal government was muni wi-fi, under which city government made an agreement with a single company to provide "free" wi-fi. Some cities even went so far as to get into the broadband business themselves.

The Dayton Daily News surveys the national scene, and finds that like most fads, wi-fi has left behind some problems--and has left some fad-avoiders pleased.

"I've been an unpopular person around here for the last four years or so because I've been saying, 'Wait, wait' " on a citywide wireless network, said Pete Collins, chief information officer for the city of Austin, Texas. But "thank God ... (city leaders) listened."

The Buckeye Institute might be excused for saying "We told you so."