High-speed public Wi-Fi mesh networks installed in municipal town squares are accessible to all residents for free digital access and communication. 'SquareConnect', a volunteer-led digital-inclusion charity, coordinates free, guided digital skills workshops in the central square using this network every weekday, drawing dozens of local participants who otherwise could not afford a private mobile data contract or home broadband. The municipal authority has recently proposed a ban on charging such community-led initiatives for network usage to cover upkeep and hardware maintenance costs. While the authority supports charging private promotional event organisers who block off sections of the square and monopolize the bandwidth for exclusive, paid-for corporate broadcasts, it maintains that community-focused digital initiatives must remain exempt. Although 'SquareConnect' sessions utilize multiple high-capacity network nodes simultaneously, other visitors can still freely connect to any unoccupied nodes or browse the web alongside the group.
Source: Urban Digital Infrastructure Review
'Public Wi-Fi mesh networks in municipal town squares are a public good' (Extract A, line 1). Assess this statement.
