Wait, what? That was exactly my response when I first read the news that JetBlue was introducing new technology for in-flight Wi-Fi service, a new technology called a satellite. For those of you who can’t detect sarcasm, satellites aren’t new. They’ve been around a very long time. For some reason, it has taken this long for an airline to use satellite signals to deliver Wi-Fi access on a plane. Airlines currently offering Wi-Fi services get their signal from the ground.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great that this is becoming more widespread. I don’t fly often, but when I do it certainly would be nice to keep up on some reading or even do a little bit of work. This serves to prove, though, just how in-the-box many industries are when it comes to modernizing their services. You’re 35,000 feet up with a clear shot at the upper atmosphere – why in god’s name would you use anything other than a satellite?

There were few things that frustrated me about Starbucks quite as much as its Wi-Fi policy. There was the weird smell, the pervasive corporate atmosphere, the hipsterier-than-thou baristas, but none of it really held a candle to the fact that I had to pay for Wi-Fi if I was in a Starbucks.

It looks like the coffee chain has finally caught on and will be rolling out free Wi-Fi for all customers starting July 1. The catch (you knew there would be one)? Starbucks will be using the service to roll out all sorts of targeted media trash for your unsolicited enjoyment.

Really, it probably won’t be so bad. There won’t be any advertising, just free versions of Starbucks-approved WSJ, NYT and other publishers’ content. You’ll get access to the Starbucks iTunes download of the week as well.

There has been a lot of talk, both in government and among non-profit groups, about bringing the web to everyone. Rural areas still struggle with slow connection speeds and a lack of quality service. I’ve been having some problems with my service over the past few days that make me really appreciate what it is to have broadband basically whenever I want it.

I have a pretty cool job. I work from home, I get to write, I do a little programming. All of those things, though, require the internet, and for most I need a pretty fast connection. I’m actually writing this post from my phone. It’s great to have that option, but cellular service is still pretty slow and the data fees are too expensive for a lot of people. It’s also ridiculously cramped typing full posts on a touchscreen keyboard. Tablets could change that, but there’s still the 3G speed cap to deal with and the cost of a monthly data plan.

With the economy still struggling, I can think of few better ways to stimulate rural and low-population areas, areas typically hit hardest by tough economic conditions, than a rollout of affordable, reliable internet service. When service goes down, it’s tough not to immediately start shopping for better broadband deals. At the very least, I could use the reliable connection. Waiting on yet another modem is painful.