According to the Washington Post, "hours after New Orleans officials announced Tuesday that they would deploy a city-owned, wireless Internet network in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, regional phone giant BellSouth Corp. withdrew an offer to donate one of its damaged buildings that would have housed new police headquarters, city officials said yesterday."

Well isn't that nice? You donate something and then take it back? Who does that?

Apparently, BellSouth was upset about the plan to bring high-speed Internet access for "free" to homes and businesses. According to the article, this plan was designed to help stimulate resettlement and relocation to the devastated city. Many states have "banned" cities and municipalities from offering free WiFi, but no doubt Louisiana wants to have incentives to return to New Orleans, which is one reason why they are allowing it. Why would BellSouth want to hinder a nice incentive for businesses and residential folk to return to a devastated region. Obviously, greed. Free WiFi means BellSouth loses out on the Internet business and some people may choose to run VoIP over WiFi instead of landline PSTN - a double-whammy to BellSouth.

So BellSouth, for taking back what you had given as a gift, I nominate you this year's Grinch that Stole Christmas.