LinkNYC has solved the "problem" of homeless people surfing the web on their outdoor kiosks all the time by stopping Internet access at the booths, which begs the question of who they expected to be using them in the first place.

"Starting today, we are removing web browsing on all Link tablets while we work with the City and community to explore potential solutions, like time limits." LinkNYC said in a statement Wednesday. (See Qualcomm Spills LinkNYC's Guts and Gigabites: The Big Apple Gets Gig WiFi.)

"Some users have been monopolizing the Link tablets and using them inappropriately, preventing others from being able to use them while frustrating the residents and businesses around them," the statement added.

Translation: Homeless people are hogging the little touchscreens -- sometimes reportedly watching porn -- and generally worrying nearby business.

This is because the 400 units are right out in the street. There are a string of kiosks down the block from our office in the toney Gramercy Park neighborhood. Certainly, if I leave the office at night, it is noticeable that people who at least appear to be homeless are using the terminals.

Figure 1: Street Hassle The LinkNYC booth in context on 3rd Ave and 17th Street.

I did spot a tourist -- surrounded by fancy suitcases -- charging his phone at one kiosk.

Figure 2: A Big Apple WiFi Beacon? The terminal on 3rd Ave and 16th Street, awaiting a thunderstorm Wednesday.

The web shutdown already seems to be underway.

Figure 3: Touch-Sensitive I couldn't get on the web here on Wednesday afternoon.

What I wonder, though, is why this is a surprise? Many of us have screens as good -- or better -- on our phones. Why stand there at a booth if I can get on the LinkNYC WiFi for free anyway?

It should have been obvious, on the other hand, that homeless people would use Internet access for a variety of reasons if it was offered for free on the street. And don't homeless people deserve Internet access?

As for exploring potential fixes, shouldn't LinkNYC have just applied a porn blocker in the first place? Businesses do that all the time.

For me, there's a bigger issue than using the tiny touch-screen for web surfing anyway. I've tried to log onto the WiFi service offered via the kiosks multiple times and I can never get online. I can connect to the LinkNYC SSID, it asks me to sign-in, but the home screen never finishes loading.

I've tried with an LG G4 and a couple of Samsung smartphones over the last couple of months. I tried again today at two separate booths. No dice!

Let me know in the comments if you've been having trouble connecting too. Maybe it's just me, but I'm interested to see if anyone else is having issues.

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading