The idea of filtering Wi-Fi access almost defeats the purpose of offering it at US airports. Imagine sitting there for hours and hours with no IM, no VoIP! It’s just stupid, there are no two ways about it, I’m sorry!

I am guessing it relates to some security concern that the airport may have, but if they are blocking dynamic communication on the Web, why not just block mobile phones too and be done with it?

Jeff Pulver, VoIP evangelist, conference planner, and gadget guy, says Las Vegas’s free Wi-Fi filters: Ports blocked, me buckos, when you’re stuck trying to leave CES. You can do Web, but you can’t do telnet, instant messaging, or voice over IP, Pulver writes.

There’s ugly, ugly weather in Las Vegas right now, and one colleague reports that there’s a three-hour line at the airport just to check in.