Olympics Wi-Fi Police

Also, with the number of wireless signals that are not wi-fi (wireless tv cameras, walkie-talkies, microphones, emergency dispatch, etc.), it would be very easy for a signal in an unauthorized bandwidth to take down something critical.

I know a bit about this, but this post is a bit more informative. http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/xjads/something_you_wont_see_on_tv_this_is_the_olympics/c5mz1h3

Arrynne: Are you a flak for hire, or volunteer?

Unless they're trying to take down the network (even then it's not easy), not-for-pay hotspots will not take down the network. Of course you know this, Arrynne.

There's only 13 legal channels for use in England; since there is overlap of the high and low frequencies of each channel, you can really only have three interference-free hotspots in a given area, so the engineers have doubtless gone to great lengths to place the APs on specific channels distinct for each location to give the best chance of interference-free use for all.

That they chose to charge money for use of the infrastructure is an orthogonal decision -- but having guys with tools to find "rogue" transmitters is a simple matter of politeness. Without those guys, it probably wouldn't work well for anyone, rogue or paying user.

Rogue WiFi hotspots can take down the offical network and leave everyone without Internet. This is more than brand protection (unlike the "no fries except in fish and chips" rule).