Beginning in January 11,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. will cease to charge customers to log on to their Internet service with their wireless devices. Previously the clown’s restaurants with Internet connectivity — not all of them have it, amazingly — charged $2.95 for two hours’ use.

The fast-fooder has obviously noticed that, increasingly, many consumers make their restaurant choices with connectivity in mind. Why stop by for a 99-cent burger if the place is going to charge you $2.95 to check your e-mail?

With the move, McDonald’s will become the largest provider of Internet access in the world.