Qwest is preparing to automatically give its customers free unlimited access to Wi-Fi across the country.

Public Wi-Fi hot spot networks have become a competitive must-have. Several MSOs are similarly offering Wi-Fi. For example, Bright House Networks runs a network of Wi-Fi hot spots, Cablevision is expanding its hot spot network and Comcast has embarked on building a Wi-Fi network, as well.

Verizon is negotiating Wi-Fi access too, according to The Wall Street Journal (story here; registration required).

Qwest accomplished the feat by negotiating access to AT&T’s approximately 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots. That includes hot spots at Starbucks and McDonald’s.

Qwest did not offer any details on the structure of its arrangement with AT&T.

Qwest sponsored a customer survey, one result of which was that Qwest customers wanted wider Internet access. Dan Yost, executive vice president for Qwest’s Mass Markets Organization, said: “Our study showed that nearly half of all respondents get ‘antsy,’ in about an hour, if they can’t check e-mail, social networking sites or instant messaging. Our free solution keeps Qwest customers connected.”

All current and new Qwest high-speed Internet customers are automatically eligible and can look for the “QwestWiFi” service set identifier or SSID, which will be rolling out to venues over the next couple of weeks.