Today, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the largest continuous free outdoor public Wi-Fi network in the United States is being rolled out in New York City's Harlem neighborhood. How big is it? It will cover 95 city blocks and increase Internet access for about 80,000 Harlem residents.
Work on the project is currently underway and its three phases are expected to be completed by May 2014. The entire project is being funded by a donation from the Fuhrman Family Foundation.
"Our new Harlem wireless network brings critical connectivity to residents and visitors, giving them 24/7 access to everything from education materials for kids, to information about Harlem’s rich history and attractions, to everyday needs like paying bills, checking library hours – or even just keeping tabs on the Knicks and Nets."
And, of course, it will be important in ways that we can't yet predict. "Internet access is critical to New York City’s digital future, and today’s announcement will spur technology education, innovation and economic opportunity," said Rachel Haot, New York City’s Chief Digital Officer.The city already has free Wi-Fi on the subway and hopes to have free Wi-Fi zones in each of the five boroughs .
Photo: Flickr/Marc Ehrich
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
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