NYC to Have Free, City-wide Wi-Fi
City officials in New York City and private business representatives have announced their plan for free city-wide Wi-Fi. The design, which the city has dubbed “Links”, resembles a tablet more so than a landline telephone, and will be popping up on NYC streets in 2015.
The devices will be built and operated by CityBridge, a newly-formed business consortium. The pay phones will be funded solely off of advertising, with at least $20 million of the revenue going back into the city of New York for each of the first five years.
Each unit will provide Wi-Fi in a 150-foot range, allow for free calling to every state and will encrypt user data to ensure that their information is 100% safe. However, Bruce Riegel, a city lawyer present during the announcement, said that “he could certainly see an occasion when law enforcement would inquire about user information.”
Regarding the usage of user information, there will most likely be city regulations and laws passed. As for the 6,000 pay phones that are already in the city, all but three will be removed. The three that will remain are “Superman”-style, and that are historical parts of New York City.
What do you think about this new initiative? Would you want to see it in Chicago?
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