Does Community Board 14 Need Free Wi-Fi?

Mayor Bloomberg’s dream of making New York City the world’s tech capital may still have a ways to go but no one denies the progress made in recent years. New York is now the #2 Tech city in the country trailing, of course, Silicon Valley. Brooklyn in particular has been a focus in the vitalization of the city’s tech industry. The borough has been used as a selling point for tech talent and is developing tech-friendly hubs in places like the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

At last week’s Community Board 14’s Budget Committee Meeting, the committee decided to prioritize a capital budget request for Wi-Fi covering the area. Although the specifics were spare, board members such as Jonathan Judge were enthusiastic about the idea. The board did note that, if implemented, Wi-Fi would probably be provided through franchising.

“Bloomberg wants to make New York the tech capital,” said Jonathan. “You don’t need a degree with tech companies, you just need practical experience.”

Jonathan went on to argue that if the board was able to articulate the technology benefits, Bloomberg would “love it.” The committee was largely positive about the idea and Jonathan’s framing of it.

Expanding internet access is nothing new in New York. In fact, Microsoft just announced sponsorship of over 200 Wi-Fi hotspots around the city to promote Windows 8. Several parks have public Wi-Fi including Prospect Park.

In 2007, Bloomberg said that he believed that the private sector would eventually provide free Wi-Fi to citizens because democracy is too slow for this function. The addition of city-provided Wi-Fi to parks came later so it will be interesting to see how his views have changed over five years.

The committee’s budget priority proposal will be presented to the entire community at Monday’s monthly meeting. This month’s Community Board 14 meeting is set for tonight, October 15 at 7:15 pm at P.S. 249 (18 Marlborough Road on the corner of Caton Avenue). You can read the meeting’s agenda here.