NEW YORK -- Citywide Chief Information and Innovation Officer Rahul N. Merchant, Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Veronica M. White, Chief Digital Officer Rachel Haot, Cablevision Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Lee Schroeder, and Time Warner Cable Vice President of Government Relations for New York City Cathleen Sims today announced the launch of new WiFi service in 32 New York City parks. New Yorkers and visitors can now connect to the Internet for free using their smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other WiFi-enabled devices for free up to 30 minutes each month, and for 99 cents per day. The NYC Parks WiFi service is free at all times to Cablevision and Time Warner Cable broadband subscribers. Additional WiFi park locations across the city will be launched on a rolling basis as part of this program negotiated by the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT). The event was held this morning at St. James Park in the Bronx – one of the more than 30 locations offering the newly-launched service.

“With NYC Parks WiFi we’re further transforming New York City into a hub for connectivity and extending the reach of broadband citywide,” said Citywide Chief Information and Innovation Officer Merchant. “Negotiated as part of franchise agreements with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision Systems, this initiative expands WiFi service to millions of New Yorkers and visitors in some of our City’s most beautiful and historic sites. We are advancing the Bloomberg Administration’s vision of the digital city and leveraging the City’s franchising authority for the public good.”

“Parks are not only great places for relaxation and recreation, they are also ideal for surfing the net,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White. “Thanks to our partnership with DoITT, NYC Digital, Cablevision, and Time Warner, more New Yorkers will be now able to enjoy WiFi access in their local parks. As we become an increasingly digital city, we are pleased that this agreement is facilitating more than 30 new sites coming online in all five boroughs.”

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