Time Warner Cable's New York City customers just got a nice bonus in the form of free Wi-Fi. The free Wi-Fi is available to 1 million of the company's New York City customers in places like public parks and commuter train stations. "Road Runner customers can experience a fast, simple and easy connection from their laptops or portable Wi-Fi-enabled devices in Time Warner Cable Wi-Fi zones, meeting their growing need for mobility, " said Howard Szarfarc, executive vice president of Time Warner Cable's New York City region. The service runs on Cablevision's Optimum Wi-Fi network that launched in 2008. Users will have unlimited access to Wi-Fi, however you must be a Time Warner Cable NYC customer to access the hot spots and you'll need to log in using your Road Runner username and password. To find a list of the free hot spots, visit the company's Wi-Fi Zones page. Although users outside of the NYC area won't reap the benefits of this new offering just yet, we hope the idea could spread. Offering free Wi-Fi is one way for cable companies to compete against wireless carriers.
"Time Warner Cable's investment reflects the growing need for increased technology and speed for the 275 existing and growing businesses in the Yard. With this growth, comes jobs and the Learning Lab grant will support our efforts to prepare local residents for jobs in the Navy Yard, " said Andrew H. Kimball, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. "Today's announcement is yet another sign of the Navy Yard's continued success. Fiber optics and the Learning Lab will both allow the Navy Yard to continue to grow and help support the jobs our community needs, " said Senator Daniel Squadron. "Just like the new Tech Triangle bus route we're building, this is a step towards greater connectivity to allow the Navy Yard and all of Brooklyn to keep creating great new jobs. Thank you to Time Warner Cable Business Class, the Navy Yard, and all those working with us toward an innovative and flourishing New York. " Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, said, "With all the technology start-ups emerging in Brooklyn, Time Warner Cable Business Class has made the right decision by investing in the expansion of the fiber optic network.